2/2: NC to OK another summer for Governor’s School – WRAL

2/2: Governor’s School is back on for the summer – Winston-Salem Journal

2/3: Governor’s School gets funding for one more year – WRAL

2/3: N.C. Governor’s School raises $675,000 – Raleigh N&O

2/4: Funds ensure Governor’s School remains open in 2012 – Salisbury Post

2/8: Editorial: Legislators must find funds for Governor’s School – Winston-Salem Journal

2/10: Governor’s School seeks private funding to remain afloat – Daily Tar Heel

Capping an unprecedented six-month fundraising campaign that drew support from thousands of alumni and dozens of organizations throughout the state, the North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation announced Friday that it has raised a grand total of over $675,000 – enough to open the 2012 Governor’s School program at both of its host institutions, Salem College and Meredith College.

On Thursday, the State Board of Education (SBE) authorized the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to determine the size and duration of the 2012 program by February 10, based on a final fundraising report to be provided by the Foundation. In mid-January, a Governor’s School Task Force appointed by the SBE issued guidelines prioritizing the creation of a two-campus, six-week program with as many students attending as possible. The State Board and DPI agreed to follow those guidelines in planning the 2012 program.

The Foundation’s fundraising total includes over $200,000 in grants and gifts raised in the final few weeks of the campaign. Since July of last year, over 1,800 of the School’s 31,000 alumni have given more than $400,000 to ensure that its doors remain open in 2012, offsetting the budget gap left open by the legislature’s elimination of all state funding for the program last May. Working in concert with the Governor’s School Alumni Association, the Foundation is planning a large-scale advocacy campaign to petition the State to restore funding for 2013 and future programs.

Following a successful grassroots and special events campaign to raise enough money to open one campus by November 2011, the Foundation focused on winning the support of North Carolina businesses and charitable organizations to fund the second campus. Several organizations have now pledged or donated funds to support the 2012 program, including BB&T, the Eddie and Jo Smith Family Foundation, the Golden LEAF Foundation, the Goodnight Education Foundation, the Park Foundation and SAS Institute.

The Foundation has also secured over $39,000 in scholarship funds from multiple donors, in order to ensure that the $500 tuition charged to students will not pose a barrier to entry for low-income students and their families. The scholarships will help offset 2012 tuition costs for qualifying applicants.

Although a two-campus Governor’s School is now a reality for 2012, the Foundation plans to continue its fundraising efforts. The decision by the State Board allows funds raised by February 10 to be counted toward the 2012 session. The Foundation will work to raise another $25,000 over the next week, with the aim of increasing student attendance at this year’s program.

Watch:
Governor’s School gets funding for one more year – WRAL

11/9: Editorial: Rescued, for now – Raleigh N&O

11/15: Donations fund one Governor’s School campus – Daily Tar Heel

11/22: Editorial: State should spare prestigious School – Athens Oracle

11/26: Budget timing work at issue – Charlotte Observer

12/8: Editorial: Maintain at Meredith – Raleigh N&O

Following the first phase of a historic effort to save Governor’s School that raised over half a million dollars, the Governor’s School Foundation shifted gears – focusing on finding new ways to leverage its success with foundations and businesses across the state.

From June to October, the Foundation received over 2,000 donations from alumni and supporters ranging in value from $5 to $10,000. In late October, volunteer alumni helped organize a series of successful fundraising and awareness events through the state and nation, which helped put the fundraising total over the half million mark.

On November 3, the NC State Board of Education approved the recommendation by the GS Task Force to open one campus of Governor’s School in 2012, and to allow extra time for the Foundation to secure the necessary funds to open the second campus. With this success – highly publicized throughout the state – the Foundation took a moment to evaluate options for raising the additional half million dollars to achieve their goal.

The Foundation decided in early November that it would continue alumni appeals, though with an increased focus on approaching NC foundations and businesses directly for support. Earlier in the campaign, a number of organizations had indicated interest in supporting the School, but were unable to commit ahead of the October deadline. The Foundation developed a plan to appeal to these and dozens more NC organizations throughout the end of 2011, in an attempt to secure commitments ahead of the final task force meeting.

These engagements are already bearing fruit, with thousands of dollars committed by small foundations, including a total of $15,000 pledged by organizations including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund in late November. (Grants are counted in the fundraising total upon final approval.) Additionally, significant contributions from major in-state foundations are in discussion, with final approval expected in late 2011/early 2012.

Together with direct appeals, the Foundation is recruiting alumni and supporters to conduct their own outreach to NC businesses and foundations over the holiday season. Volunteers can commit to raising a set amount of money for Governor’s School – from as little as $500 to $10,000 or more – and raise those funds however they wish; the Foundation provides resources to each volunteer to get started. Volunteers will receive recognition for their contribution to the campaign at the 50th anniversary Governor’s School celebration next year, with top fundraisers receiving special honors.

GS events also continue to be held throughout the state, with end-of-year meetings in the works. On November 30th, Asheville alumni held their second gathering – an ice cream social close to the UNC-Asheville campus. Other alumni throughout the state are planning GS events during the holidays and into January. (Upcoming events are listed on the GSF homepage as they are set.)

As the second phase of the 2012 fundraising campaign progresses, and with a first round of commitments already made, the Foundation leadership remains confident that the goal of opening both campuses in some form is within reach. However, with only six weeks remaining before the final task force meeting, alumni and supporters are asked to step up once more – and help make Governor’s School a reality for the hundreds of 2012 nominees who await the final decision.

9/20: Alumni work to save Governor’s School – Daily Tar Heel

9/21: House speaker Thom Tillis on GS – Salisbury Post

10/11: 2011 alum Jacob Simpson asks about GS at town hall – Mt. Airy News

10/13: Governor’s School fundraising going well – W-S Journal

10/14: Alumni step up for Governor’s School – Greensboro News & Record

10/15: Writer Peggy Payne on GS spurring success – New York Times

10/26: Governor’s School program must be kept going (editorial) – W-S Journal

10/26: Task force recommends keeping at least one GS campus open – WRAL

10/28: Student mobilizes effort to keep Governor’s School open – Richmond Daily Journal

10/31: Donors keep program for gifted kids afloat – Greensboro News & Record

Update: The State Board of Education voted to adopt the GS Task Force’s recommendations in full. Governor’s School will open at least one campus in 2012, with the final decision on number of campuses to be made at a Task Force Meeting scheduled for January 17.

With the help of a successful series of alumni-driven events spanning the East Coast, as well as continuous positive media coverage throughout the state, the campaign to save Governor’s School reached its first major milestone last week.

The Governor’s School Task Force, responsible for determining the nature of the 2012 GS program, agreed at its October 26th meeting to recommend that the State Board of Education (SBE) allow the opening of one campus in 2012, and to permit the Governor’s School Foundation additional time to raise funds for the second campus. The SBE will take up the recommendations for approval on November 3; the Task Force will meet on January 17th to make final recommendations on the number of campuses to be opened and other program details.

“We’ve really accomplished something major. We’ve made sure that this thing that the state was in danger of letting go will continue,” said Governor’s School East director and Task Force member Michael McElreath in an interview with WRAL.

The Foundation launched an extensive fundraising and awareness campaign including online, radio and print outreach following an August challenge by the Task Force to raise enough funds to open a campus by November 1st.

Targeting alumni as well as parents and supporters throughout the nation, the Foundation secured new donations while increasing awareness of the Governor’s School funding crisis among the public.

The campaign kicked into overdrive in the final days before the Task Force meeting, resulting in a flood of contributions that, together with large grants from foundations and organizations including Salem College, SAS, BB&T, the Park Foundation and the Smith Family Foundation, put the fundraising total at over $520,000 on October 25th. The total has since broken $525,000, and is expected to climb higher with the addition of check donations.

Throughout September and October, news outlets across the state continued to cover Governor’s School and the efforts of the Foundation and alumni to save the program. Just in the days prior to the Task Force meeting, GS articles landed on the front pages of the Winston-Salem Journal and the Greensboro News and Record, with a third piece published in the New York Times on October 16th. (The News and Record followed up on the Task Force decision in a second front-page article published on October 31.)

Events take center stage

With the aim of connecting alumni and supporters directly to the cause and to each other, a group of alumni teamed up with the Foundation to organize events in support of the Governor’s School campaign.

Events kicked off in September with a GS-themed painting party hosted by GSE 2000 alumna Kristin Lozoya at Wine and Design in Raleigh. Lozoya, who had launched the grassroots GS site KeepTheTorchBurning.org earlier in the year, wanted to bring people together in a way that highlighted both the creativity and community shared by fellow alumni. The evening saw good turnout by a wide variety of alumni, who each painted a version of the GS torch based on an original design by Lozoya.

In the last half of October, the Foundation and several volunteer alumni followed up with a series of fundraising parties and benefits that garnered attendance from alumni of all ages. The events ranged from large gatherings at Salem and Meredith Colleges to meet-ups in Asheville, Greensboro, Charlotte and Burlington. Two benefit concerts were organized by alumna Katey Orr at venues in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. Alumni living in Washington, DC and New York City also organized successful meetings, with at least one follow-up meeting planned for NYC on November 10th.

GSE 2011 alum Hunter Baxley organized his own benefit in his hometown of Rockingham, putting together a remarkable lineup of singers and musical/spoken-word performers. Several 2011 alumni from both campuses gave performances, joined by Sandy Hemenway (GSW ’79) who took the stage to perform three original compositions.

“It was a really well-organized program,” said Emily Scott-Cruz (GSW 2011), who recited Elie Wiesel’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech at the Rockingham event. Prior to the performance, the Richmond County Daily Journal printed a piece on Governor’s School and Baxley’s efforts to plan the evening.

The Foundation hopes that alumni will continue to step up to organize their own gatherings, and is already working with several alumni for a second round of events. Ideas being discussed for future events include a 5K run, meetings at colleges organized by GS alumni support groups, and additional benefit performances similar to those organized by Orr and Baxley. Organize your own GS event

Legislators take notice

As the Foundation’s fall campaign phase progressed, extensive media coverage and direct appeals from Governor’s School alumni attracted the attention of legislators in the NC General Assembly. A few have informally voiced support for revisiting the decision to cut state funding for GS in the next legislative session.

One legislator, Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis, went on record in September with his support for reviewing the GS funding cut. Responding to questions from alumni attending town hall meetings throughout the state, Speaker Tillis repeatedly stated that he had “heard good things” about Governor’s School from its supporters, and that supporters should demonstrate the program’s importance to the state in terms of economic impact.

Following Tillis’ statement and other reports of support from both NC House and Senate legislators, the Foundation leadership agreed to acquire the information necessary to make the case for restoring state funding in the upcoming legislative short session.

Next steps

With one campus left to be opened for 2012, the Foundation will continue its fundraising efforts in earnest through the remainder of 2011 and into 2012. Thanks to the fall GS event series and the Foundation’s Facebook- and Twitter-based social media campaign, hundreds of new alumni and supporters are connected to the cause. Efforts to expand the GS support base are already in progress, with the GS Alumni Association working to obtain new and updated contacts for GS alumni.

Beyond these efforts, appeals to several organizations are underway. The Foundation aims to use its recent success to its advantage in securing the aid of numerous top business and foundation grant prospects.

Looking ahead to the upcoming legislative short session in May, during which education budget deliberations are expected to take place, the Foundation will continue to engage legislators with the aim of marshaling support for restoring state funding for 2013 and beyond. Beginning in late 2011, the Foundation will transition from fundraising to advocacy, spearheading a nationwide grassroots campaign to preserve Governor’s School for the next generation of students.

Help save GS today! Volunteer to organize your own GS event, reach out to fellow alumni, or write your legislator.

Alumni can ensure that they get the latest news from the Foundation by updating their contact information at the GS Alumni Association database.

I wish to thank you for what you have contributed to sustaining the Governor’s School and for what you might do in the future. As you know, we are racing toward an October 25th fundraising deadline in order to maintain a vestige of this unique institution on which to build for the future. Many different individuals are working diligently with the determined hope that through shared efforts, we can keep the school’s fundamental shape unbroken as we work toward full funding and full capacity.

I know that the Governor’s School lodges something essential in the minds and spirits of those who have been a part of its community. I often quote the poem “Separation” by W. S. Merwin to describe the effect of the six weeks whose impact goes through us like “thread through a needle” in which “everything is stitched with its color.”

For most students and those who teach and live with them for six weeks, the Governor’s School has vital consequences for individual lives. Shakespeare’s lines from All’s Well that Ends Well extend Merwin’s metaphor when he writes: “The web of our life is of mingled yarn, good and ill together.”

I believe that this great gift of the Governor’s School, once the gift of the state and in these hard times the gift of its alumni and friends, is one of the good yarns woven into the web of our lives and those whom our lives touch.

I thank you for what you have done to support the school, and appeal to you to keep your initiatives alive – and to talk with others about how they too might contribute to this critical cause.

My best to each of you,

Lucy Milner, On-Site Director

N.C. Governor’s School West

Following an unprecedented outpouring of support by Governor’s School alumni that saw over $175,000 donated in just fifteen days in July, the North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation accepted a new challenge on Thursday to raise enough money to allow the Governor’s School program to hold its 50th anniversary session in 2012.

The Foundation’s resolution follows the August 16th meeting of the State Board of Education-commissioned task force, which recommended opening Governor’s School in 2012 provided that the Foundation can raise at least $550,000 by November 1st – enough to support one campus of 300 students while charging tuition as in the prior two sessions. However, with the existing momentum and a strong desire to secure two campuses for 2012, the Foundation committed Thursday to an even loftier goal – laying out a plan to hold dozens of fundraising events throughout the state to raise a total of $1 million.

“The gifted and talented youth of North Carolina are in dire need of opportunities to flourish,” said Roice Fulton, vice president of the Foundation on Friday. “Losing Governor’s School for even one year means that we lose a program that has, for decades, offered North Carolina’s best and brightest a chance to thrive in a community of peers.”

Central to the Foundation’s effort is the creation of an extensive volunteer network of alumni, led by Greensboro attorney and Statewide Campaign Chair Scott C. Gayle. The Foundation will seek established alumni to assume leadership roles in targeted regions throughout the state. Through these key volunteers, the Foundation will implement traditional and grassroots initiatives aimed at raising both financial and political support for preserving Governor’s School in 2012 and beyond.

“The Governor’s School Foundation is committed to completing this next step in the heroic effort already begun by the many supporters of this program,” said Gayle. “We want to ensure that Governor’s School will continue for the summer of 2012 for the benefit of gifted and talented high school students all across the State.”

To help shape the campaign, the Foundation voted Thursday to retain the services of fundraising consultant and Governor’s School alumnus David Winslow, of The Winslow Group in Winston-Salem.

Alumni are already looking beyond next year, with hundreds of graduates writing to their legislators asking to restore public funding to the program. A Facebook group created on Friday by Governor’s School alumna Kristin Lozoya garnered dozens of thoughtful testimonials within hours. The online donation counter at the Foundation website was just under $200,000 on Monday, with total donations including major gifts now exceeding $232,000.

The Foundation board will meet this week to finalize campaign strategy and seek out leadership to staff the volunteer network. The following day, Terry Roberts, Foundation board member and Director of the National Paideia Center, will represent the Foundation at the September State Board of Education meeting as it takes up the task force’s recommendations.

Read more:
Resolutions in response to task force recommendations (PDF)
“Keep the Torch Burning” – GS testimonial Facebook group

Update 8/10: The Foundation has sent on their recommendations to the Board of Education. The statement highlights the necessity of keeping Governor’s School open in 2012 in some form, without tuition if possible. The full statement is available here (PDF): GSF Statement

Last week saw significant progress in the campaign to preserve Governor’s School for 2012 and beyond.

In view of the remarkable showing of support from alumni, parents and supporters, the North Carolina Board of Education voted on August 4 to create a task force charged with determining options for a Governor’s School 2012 session. Headed by the Department of Public Instruction, the task force will research and provide recommendations to the State Board at their September meeting. A representative from the Foundation is expected to serve on the committee.

With this news, the Foundation convened on August 5 to establish its own recommendations for the State Board, and to outline a strategy to secure sufficient financial backing for 2012. The Foundation’s task force recommendations will be publicly announced in mid-August.

During the Foundation meeting, it was announced that BB&T would provide a significant gift to the Governor’s School for 2012. Other grant applications are in progress: last week, GS West staff member Kinley Russell, designated the GSF Grants Coordinator earlier in July, submitted a grant application to the McMichael Family Foundation – the first of many proposals to charitable foundations and NC businesses.

Beyond direct outreach to organizations, the Board discussed ways to continue engaging alumni and supporters throughout the year. A committee including GS Alumni Association president Jim Hart will explore, among many other ideas, the possibility of organizing alumni into regions centered around major NC cities. If implemented, these districts would allow both GSAA and GSF to foster new leadership, reaching out to nearby alumni and supporters to organize local events and gatherings.

The Foundation’s grassroots outreach has already motivated a few alumni to step up in support of GS – alumni like Kristin Lozoya, who this week announced a GS benefit evening art class and auction to be held on Saturday, September 17. The Board agreed to encourage all alumni to take part in the fight to save GS by organizing their own events.

Looking to the future, the Foundation resolved to use the resources at its disposal to persuade North Carolina of the need to preserve Governor’s School as a publicly-supported institution. As outreach continues to alumni, media and the private sector to sustain GS for 2012, the Board continues to explore options for restoring full funding to the program. A special committee will issue recommendations pursuant to this goal in the coming month.

Spirits were high Saturday as donations from thankful parents – together with an innovative campus fundraiser at GSW, as well as support from newly-discovered celebrity alumni Anoop Desai and Ashley Spivey – helped propel the 2011 Governor’s School Campaign to a stunning $124,840.63 total by the end of the day.

Statewide media coverage of GS accelerated mid-week as news of the impending August 1 deadline, resulting in a sharp uptick in donations early Wednesday through Friday. Cameras rolled as East and West campus directors, Michael McElreath and Lucy Milner, shared the stage with newly-minted graduates at Saturday’s closing convocations.

With this success, the first step toward securing Governor’s School has been decisively taken. Yet the ultimate challenge of securing enough funding for 2012 remains. Governor’s School Foundation president Joe Milner shares our new strategy in the open letter below.