Lead gifts from Senator Linda Frum & Howard Sokolowski, and legacy family Joe Burnett, Gail Burnett, Lorne Burnett and Sheldon Burnett bring growing total to over $20M.
TORONTO, Oct. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - The Bishop Strachan School (BSS) last night announced the public launch of Intersection, a $35 million fundraising campaign to transform its campus program space. The campaign also includes provisions for enhancing the school's investment in teacher excellence and financial assistance opportunities for students.
Senator Linda Frum, Honourary Chair of the Campaign Cabinet, and husband Howard Sokolowski, pledged an early lead gift of $1 million.
"BSS is a model of excellence, not only in education but specifically in empowering girls and expanding their sense of the possible. I've seen what it's done for my daughters," said Senator Frum. "The plans for the campus space will support a thoroughly contemporary approach to learning that our future will depend on."
Another $1 million pledge came from the Burnett family. Gail, Lorne and Sheldon attended BSS and Lorne's daughters are currently attending BSS while Gail's daughter recently graduated.
Lorne and Sheldon were able to attend the BSS Junior School during a brief period when they were admitting boys, so they are rare BSS Old Boys. Gail, Lorne and Sheldon all benefited from the strong start they got at BSS and both Gail and Lorne wanted their daughters to have the same experience. The Burnett family believes in preserving BSS for future generations.
Plans for the campaign include a $20 million Campus Renewal Fund to create a new, state-of-the-art structure on part of the school's Forest Hill campus facing Russell Hill Road. The building will house flexible learning spaces, encouraging art to intersect with science, breaking down barriers among disciplines, and fostering an integrated approach to understanding problems.
Two other campaign funds, Community and Innovation, are dedicating $10 million and $5 million respectively to bolster financial assistance and the school's investment in teacher development.
"This is a bold, ambitious campaign, but we believe that our school community is ready to embrace it," says BSS Head of School Deryn Lavell. "It's time to take that leap and build the best possible space for our girls, invest in our teachers' expertise and innovation, and offer more financial assistance for students who are eager to join our program of powerful learning."
Founded in 1867 with the goal of educating young women to become transformative leaders, The Bishop Strachan School (BSS) is among the premier independent day and boarding schools in North America. Offering top quality academic, arts and athletics programs, BSS has an expert faculty and state-of-the-art facilities to give each student the resources she needs to use her whole mind, and realize her whole potential.
Image with caption: "The Bishop Strachan School (CNW Group/The Bishop Strachan School)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141003_C2382_PHOTO_EN_6299.jpg
SOURCE: The Bishop Strachan School
Marianne Chilco, Director of Communications, The Bishop Strachan School, 416-483-4325, ext. 1660, [email protected]; Or visit: bssintersection.ca
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