Enriching Lives - School Enhancements Appeal

Salem Lutheran School is the largest outreach of Salem Lutheran Church. Martin Luther himself considered the founding of schools and universities by the Church to be “a thing well done,” believing that people who are empowered to use reason in their lives will be able to protect themselves from becoming pawns of the powerful. From this origin in the crucible of Reformation thinking, Lutheran education remains among the most respected of parochial school systems.

Inspired by this history, our mission is to provide a well-rounded education to our students while emphasizing Jesus Christ as the foundation of their lives. In 1948 Salem opened the school to serve its congregation members. Beginning with a few students and one teacher, it has since grown to an average annual size of about 180 students in junior kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades one through six, with one classroom per grade level. Our active summer program reflects these same values.

Today, we serve not only our congregation but also the greater Glendale community with our rigorous academics and fine Christian education. Our program includes computer science, art, music, choir, chapel, physical education and Spanish language instruction. We are recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. The school is administered by the Principal, supported by a school board elected by the congregation of Salem Lutheran Church, and operated in association with the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA).

Our Parent-Teacher-Organization (PTO) involves parents and teachers in fundraising and social projects, the goal of which is to enrich the students' learning and nourish both the educational and community experiences for school families.

With the advent of the “Enriching Lives” capital appeal in 2011, the school is partnering with Salem Lutheran Church in carrying out our Master Plan of campus renovations and upgrades to benefit school and church alike.

2011 also witnesses the launch of a feasibility study regarding the expansion of Salem Lutheran School into a junior high school and beyond.

Salem families are passionate families. In the ancient languages, the word “passionate” had more complex meanings than our contemporary use as “excited,” “fervent,” or even “obsessed” might suggest. Then, the word also meant “willing to sacrifice” or even, “willing to suffer.”

Salem Lutheran School was founded in 1948 by a passionate Glendale congregation; one willing to sacrifice to enrich the lives of children through education. Thanks to their sacrifice, we are now even more passionate about this mission. For sixty-two years, Salem has reflected to our children, through education, that they are beautifully created, unconditionally loved, and uniquely gifted; for this we were named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2005. Our passion only continues to grow around the spirited imaginations of our children and families.

This passion brings us to a crossroads. We are called to reach into a world that longs to associate with stable, traditional institutions like Salem while reasonably expecting twenty-first century technologies and amenities to be part of them. As the needs and expectations for educational institutions have shifted, so also must our approach to supporting and funding our school.

Salem Lutheran Church, its worshiping congregation and school, have together initiated a plan to enrich our shared facilities and programs. Our congregation has recently completed a capital appeal that will fund major sanctuary improvements. These will provide the space and flexibility to facilitate the expansion of music, dance, and drama, making it a primary space for our school children to discover themselves through performance arts and chapel. This renovation will also address campus circulation and provide a new outdoor lunch space. The school community will benefit from the sacrificial gifts of the Salem congregation and for them we will be grateful.

However, our school dreams proceed beyond this. In response to the foundation laid by the congregation, the school is initiating its own capital appeal to fund additional school enhancements. The proposed Master Plan includes expanded art rooms, a conference room, and improvements to our administrative space. The installation of an elevator, an improvement first pitched to the school administration by the Class of 2008 through its Project Citizen initiative on accessibility, will also create an upper level deck that can be used as an outdoor classroom. Beyond this appeal, future plans call for new play spaces, upgrades to the music room and computer lab, and a new hands-on science lab. The creation of a covered courtyard between the sanctuary and Fireside Room will provide a welcome and secure gathering place as well as a facelift to the Brand Boulevard façade for all members of the Salem community.

Perhaps most ambitiously, we sense the greater opportunity to explore expanding Salem Lutheran to include a junior high school; we are that passionate about deepening our ability to reach out and enrich the lives of children. We have already allocated funds for a feasibility study (to be initiated in 2011) to explore the available capacity and potential to live out this aspect of our dream.

Will you be passionate with us? Salem Lutheran School has never before initiated a capital appeal, and we are seeking $500,000 from parents, alumni, and friends. However, throughout our history, we have had untold numbers of parents and supporters from the Glendale community whose sacrificial passion for the school has delighted and challenged us to aim higher than we imagined. We look to you now to help us achieve this goal. We relish your wisdom and discernment as well as your financial investment as we chart our course, because we cannot do it alone. But together -- we can.

Contribute

Every gift is important. Gifts at every level will be significant to the fulfillment of our vision. Lead donors have already pledged over $120,000 of our goal! Remember, this can be given over a two-year period. Please consider giving at the highest possible level.

$100 $1,200 $3,000 $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $35,000 $50,000 $100,000

For example, a gift of $1,200 could be paid at once, in two annual installments of $600, or in monthly payments of $50. Similarly, a total gift of $20,000 could be paid in similar fashion; at once, annually, or in monthly payments of $833. To make a pledge, do any of the following:

1. You can contact the school office and we will be thrilled to mail you a contribution packet, which will include a pledge card and brochure. You can mail back a pledge card alone, a pledge card and your first gift installment, or a one-time donation of any amount. If you would like to fulfill your pledge via monthly automatic withdrawals, please request a form to do so as well.
2. Download our Response Card and FAX or mail your pledge card to the school
3. Make a one-time gift to: Salem Lutheran School “Enriching Lives” Appeal, 1211 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202. We welcome one-time gifts of any amount.

Checks should be made payable to Salem Lutheran School, with “Enriching Lives” or “capital appeal” in the memo. You will be mailed a tax-deductible receipt.

Why now?
The encouraging outcome of Salem’s congregational appeal – $800,000 pledged over three years – means this is an ideal moment to position our dreams for the school and take ownership of its role in our church life. Our three-phase renovation plans are completed and ready to be implemented as soon as the finance piece is secured.

How will the renovation phases be prioritized?
The church’s appeal ensures that the first phase, sanctuary and campus circulation (from which the school will benefit) will take place. The success of the school’s appeal will determine whether additional projects, which impact the school more directly, will be carried out concurrently or subsequently to the initial phase and with each other. It is possible that our appeal outcome, coupled with the economic climate, will enable all phases to be initiated together.

Given the state of the economy, is this a good time to conduct an appeal?
A successful appeal depends less on the economic context than on the clarity of vision and sense of call within the community. This is a unique and exciting time for Salem Lutheran School, one that we believe urges us to move forward with faith and confidence.

Why me?
This appeal can only be successful through participation of a broad swath of Salem’s community. We are approaching everyone who has been impacted by Salem’s mission throughout its history.

How long will the giving period last?
We are planning a two-year period, over 2011 and 2012. Of course, one-time gifts are also welcome.

Who will manage the monies received?
The Salem Lutheran School Board will oversee the allocation of resources to the planned renovations. Monies will be accounted separately from other school and church funds.

What about matching funds?
Salem Lutheran School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and may be eligible for matching funds from corporations and other organizations. Contact us for more information.

Can I contribute electronically or online?
We are not set up to accept pledges or contributions online, but you can arrange for automatic withdrawal for a monthly pledge fulfillment. Please contact us and we will be thrilled to mail you a contribution packet and/or automatic withdrawal form.

Can I contribute from other assets?
We welcome gifts of stocks, appreciated assets, insurance, in-kind donations or other assets. Contact us for more information.

Did you graduate from Salem Lutheran School? Over one thousand students have graduated from Salem in its sixty-three year history, and we do not know where many of you are. Part of our Enriching Lives campaign is to start an alumni association from scratch. Many alumni have already expressed interest in helping organize reunions and class events. Reconnect with your own history as you reconnect to Salem!

Please email Teri DeSales at enrichinglives@salemlutheranglendaleschool.org with your name, current contact information, and the years you attended Salem, including your graduation year if you attended through sixth grade. If you name has changed due to marriage or any reason, please note your name when you attended Salem. Additionally, you can join us on Facebook! Just click on the image below: