Development
The Challenge | Annual Fund Drives | Sister to Sister Scholarship | Demytrk Scholarship | Forms of Contributions
The Challenge
The 497 young women enrolled for the 2006-2007 school year are very much aware that their SDA education is preparing them to be citizens in an ever-changing world. With this excellent education, they will face the future with the skills needed to become catalysts for positive change.
However, educating the young women of Saint Dominic Academy for the future is increasingly expensive. The faith-based values taught here are, of course, priceless -- but the tangible tools we use come with a hefty price tag.
Maintaining up-to-date technology is a constant challenge to our budget. The library must be rich in books and research materials and math and science textbooks must be constantly upgraded to keep pace with the information breakthroughs of the 21st century. We challenge our students to thoughtful discussion by having them read the best of classics and contemporary literature while our arts and music programs allow them to express and explore their innermost feelings. Finally, we realize our girls need an excellent sports program to exercise their bodies as well as their minds.
Tuition alone does not begin to cover the current cost of educating one student at Saint Dominic Academy. This year, the actual cost per pupil is $7,200, while tuition is $6,600 -- a gap of $600 per student and an overall shortfall of more than $305,000. To close this gap, we depend on the generosity of alumnae, parents and friends of SDA.
How You Can Help
There are a number of ways you can help. Each year, alumnae volunteers staff our Phonathon, reaching out to fellow graduates of SDA. In addition, we have special fund-raising efforts underway, such as the Sister to Sister Scholarship Raffle. Gifts to Saint Dominic Academy are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Therefore the form of your contribution can benefit you at the same time it benefits the school. (Please note: Our mailing address is 2572 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07304.)
Annual Fund
The Annual Fund Gift Clubs recognize alumnae, parents and friends who have contributed an Annual Gift, within various categories: The Siena Society ($5,000 and more), The Torchbearers ($1,000-4,999), The Saint Dominic Club ($500-$999), The Aquinas Society ($300-$499), The Century Club ($150-$299) and The Blue and White Society for young alumnae who graduated ten years ago or less.
Your gift can go even further if you are associated with a company that has a Matching Gift program. If your company is not on the list of those that provided matching gifts for last year's annual fund drive, we encourage you to check with your Human Resources Office or Corporate Contributions area to see if your gift to SDA will qualify.
The Sister to Sister Scholarship Raffle
The newest fund-raising activity is spearheaded by Anne Dalton O'Brien, SDA Class of 1965, SDA mom (Erin O'Brien Keefe '90 and Sharon O'Brien '94) and the coach of SDA's winning soccer team. The first raffle took place on 1/17/03. Successive raffles were held in 2004 and 2005 -- bringing a three year total of $24,000 in scholarship funds. For more information on the raffle (and the annual Alumnae Basketball Game!), visit our alumnae page.
This raffle is an annual event that takes place the first quarter of each year. Its genesis and aims can be found on our alumnae page. You can also read Anne's original letter to alumnae describing the program. The 2007 raffle will take place on March 24, 2007 at half-time of the Annual Alumnae Basketball Game. Raffle tickets are now on sale. To purchase a ticket, contact Christine De Blois-Zitzman, the Assistant Director of Development and Anne O'Brien, the raffle coordinator. You can also call SDA at (201) 434-5938, ext. 39, for more details.
Kathleen Keenan Demytrk '57 Science Scholarship Fund
Beloved SDA science teacher Kathleen Keenan Demytrk passed away on February 6, 2007. Kathleen, a 1957 graduate, taught at SDA from 1979 to 2002 and five of her sisters also attended the academy.
In lieu of flowers, the Demytrk family asked that donations be made to the "Kathleen Keenan Demytrk '57 Science Scholarship Fund". Each year the Scholarship will be awarded to a junior whose senior classes have a heavy concentration in science with a long-term goal of a career in a related field.
Contributions should be sent to development office payable to St. Dominic Academy. Please specify the Demytrk Scholarship in the memo part of the check.
If you prefer, you can make a secure donation online:
Your donation will be processed through PayPal.
Forms of ContributionsYour gift, no matter what form it takes, qualifies as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes. Your attorney, accountant or financial advisor can best provide tax information specific to your situation. For further information, please contact the Development Office at 201-434-5938, ext. 39.
You can now make a secure online contribution.
Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards can be used. Contributions are processed through PayPal.Forms Your Gift Can Take:
Cash
Gifts of cash are the most common and popular forms of donations. Fully deductible cash gifts generally have a limit of 50 percent of adjusted gross income. The deduction must be taken in the year in which the gift is made.
Bequests
A bequest is a gift that you can make through your will. It can be a specific amount, or a portion of the estate and can be designated in the form of cash, securities, real estate or other property. In many instances, the tax benefits can affect the estate very favorably. Whether a large bequest or small, a planned gift through your will helps the Academy in many vital ways.
If you have already written a will and would like to add a provision for SDA without redrawing the entire document, you may do so by means of a codicil. The codicil is a legal addition or amendment to an existing will.
Securities
A gift of appreciated securities entitles a donor to a greater tax saving than a gift of cash and offers benefactors several advantages. No capital gains tax is owed by the donor on the increased value of the stock and the donor receives a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes based on the full fair market value of the securities on the date the gift is made. SDA benefits from the full market value of the securities, but the cost to the donor is only the original purchase price.
Life Insurance
A donor may purchase a life insurance policy and designate SDA as both the policy owner and beneficiary. In addition to providing SDA with a significant gift, the donor will enjoy the following tax advantages. Premium payments are tax-deductible with SDA named as the owner of the policy. Upon the donor’s death or when the policy matures, proceeds are paid immediately to SDA; neither the donor’s estate nor the school will be liable for gift or estate taxes.
Saint Dominic Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.