Caring for Our Community
Give to the BFS Tuition Assistance Emergency Relief Fund
April 14, 2020
Dear BFS Community,
As a Quaker school, we are always called to consider the ways in which our actions can have a positive social impact on the human experience. I have learned that in times of difficulty throughout our school’s history, we have consistently come together to assist each other. Our value of stewardship has become most alive when we have acknowledged the blessings within our own lives and considered the ways in which we were then able to stand in support of others. Within Brooklyn Friends School, the COVID-19 global crisis has magnified this shared value.
Over the past several weeks, I have become personally aware of some of the unexpected hardships facing BFS families, Alumni and colleagues, who are in need of immediate assistance with critical life needs. Thus, now, I am leaning on your collective grace to help us compassionately address these needs.
Today, we are launching the first of two consecutive initiatives.
First Initiative: The BFS Cares Emergency Fund
The BFS Cares Emergency Fund has been established to allow us to assist those in need of immediate assistance with living essentials. The funds will be administered by the Financial Aid Coordinator, Vanessa Reynolds in partnership with me and will maintain the highest confidentiality. We are deeply grateful to a current BFS family who has offered to match the first $10,000 of gifts to this Fund. With a goal of raising $100,000 by April 20th, gifts of every size are valuable in helping us support our community in ways that might not otherwise be possible. If your family is in need of assistance, please contact Financial Aid Coordinator, Vanessa Reynolds at vreynolds@brooklynfriends.org.
Second Initiative: The Tuition Assistance Emergency Relief Fund
After April 20th, all donations to the school will be applied to the Tuition Assistance Emergency Relief Fund. The goal of this fund will be to help bridge the temporary hardships facing some of our families and continue to support their ability to remain at the school during this difficult time.
To make these efforts a priority, all Brooklyn Friends Fund solicitations will cease for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. All gifts made to the school prior to June 30, 2020 (including gifts to the Brooklyn Friends Fund, The Forever Young Prom, and these new initiatives) will count towards participation in giving for this school year.
Tax-deductible donations can be given to the BFS Cares Emergency Fund through our website. If, at the conclusion of this global crisis, there are funds remaining, they will be added to our Financial Aid funds to further assist BFS families in need. After April 20th, this link will allow donors to make a gift to the Tuition Assistance Emergency Relief Fund.
If you have any questions about making a gift to either of these initiatives, please contact Karen Edelman, Director of Advancement, at kedelman@brooklynfriends.org.
None of us could have anticipated the scope of challenge and disruption that this global crisis has brought to our lives, and yet, we have a true opportunity to make an immediate life-changing difference for members of our community. I am heartened with confidence that we will navigate all before us and grow as we live our mission and school values. As I have maintained, our shared humanity will rise above all.
Thank you, as always, for your gracious support.
In Partnership and with Gratitude,
Crissy Cáceres
Head of School