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Annual Gap Drive
An Annual Gap Drive is held every year. It bridges the difference between what is charged for tuition and what it actually costs to educate each child and run the school, a difference of $907 per student. Its purpose is to meet expansion needs and to provide enhancements to our school's educational programs that are not covered by tuition. Our goal is for the Annual Gap Drive to reach 100% participation of all school and parish families. Annual giving supports quality programs provided to the children of the school.
Tuition revenues do not cover all of the school's operating costs. By bridging the gap through fundraising, tuition is kept at a reasonable rate and allows the opportunity for more parish families to choose a Catholic education for their children. The school relies on the generosity of donors to fund program enhancements and improvements.
There are two ways to provide the funds to pay the full cost of an education at St. Thomas. A high tuition alone can be used to cover the full cost of educating one child, which is approx. $7,000 and increasing. A second option is to cover basic educational needs through tuition and to provide for the extra enhancements through voluntary contributions from parishioners, parents, grandparents, alumni and friends. Most private and parochial schools use the second method because it allows the school to keep tuition as affordable as possible.
Donations to the Annual Gap Drive are 100% tax deductible as charitable contributions. Tuition increases are not.
Contributing to the Annual Gap Drive can also help bring outside money to the school. When schools seek money from foundations and corporations or other major donors, they look closely at the percentage of parental participation in annual giving. Participation tells corporate and foundation donors that the families of the school believe a St. Thomas education is important and worthy of support. Last year, we received a $50,000 grant from the Catholic Foundation and a $2,500 grant from Best Buy for technology. This year we received a $25,000 grant from the Catholic Foundation. We will continue to seek outside funding, but we must also demonstrate that our community is doing all that it can to meet needs.
Our parish children attending St. Thomas benefit from your participation in several ways. The teachers of our children receive benefits, both monetary and in professional development, provided by the Annual Gap Drive. Based on faculty proposals, the Msgr. John Gulczynski Endowment Fund (a designated gift opportunity in the Annual Gap Drive) provides numerous educational enhancements to our classrooms each year. Program enhancements, such as a new Math and Guided Reading curriculum/textbooks, science and computer lab equipment, classroom equipment, etc. have been provided with Annual Gap Drive gifts. Gap Drive funds support the operations budget, and bridges the gap between what it costs to run the school and what is charged in tuition, a difference of $907 per child for this school year.
The Annual Gap Drive and Parents' Association fundraisers are BOTH vital income to our school's operating budget. Every dollar given through these avenues is spent exclusively on our school. The Annual Gap Drive dollars pay for additional classes and enrichment, educational enhancements, faculty development and ongoing education to help attract and retain the best teachers for St. Thomas. Parents' Association funds are committed (as a part of the operating budget) to Athletics, Field Trips, Library, Scholarships, Student Programs, Technology and Teachers' Open Account, among other things. Both of these efforts help ensure that our students receive the best that Catholic education has to offer.
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