Fundraising goal begins

50 million dollar goal set for campuses

Minnehaha Academy’s leadership launched the largest fundraising effort in the school’s history, which was announced Oct. 17 in letters to M.A. parents from President Donna Harris and Marc Belton, a Board of Trustees member, parent and chair of the Together We Rise Campaign. 

The campaign goal is set at $50 million, which would be raised in two phases. The first goal is to raise $30 million by August 1, 2019, to build the Upper and Middle School at North Campus, Harris explained.

The August 2019 date is important because it will allow students to get back into the building for the 2019-2020 school year. 

Since June, more than $10 million has been pledged, said Sara Jacobson, executive director of institutional advancement.

“The amount was determined based on what we needed to build the schools in order to serve students now and in future generations,” Jacobson said. The century-old destroyed structure will be replaced with state-of-the-art facilities, she said.

The funds raised will supplement the insurance settlement received since the Aug. 2, 2017, explosion, Belton stated.

In phase two, $10 million would be raised for the renovation of the Lower School to accommodate the high demand for enrollment at those grade levels, as well as $10 million for the school’s endowment. 

“We are in a moment like no other,” Belton wrote to parents, “and we invite you to join us in this effort as we walk forward.”

More details about the campus designs and the fundraising project are available at the Together We Rise Campaign website:

www.twrcampaign.com