As the Edge School for Athletes opened its doors to a new school year last week, it also marked the official beginning of the new Edge School Foundation.
Focused on forward-thinking methodology, the Foundation will put forth efforts to both raise funds and the profile of the school amongst past donors, as well as further establish a network of contacts in the Rocky View community
Yvonne McDonald, director of fundraising, said the new Foundation has a two-year outline of event-based plans already in place. The first one will be a donor reception at the school on Sept. 28.
“We’re inviting all of the Edge friends and past donors, parents that have helped at the school,” said McDonald, who began her role in May. “The guests will come in and meet some of the senior students, who will then be able to take them on a tour of the school. It’s really showcasing what the school is all about and what sports we have. It’s providing them an opportunity and saying ‘hey, thanks.’”
The evening will feature activities ongoing at all of Edge’s facilities, including outdoor soccer games, people training in the Duckett centre, a dance performance in the gymnasium and games on both ice sheets. There will then be reception in the library, with a formal introduction of new CEO and principal Cam Hodgson.
“They will also introduce the foundation and the 16-member board of directors,” McDonald said. “What we’ll do is let them know our what our mandate is – and our mandate is to fundraise and friend raise.”
Part of the Foundation’s goal will be to enhance the Edge School’s endowment for financial aid and facility upgrades.
“We set a goal of $500,000 and we already have a commitment for $100,000 of that, so it’s taking off really well. It’s due a lot to the people here; the founders, the passionate people that built this place, and are still looking after it, and my board of directors,” McDonald said.
“Not a lot of people realize that at Edge, over 25 per cent of the students that come here are on financial aid, which is provided to them from Edge School. They have to apply and qualify for it, but we are here to help them.
“We want the Springbank community, and the Calgary community, to know that we are not a private school that is fee-based and only those rich kids can come here. We want them to know this option is available.”
The Edge School Foundation’s donor reception will take place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 28.
