The Community School in Sun Valley received a $1 million challenge grant from a generous family who has asked to remain anonymous, school spokeswoman Tyra MacGuffie announced this week.
The $1 million challenge grant is part of the Campaign for Trail Creek, which was launched in September. The grant states that the donor will match—dollar for dollar—up to a total of $1 million, any new gifts the school receives in support of its campaign.
The grant "is a great boost to the capital campaign," said Jack Bunce, Community School board member. "We have had great momentum going this fall and if this challenge grant is met, will be very close to reaching our goal."
To date, the Campaign for Trail Creek has raised more than $8.3 million in gifts from parents, alumni, board members, foundations and friends in the community, MacGuffie said.
The goal of the campaign is to improve The Community School's facilities on its Trail Creek Campus and to increase the school's endowment.
A new Upper School construction project has already been completed as part of the Trail Creek improvement process. Future plans included in the campaign are the construction of a science building, renovation of the Elementary School, Dumke Middle School and Engl Hall and expansion of the parking lot, MacGuffie said.
"Although the family wishes to remain anonymous, their gift will have an impact on students for generations to come," Andy Jones-Wilkins, the newly appointed head of school, said. "The family's commitment will certainly inspire others to make stretch gifts to the campaign."
The $8.3 million raised to date includes an earlier $500,000 challenge grant, which was announced on Sept. 14, at the campaign's public launch and was met in the months following the announcement. The Campaign for Trail Creek has also received two seven-digit gifts from board members who made contributions earlier in the campaign, MacGuffie said.
When the latest challenge is met, funds raised by the campaign will exceed $10.3 million, $900,000 shy of the $11.2 million total campaign goal.
