The Park School Foundation 5 “All of us are proud - as are all of you - to find ourselves a part of Park.” - founding student and alumni parent Stockton Kimball, at the 1957 dedication of Kimball and Stone Halls Dear Park Community, The Foundation of the Park School of Buffalo is an independent organization whose sole mission is to support the operations of The Park School of Buffalo. Much like a good, solid, dry foundation of a house, The Park School Foundation bolsters the school without calling attention to itself. Houses are interesting and basements are boring; and yet, without a sturdy basement, even the most beautiful house can crumble. The Park Foundation was established in 1972, under a trust agreement as a special vehicle to receive contributions for and in furtherance of supporting school operations. In 2020, the Foundation was incorporated as a New York State nonprofit, governed by an independent board of directors including current and former school trustees, alumni with investment expertise, and current and former parents. The endowment is housed under the purview of the Foundation, and all philanthropic proceeds - including funds received from the school’s auction and annual giving drive - flow through the Foundation to the school. The goals of the Foundation are to ensure fidelity to donor intent, and to protect and grow the endowment. The Foundation is strong because its members combine their financial expertise with a deep devotion to Park School and its sustainability. My predecessor as President was Trudy Mollenberg, mother and grandmother to Park students and a former member of the Board of Trustees. She has a deep knowledge of nonprofit management practices and governance, and she worked tirelessly along with former trustee Julie Rizzo to install precise oversight and decision-making processes that will ensure the stability of the Foundation for generations to come. While few see this kind of work, is critical to the effective functioning of the school. Most of the endowment funds have been earmarked by donors for scholarships and teacher salaries. There are some funds restricted to school programs such as the arts. There are also unrestricted funds that donors have said can be used for other needs as determined by the school’s leadership. As the endowment grows through the work of the Foundation, the Power of Park committee’s capital campaign, and the generosity of Park’s supporters, the school will have even more of a foundation to effectively support its teachers and students. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to benefit the teachers and students, for they turn the Park “house” into a home. Sincerely, Martin Berardi President, The Park School Foundation THE POWER OF Park holds a special place in my heart because it helped shape the person I am today. Now, through the eyes of my children, I see the magic I felt as a student reflected in their curiosity, joy, and sense of belonging. I feel it every morning at drop-off when they give me a quick, “I love you, Mom, see you later,” and never look back, confidently walking into their second home. I watch my kids being greeted by Lisa Conrad, Seamus Gallivan and Natalie Zorn, just to name a few. I see Mr. Bob walking Lower School kids into their classroom, holding their hands. Every morning starts with smiles and warmth. Park is more than a school - it’s a place that transforms, challenges, and supports students in ways that last a lifetime. Whether you went here or have sent your kids here, we all took something from Park; let’s give something back for the next generation. The Power of Park is our most ambitious campaign ever, and we’ve now raised our two largest gifts ever, $1M each. We invite you to join us in completing this vision. Your legacy will live on in every student who finds themselves here - every gift, big or small, truly matters. Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97, Co-Chair, The Power of Park Campaign Committee A comprehensive capital campaign
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