Why We Give: A Conversation with Our Annual Fund Chairs

Next week, our community will come together for Parent Week of Giving—a special week celebrating the collective impact SAA–SDS parents have on our students and schools.

Before the week begins, we asked our Annual Fund Chairs, Michelle and Matt Lammel, (SDS ’96) to share why supporting the Annual Fund is meaningful to their family.

Q: Why does your family choose to support the SAA–SDS Annual Fund?

A: We choose to support the Annual Fund because this school is ultimately where our children are growing up. Havens and Boyd spend so much of their childhood here, and we care deeply about what those years are like for them. We want them to love their school, feel that they belong, and have chances to discover what they’re capable of.  Tuition pays for a great deal, but it doesn’t cover the full experience we want for our children. The Annual Fund helps support so many of the little things that make SAA–SDS special.

Q: Why is parent participation so important?

A: A great school can’t stand still. New ideas come up, needs change over time, and opportunities appear that weren’t part of the plan a year ago. Strong parent participation gives St. Agnes and St. Dominic more room to respond, improve, and invest in the things that make a difference for our children. It allows the school to keep its focus looking ahead rather than simply maintaining what is already there.

Q: What would you say to a family that feels its gift may be too small to make a difference?

A: If you look around at our campus, it is clear that no single gift built the school we inherited. It was built over generations by families who each contributed what they could and trusted that others would do the same. Our responsibility is simple-to take our turn. When we all do that, every gift, no matter the amount, becomes part of something lasting.

Q: What do you hope our community accomplishes during Parent Week of Giving?

A: We hope to reach new highs in parent participation by welcoming new families into the tradition of supporting the Annual Fund and encouraging families who have been here but haven’t given in the past to take part this year. More than anything, we hope that collective support gives our administration and faculty the resources they need to make St. Agnes-St. Dominic more than just a school, but a place that helps shape who our children become.

One Community. One Mission. Every Gift Matters.

Unlike tuition, Annual Fund gifts are tax-deductible and provide important resources that enrich the SAA–SDS experience for every student. Whether a family gives $25, $250, $1,500 or more, each gift is a meaningful investment in our students, teachers and mission.

Parent Week of Giving begins Monday, September 28, and continues through Friday, October 2. We hope every family will join us in celebrating SAA–SDS with a gift that is meaningful to them.

Ready to Make an Impact?

Give today and help shape the next generation of leaders.

www.saa-sds.org/support

901-435-5816

4830 Walnut Grove Road

Memphis, TN 38117