EDS Capital Campaign Update
Phase 2 Launch
Campaign Goal: $1.1 Million
Dollars Raised to Date: $637,153
We are half way there!
Since our last newsletter we have reached half of our campaign goal! We are so encouraged by the outpouring of giving we have received from our families. In only 4 months we have raised $551,753.
Now is the time to join together to reach our interim goal of $750,000 by the end of April. We are in the process of reaching out to all our EDS families so ANSWER THE CALL! We are in this together!
Campaign goal: $1.1 million
Dollars raised to date: $551,753
Latest Renderings
Donor Spotlight: Somer and Aaron Brown
Why Do We Want To Advance the Vision?
The morning of our first meeting about the Campaign, the girls asked why we were staying at school that morning after carpool. When I explained to them that we were going to talk about building an EDS high school our oldest daughter’s eyes filled with excitement and she said, “Can you ask Mother Boo to build a college too?” While her reaction made us laugh, it also made the decision easy for us to get involved in this campaign.
EDS has not only provided an unsurpassed educational experience, allowing both of our children (who could not be more different) to thrive and grow as learners and as people, but has also become “home” to them. The educational environment at EDS simply cannot be beat – the faculty, staff, and parents alike all foster a feeling of family while pushing each and every child to be their absolute best. A week does not pass where we, as parents, do not learn something from our girls – whether it be the name of the composer who wrote the background music in a movie we are watching or the importance of “filling someone’s bucket”. Not only our children, but our entire family is better because of EDS.
While it seems light years away, before we know it our girls will be going off to high school and quite frankly, as it stands, there is not a high school in this area that gives us the comfort and confidence that our girls will continue to grow as students and people to reach their highest potential. This is why an EDS high school is not only important to us – it is a must-have. To know that our children will continue on the amazing educational and spiritual path they began in Pre-K 2 is an assurance that we cannot put a value on. To know that we will be a part of making that happen – not only for our children but for all of the children in the Lake Area now and for many, many years to come – gives us a sense of both pride and honor. While obviously we are happy to do this to insure our own girls’ receive the best possible high school education, we also feel that it is a way of giving something to our community that it desperately needs.
Whether it is a $1 or $1 Million, every cent that we collectively give to this Campaign is truly an investment in the future – our children’s future, our community’s future, and the future of our entire society. It is an invaluable investment that will give returns beyond our lifetime and I cannot think of a better way to spend both my time and my money than to insuring this Vision becomes a reality.
- Somer and Aaron Brown
Words from the Chairman of the Board: Rob Price, III
It was six years ago that I walked through the EDS campus when I was looking for a school for my son to attend. Both of my nephews were attending the school at that time, and I knew of the caring attention that they both received from the faculty. So it was really a no-brainer for me. I was really impressed with the organic, “outside the box” experience that the school’s curriculum offered. Programs like “The Leader in Me” and the “7 Habits of Successful Kids” told me right away that EDS was a different place to learn. But the loving warmth that could be felt from every faculty member I met is what really cemented the deal for me. With the smallest class sizes in town, my son has benefited tremendously from the individual attention you can only get at EDS. But, alas, I quickly realized that my son’s experience in this environment would end after the eighth grade. Does it really have to be this way? I then realized that I wanted to do something about that.
I joined the Board of Trustees three years ago with one goal in mind…making the new EDS high school a reality. The fundraising for the new campus had been proceeding quietly for years with many people wondering if it would ever happen, but we finally turned the corner last year. We had enough funds to start the process of building.
We immediately engaged the architect and engineers, and anticipate turning dirt this fall on what may be one of the most critical projects for the future of the SWLA area. We had enough, but not all the funds needed to complete 100% of the envisioned campus. That’s where the “Advancing the Vision” campaign comes in. We needed one last big push to get to our ultimate goal of building-out a complete facility. And that’s where you come in.
My many thanks to all the wonderful, generous people that realize the importance of this facility. Even if you have no ties to EDS, the value brought forth by having another private high school option in the Lake Charles area will benefit all the citizens of our community. Showcasing a school like the new South Campus will be a major attractant for new businesses coming to our area. Simply put, our area desperately needs a new facility such as this. It’s so fantastic that you chose to participate in this landmark project. As we move forward, please continue to spread the word of the value of our new school. Do all you can to send others’ generosity our way. You have my firm commitment that I will not rest until the first student crosses the threshold of this new school.
Rob Price, III
Board Chairman
Campaign Committee Leadership
Executive Planning Committee
Chairman: Steven Hale
Rob Price
Keith Portie
Matt Lundy
Lisa Rubino
Jenny Leach
Margaret Wukovits
Amanda Meche
Somer Brown
Cultivation and Involvement Committee
Chairman: Somer Brown
Jenny Leach
Lori Hale
Amy Donald
Jay Marque
Tammie Lebert
Event Committee
1. Co-chairman: Nealie Hale and Emma Mulhearn
Direct Mail and Peer to Peer
Chairman: Margaret Wukovits
Lisa Leubner
Laurie Ardoin
Amber Corliss
Gretchn El-Mogazi
Yolanda Fountain
Aimee Goldman
Holly Kelley
Prayer and Encouragement
1. Chairman: Boo Kay
2. Fr. Jack Myers
3. John Robert Black
4. Pepe Vasquez
5. Angela Bulhof
6. Bobbie Yellott
7. Gabe Fontenot
8. Martin Yokum
Thank you to all our generous donors!
Mr. and Mrs. Joey Ardoin
Mr. and Mrs. Todd Areno
Mr. Beau Barbe
Mr. and Mrs. Rusty Begnaud
Ms. Susan Blake
Mr. and Mrs. Billy Blake
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Bonilla
Mr. Jeremy Boudreaux
Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Broderick
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Brown
Mr. Billy Buehler
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Burke
William T. and Ethel Lewis Burton Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Burton
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Camel
Dr. and Mrs. Brett Cascio
Kevin and Chantal Castille
Ms. Joy Castle
Dr. Stephen Castleberry
Kelli Castleberry
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Clemmons
Mr. and Mrs. William Condos
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cox
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Daigle
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey L. Davis
Rev. and Mrs. Seth Donald
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Doucet
Mitch and Linda Drost
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Duplechin
Mr. and Mrs. Phil Earhart
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Elliot
Mr. and Mrs. Rick El-Mogazi
Mrs. Lesli Ericson
Ms. Audrey Evans
Mr. and Mrs. Lane Farque
Mrs. Heidi Fisher
Ms. Christine Fontenot
Mr. Gabe Fontenot
Ms. Sally Fruge
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Fruge
Mrs. Elayne Gabbert
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Gilmore
Dr. and Mrs. Harry Goodwin
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gover
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Grogan
David and Kathy Grubb
Corinne Grubb
Dr. and Mrs. Steven Hale
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Hale
Mr. and Mrs. JD Hankins
Ms. Savannah Havard
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Hebert
Mrs. Belinda Hebert
Mrs. Ashley Hughes
Ms. Gage Ibeck
JF Smith Group
Ms. Julie Robertson
Juliet E. Hardtner Trust
Reverend Frances "Boo" Kay
Mr. and Mrs. Don Kay
Dr. and Mrs. Mohammad Khan
Mr. and Mrs. Randall King
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lawton
Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Leach
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Leach
Dr. and Mrs. Brad Lebert
Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Leblanc
Mr. and Mrs. James Leubner
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Lundy
Mrs. Betty Manuel
Mrs. Candace Marque
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Marriner
Mr. Ed Martin
Dr. and Mrs. Butch Maze
Mr. and Mrs. Doug McElveen
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Meche
Mr. and Mrs. Todd Melton
Mrs. Missy Mickey
Mr. and Mrs. David Minton
Dr. and Mrs. John Moffett
Mr. and Mrs. Billy Navarre
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Nicholas
Ms. Kay Noble
Mr. and Mrs. Lonny (Amanda) Ogea
Mr. Keith Portie
Mr. and Mrs. JB Postell
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Potter
Mrs. Amanda Pousson
Dr. Alice Prestia
Price Family
Ms. Katie Quibodeaux
F. Warren Raggio
Ms. Jean Marie Rasbeary
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rau
Mrs. Jody Reed
Mrs. Libby Richards
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Richardson
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Riquelmy
Mr. and Mrs. Billy Rose
Ms. Mandi Royer
Dr. and Mrs. Greg Rubino
Mrs. Stephanie Savoie
Mrs. Taryn Scarborough
Mr. and Mrs. John Schnake
Mr. and Mrs. Corey Scroggs
Mr. Tom Shearman
Ms. Pam Spears
Mr. and Mrs. Gray Stream
Southwest Beverage
Mrs. Anna Temple
Ms. Brittany Theriot
Mrs. Alisha Tumey
Ms. Julie Van Dyke
Mrs. Kim Vasquez
Ms. Kailey Venable
Mrs. Ada Vincent
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Werner
Glenda Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Williams
Mrs. Sandra Williams
Mrs. Kyra Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Williamson
Ms. Amelia Yakupzack
List reflects gifts received as of April 2018. Please contact the EDS Office of Advancement if an error has been made.
How Can You Help?
We ask everyone to pray for and encourage our committees as we continue to raise funds for our new middle and upper school. If you would like to get involved in additional capacities please call the Advancement office at (337) 433-5246 and ask for Allison Schnake, Director of Advancement.