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An Investment In Boys High Is An Investment In South Africa
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Background to the campaign
14/06/2011
The need for a fundraising campaign was identified about six years ago. This was deemed necessary to give Boys High a much-needed capital injection for a major building project; funds to maintain the infra-structure as well as money to assist with benefits for staff and bursaries for boys who have an entitlement to be at the school. A series of strategic planning meetings were held involving staff, governors, parents and old boys. Once the needs and projects were identified, the planning and structuring of the campaign began in earnest in April 2010 with my retirement as headmaster.
The promotional material on this website will adequately outline why we need the money and how it will be utilised. When one realises that only 20% of what is required to run the school is provided by the Education Department, then one will understand the crucial need for the campaign to be a success. To meet the target of at least forty million rand is an urgent necessity if we are to keep Boys High's status as the leading school in South Africa and one of the best worldwide. We have to give the headmaster and his staff the tools with which to provide a world class education because it is, without doubt, the boys from schools such as ours that will make this country work.
A series of successful lunches have been held in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town for selected old boys. Contact has been made with selected old boys in the United States of America and Australia, with a fundraising function still to be held in London. Investec Bank has also offered an investment alternative to straight donations.
| Bill Schroder speaking at one of the fundraising lunches
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At this stage, these initiatives have brought in just over ten million rand in cash and pledges, which include two straight donations of one million rand each and a further five pledges of one million rand each. It is both interesting and moving to note that a straight donation of one million rand was made by David and Philip Chamberlain who are neither old boys or ex-parents but who believe passionately in the need for centres of educational excellence in our country and who identify fully with our campaign slogan. I am hoping that continued efforts in this area will enable us to go to the launch of the broad-based campaign with twenty million rand in pledges and in the bank.
| Mr Dawie Chamberlain presenting a cheque for R1million to the fundraising campaign
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The broad-based campaign will be launched on 22 July 2011 at a cocktail party at the school. Each year group, from 1950 to 2009 has been contacted and asked to divide the database of their year into teams. Each team will attempt to secure donations that are as generous as possible during an eight week campaign drive. Hopefully each member will only need to contact about ten classmates. Each year group has been set a target which I hope they will not only meet but beat and if they do, this part of the campaign should bring in another twenty million rand. While a one-off donation will be first prize, donations may be made annually over three years or monthly over thirty six months. During the eight week period from 22 July to 16 September 2011, the website will carry weekly bulletins and barometers as to how the campaign is going, so each year group will be able to measure its performance against some of the years closest to it. Past and present parents will also be approached to contribute.
The interest and tremendous support that I have had from those with whom I have been in contact in all aspects of the campaign thus far has been overwhelming. Some groups have doubled their targets while others have set up contacts overseas and in areas around the country. Many of the older year groups have based their team members with various class groups while the post-1994 years have used the house-system. The "Boys High magic" has been hugely evident thus far and I am optimistic that we will reach our target.
Please be as generous as you are able, being mindful of what you have gained from the school and your responsibility to ensure its future.
With gratitude and warm regards
Bill Schroder
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