Building on Tradition Capital Campaign continues momentum

BA announces total pledged to date at Homecoming

Cougar football fans were treated to a special halftime presentation during homecoming on September 12. BA announced that the school has re-ceived gifts & pledges for $791,166. As the Copiah-Lincoln Community College drum corp. played a drum roll, Dr. Ed Moak, the voice of the Cougars, an-nounced the campaign numbers one-at-a-time as the senior cheerleaders removed the white bags covering the large number balloons, revealing the total amount pledged to date.

October, 2014

WAYS TO MAKE A GIFT:

CASH

BANK DRAFT

MATCHING GIFT

LIFE INSURANCE

REAL ESTATE

TRUSTS/ BEQUESTS

All contributions to the Building on Tradition campaign are 100% tax deductible.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Total amount raised to date

1

Wright led many during BoT

2

Smith’s building legacy of giving

3

Thank You Campaign Donors!

4

More than $791,000 Pledged to Date

LIKE US on Social Media

Volume 1: Issue 4

Brookhaven Academy is now more than a year into it’s capital campaign with a working goal of $1.175M. The school has received gifts and pledges for over $791,000 to date. The campaign will con-tinue with many proposals still out-standing and positive results expected. Also, many new families have requested information on the campaign. Campaign funds collected will be focused toward these six areas: (1) new furniture and equipment; (2) faculty endowment; (3) academics and technology; (4) campus security and aesthetics; (5) fund for excellence; and (6) athletics. Some campaign funds have already been applied to upgrade safety measures on campus. The new brick and iron fence and entrance gate facing the interstate are now complete. The all-purpose floor in the new multipurpose building is now installed. More capital improvements are planned as BA moves beyond today!

Balloons (791,166) were released by the cheerleaders.

From L: Board of Trustees President; Anthony Bell, Head of

School; Julie Wright & Dir. of Development, Brian Emory.

Brookhaven Academy leadership began discussing the idea of a capital campaign way back in 2007 in preparation for an upcoming Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation review. Leadership at that time realized the future of education was changing and there were issues to address, both big and small, in order to get the stamp of approval from the 11-state regional association. In preparation for the SACS accreditation review, a joint faculty-board committee was formed and was tasked with developing plans to address issues that included upgrading curriculum, implementing innovative teaching methods by incorporating today’s technology in the classroom, upgrading and enhancing campus security, and renovating and expanding the physical plant to accommodate the current challenges of providing a high quality education that best fulfills the stated mission and vision of the Brookhaven Academy Educational Foundation (BAEF). After several years of discussion spanning several boards and administration changes, the men and women on the 2011-2013 boards realized the need to move beyond discussion into action and explored tangible ways to meet the challenges, financial and otherwise, of “raising the bar” at BA. They quickly realized the need for the guidance of a professional fund-raising group. Under the progressive leadership of 2012 Board of Trustees President, Beck Warren, and with the highest recommendation from sev-eral other MAIS member schools that benefitted from their own capital campaigns, the board voted unanimously to contract with the J.F. Smith Group, based out of Auburn, AL, to lead an initial feasibility study which sought feedback from over 100 constituents of the BA family representing several generations of both former and current grandparents, faculty/staff, alumni and friends. Their feedback provided thoughtful insight and was the basis for several recommendations from J.F. Smith Group that helped facili-tate a move forward, not the least of which was guidance on forming a development office at BA as well as training board members, school staff and administrators on how to run a capital campaign from beginning to end. As a result, Building on Tradition, a Capital Campaign for Brookhaven Academy, was born. As leadership transitioned, the campaign went public under the watch of 2013 board president, Chris Thurman. Thurman led the first meeting to announce the school’s intentions to begin a year-long capital campaign with a goal of $1.175 million to address the ac-creditation and feasibility study recommendations. Many questions, and some doubt, arose when the plan was presented. Could BA really pull this off? Would it fall short of the goal? Do they really understand what is at stake? It was an ambitious undertaking. However, it was quickly apparent and it was quickly appar-ent that for this capital campaign to be successful and for the vision to become reality, the leader of the school had to be fully in-vested. No one involved over the last 12 months would argue that Head of School, Julie Wright, has been anything less than 110 per-cent involved and devoted to meeting the challenges of the moment. In addition to her role leading the school, Wright spent countless hours on weekly conference calls with the J.F. Smith Group and oth-ers. Additionally, with one to two other team members, she personally solicited over 150 BA patrons for Building on Tradition over a 12-month period. Jack Welch, legendary CEO of GE, once said, ‘A leader’s job is to look into the future and see the organization not as it is, but as it can and should be.’ In discussing Wright’s leadership, Thurman said, “Having worked directly with Julie over the course of the last year, it is apparent to me she has the passion, vision, and dedication necessary to move BA beyond today. Her commitment to do whatever was required to make ‘Building on Tradition’ a success was apparent from day one, even when it took her out of her comfort zone. She, along with her husband and family, are to be commended for the personal sacrifices that have been and continue to be made that allow her to lead BA to meet the challenges of today’s educational environment. We are all fortunate to have a dedicated profes-sional like Julie Wright for such a time as this.” “The professionalism of the J.F. Smith Group was inspiring and refreshing and we felt like we were their only client,” Wright said. “The

saying goes, ‘You get out of it what you put in to it’ and in the case of Building on Tradition, contracting with the J.F. Smith Group was

the best decision for BA.”

Now, one year later, 116 BA Patrons have committed to Building on Tradition in the amount of $791,166. The total marks the most ever raised by the school during a fundraising campaign.

Building on Tradition capital campaign a result of 7 years of planning

Page 2

Quote from Julie here

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill By investing in the community that has invested in their business, Mike and Josh Smith have established their company, Insurance and Risk Managers, as a fixture of philanthropy in Lincoln County.

That’s been his philosophy since Mike, president of IRM, entered the insurance business over 40 years ago and much of the Brookhaven community has benefitted from his support through the years.

Often presented with opportunities by groups seeking their support, the Smith’s prefer not to focus on branding their company, but saving that money and investing it back in to the community.

“When we’re approached with giving opportunities we prefer to help fund anything youth-oriented,” Mike said. “I understand that youth programs like BA’s Robotics Club can’t support itself, so we need to get involved.”

Both were solicited at the same time for Building on Tradition, a Capi-tal Campaign for Brookhaven Academy, by Head of School, Julie Wright and J.F. Smith Group Vice President, Laura Robertson. They knew by the time the meeting was over what they were going to do.

“We went into that meeting with a number in mind and we actually gave a little more than that,” said Josh. “We were impressed with the proposal and we saw the need was there to upgrade academic technology, so we pledged even more.”

Currently the vice president of the Board of Trustees and a Brook-haven Academy graduate, Josh has continued his father’s legacy of giving.

“I know that BA has always had support in athletics,” Josh said. “We made sure that our gift would only be used to fill academic needs

because as a two-time board member, I understood what our needs were.” Mike added, “We always want our gifts to lean towards academics and technology.”

The Smith’s believe in the future of BA, beyond today. Future teacher development and funding the faculty endowment are at the top of the list. The Smith’s have a history of upgrading academic technology at BA. They gave 50 percent of the cost of all the SmartBoard’s needed in the elementary school and purchased iPad’s and MacBook’s for all of the teachers. All of this began with the tour of campus Julie Wright gave Mike Smith a few years ago.

“We support the schools in Lincoln county as well Pike County, since we also have an office there,” Mike said.

The Smith’s are perhaps best known for organizing the Tucker Golf Tournament, played in Brookhaven, for the last 18 years. Habitat for Humanity and more recently Folds of Honor have benefitted from the successful tournament. The tournament is held in memoriam to Mike’s son and Josh’s brother Tucker, who was killed in a tragic accident in 1996.

Page 3

Pictured from left: Josh and Mike Smith

Father and son Mike and Josh Smith building legacy of philanthropy

BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY

943 Brookway Blvd. Ext. Brookhaven, MS 39601

(601) 833-4041

www.brookhavenacademy.org

Thank You, Campaign Donors!

Jerry & Sherylyn Evans Tommy & Holly Franklin Andy & Dawn Freeman Mack Gardner Jeff & Stacy Garner Jamie & Frances Gatlin Jeff & Melissa Gatlin David Gilbert Chris & Kelly Grice Dave & LeeAnn Griffin Jeff & Nikki Henning

Andrew & Karen Hickman Johnny & Amy Hodges James & Leslie Hood Paul & Becky Jackson Dr. Clay & Kerri Johnston Ronnie & Kim Keene Allen & Wanda Kent Terri Langley Jim & Lawana Latham Mark & Dorothy LeBlanc JoAnn Lewis Adam & Brittany Lofton Seth & Kaylin Lofton Donald & Laura Lorraine Keith & Selina Lucas Bob & Carol Massengill Chris & Melissa McGraw Tripp McCarty Elmer & Treva McInnis

Juan & Rachel Smith Mark P. & Susan Smith Michael & Cindy Hyde Smith Mike & Josh Smith, IRM Wade & Teresa Smith Dean and Carla Snider Sissy Spence State Bank & Trust Jackie & Tanya Stephens Gary & Tonya Stewart Parish & Carinna Stewart Tim and Nay Thornhill Chris & Kim Thurman Myra Thurman Dwight & Kathy Trim Trustmark Bank Joel & Amanda Upton Becky Vaughn-Furlow Dale & LeAnn Waldrop Phyllis Wallace Beck & Angie Warren Madison Warren Bob & Dianne Watson Ronnie & Lynn Watson Dale & Lucy Watts Korey & Crystal White Eddie & Jennifer Wiggins Jimmy & Julie Wright

Ricky & Kelly Allen Scotty & Daisy Arnold Johnny & Jaclyn Ball Clint Bane Bank of Brookhaven Bank of Franklin Anthony & Wanda Bell Stephen & Kaitlyn Bozeman Brookhaven ENT Joey Brown Julius & Judy Burt Terry & Liz Byrd Keith & Christie Case Kris & Beth Case Ryan and Wendi Case Bruce & Stacy Clanton Charley & Christy Clark Daniel & Loree Coleman Taylor & Lindy Coleman Kendall & Jennifer Covington Jay & Deanna Culbertson Dickerson & Bowen Keith and Vickie Dorman Dr. Bill & Stacy Dixon David & Marklyn Dunaway Linda Ebbers Casey & Brooke Edwards Brian & Heather Emory Cecil & Velma Estess Clint & Charlsie Estess

Terri Hux Dr. Steve & Juli Mills Taz & Mandy Milstead Dr. Ed & Patti Moak Hal & Kelli Miller Guy & Page Nelson Eric & Tawana Nettles Michael & Denise Nettles Troy & Brenda Orr Phillips Bark Kevin & Rhonda Posey Blake Purvis Kyle & Hilmari Ray Josh and Isabel Reed Chris & Keiza Reid David Rigdon Jeff & Karen Rogers Clint & Christy Rounsaville Ted & Carolyn Rounsaville Dr. Richard & Paula Rushing Chad & Colette Sanford Clyde & Denise Sbravati Kim and Kristy Sessums Barry & Regina Shedd Carl & Malisia Smith Chad & Erin Smith Chad P. & Anna Smith Clay & Kim Smith Dustin & Leah Smith Jerry F. Smith