WHS Capital Campaign Results

The very successful 2010 Capital Campaign for Windham High School, the Endowment’s most ambitious project to-date, has ended. Generous residents, local organizations, and businesses came together to raise over $125,000 which enabled the new school to acquire capital items that were not included in its initial budget. These additional items will benefit both Windham students and the Windham community in general.

To acknowledge major donors to the Capital Campaign, the Windham Endowment created a campaign plaque that is mounted outside the entrance to the Windham High School auditorium. In addition, a reception for the donors and ceremony for the unveiling of the plaque was held on May 12, 2011. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all of the donors to the Campaign, whatever their level of support – none of the achievements of the Campaign would have been possible without them.

The Campaign was broken down into three funds so that a donor could make a gift to a particular area of interest. (Specifics about fund distributions are available here.)

Fine Arts
The Endowment raised over $50,000, allowing the Theatre and Music Programs to outfit the auditorium with an acoustical shell, wireless sound equipment, electric pianos, and support lighting as well as acquire numerous instruments for the band including a baby grand piano. While these acquisitions improve students’ learning experiences, they also benefit community groups that use the auditorium, such as the Windham Community Bands and the Windham Actors Guild. Obviously, there are also benefits for audience members at theatre and musical events.
Technology
The Endowment served as the fundraising arm for WIRE (Windham Initiative for Renewal Energy), whose mission is to “inspire our citizens and educate our students on the benefits of renewable energy”. Their first project is to install a wind turbine and solar panels at the high school, integrating them into the curriculum to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students. At the same time, this equipment will enable wind studies that will help quantify the long-term alternative energy opportunities at the high school. With the help of a $20,000 matching grant honoring Stephen O. Anderson, donations to WIRE exceeded $55,000. WIRE will issue an RFP (Request for Proposal) for this equipment and is planning a summer installation with the goal of student use during the 2011/12 school year.
Science
The Endowment’s goal in the area of Science was to provide a strong start to the long-term effort to create a greenhouse at the high school. Use of the greenhouse will be integrated into the Science curriculum and enable students to develop a fuller appreciation of environmental science, botany, and agriculture through hands-on experience. It may also be available to town organizations and individuals. The Endowment specific goal was to raise seed money for the greenhouse and create a committee that would continue oversight of the project at the conclusion of the Capital Campaign. As the Campaign concluded, the Endowment had raised over $20,000 in seed money and had created Team Greenhouse, the committee that will continue work on this project. The committee believes that it is now positioned to pursue grants and corporate donations as well as additional donations from organizations and individuals, and has set an aggressive goal to complete the project for the 2013/14 school year.

While the Capital Campaign has ended, the need continues. The Theatre and Music Programs would love to have additional equipment, WIRE has a vision for a renewable energy installation far beyond this first phase, and Team Greenhouse is just getting started. Therefore, the funds that were created during the Capital Campaign for all three areas will continue to accept contributions for the foreseeable future. If you would like to contribute to one or more of these funds, please visit the Endowment’s donations page.

The Windham Endowment is very proud of this successful effort to raise funds for equipment that will benefit both students at Windham High School and organizations and individuals in the town. Again, we want to thank everyone involved in making this Capital Campaign a tremendous success!

Windham Endowment for Community Advancement
P.O. Box 4315, Windham NH 03087
Tel: 603.437.0686
Email: ContactWE@windhamendowment.org