Online Donations

Credit card contributions are transmitted to University School via a secure web server provided by PayPal. Please click on the link below to make an online donation. On the PayPal page, just type "Annual Fund" in the description, enter the amount and then click Update.

By making a donation to University School, you visibly demonstrate your belief in USL's mission and your desire to support the school. Every contribution is greatly appreciated and truly makes a difference to University School's success. USL is incorporated as a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

Support University School's 2012-2013 Annual Fund

Dear Friends of University School of the Lowcountry,

As we make our way past Thanksgiving and onward toward Christmas, there is much time for reflection and giving thanks for family, health, or the experiences and people who give joy to our lives.  With thanks in mind, I am writing to request your support for the 2012-2013 University School of the Lowcountry (USL) Annual Fund drive.

The USL Annual Fund is a yearly effort to raise undesignated funds for the school that support small class size, competitive teacher salaries, “Learning Outside the Classroom” (LOTC) trips, excellent equipment such as laptops and state-of-the-art science data loggers, and low tuition rates relative to the high quality of the education.  Furthermore, consistent with its compassionate and community-minded culture, USL offers Financial Aid to all qualified applicants so that limited means do not mean limited opportunity.   Most independent schools employ an Annual Fund campaign as a primary fundraising strategy, and the 2012 USL Annual Fund drive is the only major fundraiser for the rest of this school year.

My son, Rhett (5th grade), and daughter, Merritt (3rd grade), are new to USL this year.  And although our tenure at USL has been relatively brief, I often have difficulty condensing what I love about the school to those who ask.  What I can say, pertinent to the 2012-2013 Annual Fund campaign, is that when one considers how truly much we receive at USL, tuition is a bargain compared with other comparable schools in the area.  For that reason, if not for any other, I urge you to support the fundraising drive.

Like other USL parents, the health and welfare of my children are foremost in my thoughts, and I constantly work to make sure that my kids are striving, questioning, having fun, being kind, developing healthy habits, and learning respect so that they will reach their potential and be happy in their lives.  School is an enormous component of their development, so choosing the right one is crucial.

A traditional goal of schools was to produce healthy, well-rounded students who had a strong foundation in language and mathematics.  The teacher-in-front-of-the-blackboard style was the primary method.  With the advent of the computer, however, the number of tools available to teachers have led to a corresponding increase in the available methods of teaching.  Progressive, forward-thinking schools such as USL have embraced technology and provided new opportunities to their students that didn’t exist previously. 

First and foremost, the USL curriculum is designed within a framework of small class sizes taught by dedicated, passionate, and talented educators.  Students stay informed through internet-based CNN Student News broadcast via projector, sample scientific data like relative humidity and dewpoint temperature using data loggers, or use spreadsheets to convey information before heading off to their Mandarin classes.  Physical Education, a daily component of USL life, fires students’ brains and encourages them to develop healthy habits.  USL students do not merely study one foreign language—they study two (three once they get to Latin), which, aside from the cognitive benefits, will give them confidence to navigate the global economy.  They connect to their local community through service and stewardship, which teaches them awareness, compassion, and respect.  They study and practice leadership and other life skills that will arm them with, among other things, the character and grit they will need to have the courage to chart their own paths in life.  The Mentorship program both promotes and reinforces the USL culture by providing positive role models for younger students.  Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) days provide experiential learning and practice of their developing character skills.

Your participation in the 2012-2013 USL Annual Fund will help the school continue providing these important benefits to your children and the community at-large.

The 2012-2013 Annual Fund goal is $40,000, and all donations are tax-deductible.  Payments can be made by check made payable to University School of the Lowcountry (please note “Annual Fund” on the check) or by visiting the online Annual Fund Paypal link. Many businesses also match contributions by their employees, and University School is eligible for these programs because it is an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. 

While the dollar goal is important to USL, a perhaps more important goal is that of 100% participation.  We ask that all families contribute, no matter the amount, as 100% participation success will qualify USL for special grant opportunities, which will in turn offer even more to your children in the future.  USL does not publish or otherwise make known donor names or amounts. 

Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, a graduate, a future parent, or simply a friend of USL, we would greatly appreciate your support for this year’s Annual Fund.  With your contribution, USL can continue to grow and impact our community in a positive way.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Rhett Baldwin
Father of Rhett (5th) and Merritt (3rd)