by Frank Curreri

,

Staff Writer

September 2, 1998

In the Barrie School's quest to raise $2 million, officials there say they are more than halfway toward meeting their goal.

The money will be used to build a 24,000-square-feet gymnasium and performing arts facility at the independent, coeducational school at 13500 Layhill Rd. in Wheaton.

While raising $2 million may seem a lofty goal, million-dollar fund-raising campaigns are commonplace among private schools, said Kate Bramante, Barrie's capital campaign director.

"This is something all independent schools, all colleges do," she said. "We don't have a tax base like public schools. So we have to rely on internal sources to get money.

"A $2 million capital budget is modest compared to other private schools," she said. "You call most and I bet they're in the middle of a major fund-raising campaign. It's something we do all the time. It's part of the life of an independent school."

The primary targets of Barrie's fund-raising efforts are parents and corporate sponsors.

Due to its small size and the fact that it didn't offer high school classes from its Montgomery County location until the early 1980s, Barrie has about 200 alumni, Bramante said. Thus, parents of current students also are heavily relied upon for financial contributions.

Alumni parents and current parents have responded strongly thus far, according to Bramante. One set of parents has pledged to donate $550,000. Another, has agreed to give $50,000. Eight others are slated to give $25,000 each. And 10 sets of parents have given at least $10,000, she said.

"Every school has a handful of people who make it happen," Bramante said.

But asking people to give such large amounts of money is not something to be done via the mail, Bramante said.

"Of course, when you're asking people for major amounts of money, you don't just send an envelope to them," Bramante said. "You have to personalize it, go to their home and show them your plans."

A core of dedicated volunteers -- 25 to 30 of them -- have helped Barrie raise $1.09 million as of March 1, Bramante said. Bramante said she expects Barrie's current fund-raising campaign to continue until the end of the next school year.

If all goes as planned, Bramante said construction of the building will begin in late October or early November 1998.

As a small school with less than 500 students and no religious affiliation, Bramante said Barrie's 1998-99 annual tuition fees for prekindergarten ($8,450) through 12th grade ($12,250) are fairly standard.

All donations are tax-deductible, Bramante said, but she doesn't believe that is what's motivating people to give money.

"I think people don't just give because it's tax-deductible," she said. "I think they really give because it's something they feel committed to, and makes them feel good because it's an institution they are proud of."

Some donors have been transferring stocks to Barrie rather than cash, Bramante said, and that is doubly advantageous for them.

"For those who transfer stock to the school, they get double tax benefits," Bramante said. "They don't have to pay capital gains on the appreciation of their stock," plus the contribution is tax-deductible."

For Bramante, there much optimism that Barrie will raise $2 million, which she believes will build even more pride within its community.

"It's a challenge for us, and we fully expect to meet that goal," she said. "And it will be a real boost to the community to say, 'Wow! We raised $2 million,' because it's not something we've ever done before."