Governor's School for the Arts Foundation, Inc.

Message from the Chair

2006 - 07 Annual Report

As we reflect upon the Foundation's accomplishments during fiscal year 2006-2007, we celebrate the successful partnership that exists between the Governor's School and the Foundation. We continue to work together to advance initiatives that enhance the Governor's School and the opportunities it offers its talented students.

This past year, the Foundation achieved several noteworthy milestones, which benefited both the Foundation and the School. We highlight a few of these events here.

In April 2007 the Foundation hosted its first Leadership Tribute, honoring individuals, companies and foundations for their support of the Governor's School. This special event, held on the Governor's School campus, increased statewide awareness about the School and raised more than $160,000 in support for the Foundation. Our plan is to make this an annual event, which not only heightens awareness and increases financial support of the School, but develops a "team" of honorees to represent the School in the statewide community.
This year the Foundation launched its new interactive website, www.gsafoundation.net, which provides information about ways to contribute to the Foundation and describes the various means of support that the Foundation offers to the Governor's School. This was made possible by a generous grant of Hollingsworth funds. Please visit the website located at www.gsafoundation.net.
Another highlight was the development of an original DVD, which will be used to recruit students from throughout South Carolina to the School. This is a wonderful example of the dynamic connection that exists among the Foundation, the Governor's School students and faculty, and community volunteers. The School's Student Improvement Council first suggested that such a visual aid was needed to recruit prospective students, and the idea was further developed by a school-community identity committee. The chairman of the School's Creative Writing Department, Scott Gould, directed the effort, utilizing current students as spokespersons. A local production company, TVP Studios, Inc., donated in-kind services to produce the DVD, and the Foundation financially underwrote the manufacture of this excellent communications piece. If you have not yet seen the video, the DVD may be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0dmXIZ6x4.

While we have accomplished new initiatives this past year, the Foundation continues to spend the majority of its dollars on scholarships for students who are otherwise unable to attend for financial reasons. By providing summer program scholarships and meal plan fees for qualified residential students, the Foundation has impacted positively the lives of some of our State's most talented emerging artists, opening doors that would be closed without the support of the Foundation's generous donors.

Scholarship funds totaling $166,400 were awarded for meal plan fees to qualified residential high school students this past year. Also, the Foundation provided $60,000 in financial assistance to 73 summer program students from 26 counties across the State, partnering with the School to provide tremendous opportunities for young emerging artists to experience the challenges and rewards of intensive arts training during summer sessions.

Directing the success of the Foundation this year was an outstanding Board of Directors. Retiring from the Board at our fiscal year end were Mary Belser (Columbia), Julia Buyck (Florence), Anthony Callander (Greenville), Mark Chapman (Greenville), Bob Liptak (Greenville), Frances MacIlwinen (Greenville), Paola Maoli (Columbia) and Sally Peterson (Hilton Head). This year Sally Skardon, who served the Foundation and the Governor's School for six years, also retired from her position as Executive Director. We are grateful to these individuals for their leadership and significant contributions to the growth and accomplishments of the Foundation and their efforts to support our students.

We thank everyone who took part in these successes - small and big. Without question, our efforts to underwrite unique learning opportunities that will encourage and support our State's talented emerging artists are not only making a difference in these young individuals' lives, but are also making a significant contribution to the future success of our State. We are inspired by the possibility of what the Foundation and the Governor's School can achieve when we work together.

In the coming year we will build on our achievements as the Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities strives to become the public arts high school that is the envy of the nation. Your continuing support will enable us to achieve that goal.

With our thanks,

William Crawford
Chairman