SAR's Capital & Endowment Campaign
Building Spectacular Futures
As SAR experiences life at 50 and plans for the future, we need to transform key spaces to serve the needs of our students, faculty, and our mission. Our projects to improve our campus, appropriately mark the 50th anniversary.
SAR's architecture is legendary for its unique structure and its openness.
SAR Today
The SAR architecture is renowned for the way it complements SAR’s educational philosophy and the role it plays in harnessing the energy, achdut, and joy that are hallmarks of an SAR education.
After the merger of three Yeshivot in 1968 that came to form SAR Academy, an award winning building opened in 1974 for grades 1-8. Over the last 50 years we have expanded our building and established a High School to accommodate a student body of 1450+ children in grades N-12. Our nursery students enjoyed and learned in the original “carriage house” from the Toscanini Estate located on the same property as the elementary school building.
Early Learning Center
The New Early Learning Center
The original ELC structure is over 70 years old and the time has come to create a new space for our youngest students. Our future begins with our students, and our students’ beginnings start with the ELC. SAR’s Early Learning Center supports approximately 200 children with the most inquisitive minds.
The new building will be created for 21st century learning; it will be environmentally friendly; it will be developmentally appropriate; and it will be created as a platform for life and learning that is philosophically in line with SAR values of respect, compassion, and Torah.
SAR will have an unparalleled space for inaugurating an educational journey that begins with great teachers, Hebrew immersion, experiential learning, STEAM-focused curricula, creative spaces, and more.
We shared a lighthearted video message with our community to communicate the announcement of the new ELC thrilling news for the future of SAR. Click here and enjoy!
Academy Campus
The Academy Campus
The Academy Building has expanded over the last 50 years to serve as a platform for the educational journey for the 1st through 8th grade. After the initial build in 1974, the first major expansion took place in 2001 when the a new floor was added to the top of the building giving middle school students their own space that was needed. Additionally, the school added an atrium in the lobby that has since become an iconic element of SAR, and an important space for community gatherings and student life.
In 2016, a 34,000 sq ft build-out gave our students a second gym, a middle school lounge and cafe, a new Beit Midrash, and much needed classroom space.
High School
The High School Expansion
In total, the plans add approximately 8,800 square feet to SAR High School. The build-out will leverage internal spaces without changing the building’s existing ground footprint.
The expansion will enlarge the second through fourth floors and includes:
Six new classrooms
A new Beit Knesset
Conference rooms
Offices for faculty and staff
An expanded Student Learning Center (SLC)
MakerSpace Lab
The environment we provide for students allows for conversations and experiences that further student learning, help develop meaningful relationships, and engage students in activities that they find meaningful.
We invite you to partner with us on this important project
SAR opens students' lives to vast possibilities.
SAR integrates the religious heritage of more than 4,000 years of Jewish faith and living which infuses every element of our educational methods and home. SAR uniquely combines a deep commitment to unfold the creativity and potential in each child with a rigorous and disciplined intellectual experience.
Modeling and instilling the values, traditions, and religious practice we hold dear
Nurturing each child's individual strengths and passions
Creating strong connections and a sense of responsibility to Medinat Yisrael and the world in which we live
Capital Campaign Goals
In order to accomplish our goals in this campaign, we are reaching out to our beloved SAR community to invest in SAR and ensure we are poised to provide the best educational journey for our students well into the future. To make this vision a reality, a $10 million capital and endowment campaign is now underway.
While $7,000,000 is needed for building the Early Learning Center and the expanded spaces at the High School, $3,000,000 will be added to a school endowment fund at UJA-Federation for the benefit of SAR. The Endowment will provide an ongoing revenue stream to ensure that our campuses and values are maintained year after year.
UJA-Federation of New York’s Day School Challenge Fund program gives Jewish day schools the support and incentives to develop and grow their endowments.
The Day School Challenge Fund provides up to $51 million for UJA-Federation to match annual endowment dollars raised by December 31, 2018 (and paid by September 2022). For every dollar of annual distributions that the school receives as a result of your gift, the school will receive a 50% matching distribution. This represents a wonderful opportunity for the school and for current and future students and families, who will continue to benefit from this communal investment.
50th Anniversary Campaign Goals
Project Scope & Timeline
An ideal home for our faculty to offer the building blocks of extraordinary intellectual opportunities
Construction of our new space will expand our ELC to 35,000 sq ft and will provide an additional 7,000 sq ft to the high school
Construction will begin
in 2018/5779
Give Generously: Leave Your Legacy
In order to realize our goals and complete the campaign, we ask you to partner with us by giving a meaningful gift. If you choose to, you may designate your gift to a particular project of interest-- the new ELC building, the expansion of the High School building, or the endowment. We need gifts at all levels as illustrated by the gift chart below. Join us and lead the way for our students' SpectAculaR Futures.
Gifts are payable over a one-to-three year time frame.
Sampling of Dedication Opportunities
In recognition of your gift to the SAR 50th campaign-- we will work with you to find the appropriate dedication space. It may be in the new spaces, or select an area in the existing campus that makes sense for the person in whose memory or honor you are making the gift. Naming opportunities are available and dedications encompass academic and recreational facilities, administrative areas, and main corridors.
To select a space, please visit the campus. Tour the grounds. See what speaks to your mind, heart, and soul.
EARLY LEARNING CENTER DEDICATIONS
MURAL DEDICATIONS
Adorning the field at SAR Academy is a 90 foot mosaic. The mosaic depicts the SAR journey as we are guided by the Torah’s timeless exhortation to us all, “Do what is right and good”. The 12 iconic images and 9 middot represented hold a special meaning in Jewish living and observance which we hope will guide our students through life.
The following pieces may be dedicated with gifts of $18,000.
SAR HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATIONS
New Beit Knesset - 2nd Floor (Dedicated)
Aron Kodesh: $250,000
Ner Tamid: $100,000
Sifrei Torah: $100,000
Sifrei Kodesh: $50,000
New Classrooms
Design Lab/Makers Space: $150,000
3rd Floor (x3): $50,000
4th Floor (x3): $50,000
Educational & Office Suites
Student Learning Center Annex: $150,000
2nd Floor Office Suite: $180,000
Office of the Principal: $100,000
Advancement Office: $50,000
Student Services Office: $50,000
Hive Marketing Manager Office: $50,000
Machon Siach Center: $250,000 (Hold)
Machon Siach Conference Room: $180,000
Machon Siach Faculty Offices: $75,000
Machon Siach Administration Office: $50,000
The Role of the Annual, Capital, and Endowment Campaigns
SAR’s Annual, Capital, and Endowment Campaigns together generate critical funds for maintaining our school’s educational excellence and allow us to keep pace with our growing and changing needs.
These funds fill the gap between SAR’s expenses and revenues. There are, however, significant differences between the three campaigns as explained below.
THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
raises funds each year to cover SAR’s annual budget expenditures, including operating costs, scholarships, and enrichment programming.
Annual Campaign contributions play a crucial role in bridging the gap in our annual budget between tuition and expenses for our children’s education.
THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
is a source of funding, above and beyond the Annual campaign, that provides for new construction, facility renovation, and building maintenance.
Funds from the SAR Capital Campaign are also utilized for technology investments and purchases of any equipment, furniture, and fixtures.
THE ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
demonstrates the School’s commitment to future generations of students and is a symbol of financial stability.
The endowment fund generates distributions in perpetuity, which will be used each year to offset the operating budget, as well as scholarships.
We Need Your Strength!
We are happy to answer questions, give tours, take you through our plans. Together we will make these projects a reality and ensure that our current and future students are given the best of tools for success.
50 Spectacular Stories
Our 50-year history is made up of the thousands of stories and tales of individuals who have left an indelible mark on our community, and they encompass the special programs and initiatives--in our school with no walls--that are forever part of the fabric of SAR. Our story recognizes the visionary role of our founders, community leaders, and long-standing supporters. It’s about our students, our graduates (1000s of alumni!), and our dedicated and talented faculty and staff. Our collective history also includes SAR’s steadfast commitment to our Torah-based values and exemplifying those each and every day.
Throughout the year, we will share a select “50 stories” to honor our accomplishments, recognize who we’ve become, and rededicate ourselves to where we are going.
Click HERE to tell your story.
