Getting Involved at Christ Methodist Day School

Welcome
The gratitude we feel toward our CMDS families is tremendous.  It is through your volunteerism, resources and philanthropic support that much of our success is made possible.  Grandparents can often be seen volunteering on campus or during a field trip and are very supportive financially.   CMDS is blessed to have other generous supporters, including faculty and staff, alumni, parents of alumni and special friends whose gifts and service are also extremely beneficial.

To learn about how you can get involved as a volunteer, please visit the Parents Association webpage accessible from the main menu under “Getting Involved.”  The Parents Association oversees fundraising and fellowship activities including the “Reach for the Stars” auction/gala, Spirit clothing sales, gift wrap sales, the Chili Cook-off, grade level parent parties and more.

The Development Office oversees the Spirit Fund, our annual giving campaign, and other financial giving programs.  To contact the Director of Development please email Jeanie Gundlach at development@cmdsmemphis.org  or call her at 901-202-6060.

The Spirit Fund
Annual Giving Campaign

Annual giving to the Spirit Fund enables us to attract and keep our quality faculty, provide them the best tools and professional development, improve our campus, and to enhance our educational experience with cultural and fine arts programs.  Philanthropic support from our families also reinforces our case when we approach outside resources and foundations for special grants. 

The Spirit Fund is used during each campaign year, and is a vital yearly resource for our school.  This fund helps to keep our tuition increases to a moderate level.

These are some of the projects that your annual giving made possible in recent years:

Parents, faculty and staff, alumni, alumni parents and friends will receive a packet of information in the fall that will kickoff this year’s Spirit Fund Campaign.  Please take a minute to look through it.  We hope you will help us reach our goals this year. Your participation is critical and any size gift is greatly appreciated.  If you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list please call Jeanie Gundlach at 901-202-6060 or email her at development@cmdsmemphis.org .

Ways to Give to the CMDS Spirit Fund

Cash is the most common gift, but there are other options:

We’re Building a Pathway to the Future Brick by Brick.  The perfect way to honor or remember someone is to add a custom inscribed brick to our courtyard.  Prices start at $200.  Proceeds from the courtyard brick project go directly to the Spirit Fund, and your brick purchase is applied to your Spirit Fund donation.  Call Jeanie Gundlach at 202-6060 for more information.

Matching Gifts – Many corporations match their employees’ charitable donations.  Check with your Human Resources Department for more information regarding their policy.

Pledges – Your pledge can be paid over time through June 30th of each calendar year.  Click on the link below to highlight and print the Donor Information form.  Complete and send your form  to Christ Methodist Day School in care of the Spirit Fund, 411 Grove Park, Memphis, TN  38117.  Your pledge is counted toward the Spirit Fund goal at the time your pledge information is received. 

Other CMDS Giving Opportunities

Planned Giving

Tax laws intentionally encourage charitable giving which can many times reduce income tax, estate tax and capital gains tax.  Using appreciated securities or real property to make a charitable gift creates some very favorable tax advantages.  If the asset has been held longer than twelve months, the donor can deduct the full fair market value on the date of the gift and avoid the capital gains tax.  A gift of a highly appreciated asset is an excellent way to fulfill a pledge or make a more substantial gift than what might have ordinarily been possible.   After checking with your attorney or other professional advisor, you might consider the following types of gifts:

Charitable Remainder Trusts

• Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust – provides the donor an annual percentage payment based on the fair market value of an asset for the donor’s lifetime, while the school receives a substantial gift.
• Charitable Remainder Unitrust – similar plan, but the payments to the donor fluctuate based on the fair market value of the asset each year.

Long-term appreciated securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds)

Life insurance policy that is no longer needed

Real property

Personal property (artwork, jewelry, collectibles)

Bequests in a Will or Trust

Fund – A – Program

CMDS invites artists, authors, speakers and musicians each year to enhance curriculum and provide unique experiences and learning opportunities for our students.  If you have interests in one of these areas and would like to fund a particular program to ensure its continuation, please contact Jeanie Gundlach at 901-202-6060 or email her at development@cmdsmemphis.org

Memorial Scholarship Funds

To contribute to one of the following scholarship funds, please send your donation to Jeanie Gundlach, Director of Development, Christ Methodist Day School, 411 Grove Park, Memphis, TN  38117.  Please include any honorariums or memorials on a separate note. Feel free to contact Jeanie at development@cmdsmemphis.org  or call her at 901-202-6060.

(For information about financial assistance, please contact Steve Jackson, Headmaster, at 683-6873, for a confidential conversation.)

John and Cindy Harris Memorial Scholarship – given in memory of John and Cindy Harris, parents of three former CMDS students

Nancy Kelley Memorial Scholarship – given in memory of Nancy Kelley, a 1982 graduate of CMDS

Howard Morrison Spirit Scholarship – given in memory of Howard Morrison, a 1983 graduate of CMDS

Cy Robinson Memorial Scholarship – given in memory of Cy Robinson, a 1990 graduate of CMDS

Dorris L. Smith Memorial Scholarship – given in memory of Dorris L. Smith, a Bible teacher at CMDS for 19 years

Billy R. Pruett Memorial Scholarship – given in memory of Billy R. Pruett, husband of sixth grade teacher, Betty Pruett

Sponsored Scholarship Reserve Fund – This scholarship will fund tuition for a student through graduation of 6th grade.  It would be a multi-year year commitment.  The purpose of this program is to create a more diverse learning community and provide high quality, Christian academic preparation to students whose ethnic and/or socioeconomic backgrounds are different from the mainstream student traditionally enrolled at CMDS.

Parent's Association

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2007-2008 Parents' Association Board

President – Barbara Thomason
Vice-President-Kristi Makris
Vice-President, Preschool –LeAnn Berkenstock
Projects Chair – Melissa McBryde
Projects Co-chair-Lee Thomas
Treasurer –Theresa Quinn
Assistant Treasurer - Leslea Grochau
Hospitality Chair –Liz Rizer
Hospitality Co-chair –Michelle Rowland
Corresponding Secretary - Kelly Morse
Recording Secretary –Becky Fiedler
Volunteer Coordinator - Missy Giles
Chaplain –Paige Rackley
Publicity Liaison –Meredeth Champbell

BIRTHDAY CLUB

A $15.00 tax deductible donation tai the library of computer lab allows your child to pick out a book or computer program to be labeled with his/her name and birthday. This is given to the school in their honor. This is a great way to enhance our school's collection. Please request Birthday Club Forms from the Parents Association.

parentsclub@cmdsmemphis.org