Just as we all believe strongly in the benefits of a multilingual and multicultural education, we must make a strong commitment to ensure that quality education is sustained:  paying tuition without an additional contribution is not an option that will keep AIS viable and competitive in the years to come.  For this reason, we need the help of each family to achieve the following goals:  (1) cover current operating costs, (2) limit the annual increase in tuition in order to keep AIS affordable for all qualified students, and (3) help AIS to continue to grow its modest cash reserves. These reserves are absolutely necessary for two main reasons: (a) they allow the school a cushion in the event of an unforeseen major expense and (b) they position the school to pursue the next major step in its development - a move to a better facility with the goal of expanding into middle school (6^th-8^th grades) in the near future.

      This is AIS's fifth year to offer a large-scale fundraising campaign.  In each of its first three years, thanks to the extremely generous support of the AIS community, the Annual Fund campaign was a huge success, achieving 100% participation each year from faculty, staff, Board members, and parents (as well as generous contributions from several grandparents and friends).  Last year, rather than a traditional Annual Fund, we focused on making purchases of specific items that would have an immediate impact on the quality of education we can offer.  That campaign was a great success!  We raised over $40,000, and today you can see the results all over the school with new playground equipment, Smart Boards, laptop computers and the like which are used daily by our students.  This year we return to a traditional Annual Fund campaign with the equally important goal of raising money to supplement the school's main source of revenue-tuition.

       It is our hope that a successful fall Annual Fund campaign will allow us to spend the remainder of the year pursuing additional sources of revenue (foundation grants, corporate donations, outside individual donors and the like).  As we look to these outside donors for funding, it is important that we demonstrate our own commitment to the school by again achieving 100% participation from the AIS community in the Annual Fund campaign.

       Our goals this Fall are to raise $50,000 and to achieve 100% participation from the AIS community.  Though challenging, these goals are attainable if we all make an effort to participate at the most generous level possible for each of us, keeping in mind that every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to both of our goals.  We thank you in advance for your efforts and generosity.  Without your support, continuing improvements to AIS will not be possible.  The Annual Fund Fact Sheet included with this letter should answer many of your questions.  If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact any member of the Annual Fund committee.

Many ways to donate

There are several ways to donate to AIS.  Some ways include but are not limited to the following: