Because of generous gifts from parents, grandparents, friends, businesses and foundations, the annual giving campaign of Richard Winn Academy, the Spirit Fund, raised $76,200 this past year.

Since 1994, the Spirit Fund Annual Giving Campaign has been the vehicle through which the school has raised over $1,200,000.

These gifts have augmented tuition to provide learning technology and school improvements that tuition alone cannot provide.

This past October, the First Citizens Bank Foundation presented Richard Winn Academy with a $5,000 check for the purchase of the software program Odyssey, by Compass Learning for two grade levels.

Also, this past fall, the school received a $3000 grant from the Kyle Foundation, located in Florence to continue the purchase of the Odyssey software program. Their gift was used to purchase software that is being used by the first grade.

This past spring, Richard Winn paired Spirit Fund gifts with a $16,000 grant received from The Lutz Foundation, located in Chester to acquire six new SMART boards, computers and supporting equipment.

Two donors deserve special recognition because they gave $10,000 or more to our school. They are the above mentioned Lutz Foundation and the family of the late F.Creighton McMaster.

In addition to monetary gifts, Richard Winn has received over $9,000 in non-monetary gifts.

These donations are not reflected in the dollar amount of funds raised; however, many parents, teachers, administrators and friends of the school have donated paint, carpentry skills, books, athletic equipment, teaching materials and various talents to improve the appearance of Richard Winn.

Dedicated committee members worked to make this all possible are spirit fund board chairman Vicki Maass, Marcia Bonds, Michele Boulware, Nannette Hawkins, Hank Harrison, John Martin, John Tate, Karla Pope, Lori Waldrep, head of school Nancy Coleman and director of admission and development Lanna McMeekin.