TRANSFORMATIONAL GIVING: The Annual Fund at Winston

Head's Message by Dr. Jenn Milam

I’m writing to you today about the transformational power of giving as we have begun our Annual Fund campaign at Winston and today is North Texas Giving Day. I wanted to take a moment to share with you the role of our Annual Fund and why giving, at a tuition-based school, is important. Because it isn’t always clear. 

Independent schools, like Winston, operate on a tuition-revenue model. Similar to any other business, we “sell” a product (i.e. a GREAT education!) for a price (i.e. tuition) that funds our School and operating expenses. You’ll often hear a lot about our “value proposition” or, in clearer terms, why we think Winston is a school worth your investment. In the most obvious way, it is a transaction between you and us - you pay us to educate your amazing students. 

Yet, just as I did last week, in articulating how education is transformational (not transactional), I would share with you that your investment in Winston, is not transactional but transformational - and not just for your student, but for your family, for the families that share our classroom spaces and activities, for the teachers and staff, and even for our greater Dallas community. What we do at Winston is to create a shared experience that supports growth, opportunity, learning, and success for young people. It transforms all that are a part of our precious small school. Your tuition dollars allow us to provide an exceptional experience, each and every day. 

We are grateful that you’ve chosen Winston for your family. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of your journey. Your participation in the Annual Fund at Winston, beyond your tuition dollars, allows our small, incredible school to continue to build momentum toward the future and the opportunity to dream. It allows us to invest in the strategic directions that will carry us into our next 50 years as a leader in learning different education. A gift to the Annual Fund supports continued campus improvements in safety and security and enhanced student experiences from field trips, to classroom laboratory experiences, and teacher innovation. Your participation in our Annual Fund, no matter how big or small, is a statement of your confidence in Winston and a meaningful way to be a part of our dreams for the future. 

It was Eleanor Roosevelt who said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Winston’s present and future are the things that dreams are made of - a sense of belonging for students who have longed for one, a feeling of confidence that comes from experiencing success for the first time, and a high-challenge, high-support education that will for many years transform not only Winston, but the world around us. 

FUN FACT: For the last seven years, Winston has boasted 100% faculty and staff giving as part of the annual fund! Their gifts in, and beyond, the classroom are remarkable! 

Your gift to the Winston Annual Fund is an investment in our present and our future. It is a beautiful, meaningful, and yes, transformational belief in our collective dreams for young people. Please join me, either online or in person, in sharing your gift with Winston and let’s continue to build, together, a bright future for young people who continue to blaze a trail of creativity and extraordinary passion! 

It is a great privilege to serve as the leader of this amazing school and I am grateful for your thoughtful and intentional generosity today - and always.