A Philanthropic Journey - Shared
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No matter where you are in your partnership with CHS, the philanthropic journey is a very personal experience. Determining your capacity and how to give in a way that’s meaningful to you and your family is a layered discussion that requires time and careful consideration.
So, why give to CHS, and how might you approach giving over time? We’ve connected with past parents and longtime donors, Drs. Ray Chung and Diane Abraczinskas, to help us gain insights into these questions through their experience. Drs. Ray Chung and Diane Abraczinskas are the parents of Nicole ‘12, Camille, ‘15, and James ‘24. James is currently in the seventh grade at Belmont Hill School.
A Conversation About a Philanthropic Journey with Dr. Ray Chung and Dr. Diane Abraczinskas
Drs. Ray Chung and Diane Abraczinskas have supported CHS for two decades, making their first monetary donation in November 2004, when their oldest daughter was in Pre-Kindergarten. Over the years, they’ve steadily increased their donations to The CHS Fund, our primary annual fund, which supports all aspects of the school, including athletics, financial aid, field trips, professional development for faculty, technology like laptops and smartboards, and facility updates and improvements.
Can you start by sharing your overall giving philosophy? By changing the world immediately around you, you can make a difference in changing the larger world.
With your long history at CHS, how did you decide to make a gift to CHS, and why do you still give today? Deciding to make a gift to CHS was easy because we knew we were investing in our children's education. To us, nothing is more important than nurturing the values we share with CHS: curiosity, love of learning, diversity, inclusivity in the community, and kindness. CHS has impacted our children in that they are all kids who share those same values. As parents, we have made close friendships with other parents in the community, dating back to 2004 when we first started at CHS. We still maintain those friendships, and our kids still maintain friendships with their CHS friends.
What do you find most meaningful about giving to CHS? Giving to CHS means that CHS can continue to hire the best educators for our children and continue to carry out its mission of creating a diverse and inclusive community where kindness can permeate.
Why do you continue to give to CHS after so many years of engagement? This investment reaps benefits for the entire community... and, I would argue, the world beyond.
Giving is Critical at CHS
Philanthropy is critical here at CHS, and we couldn’t do all that we do without the support of our donor community. As with nearly all independent schools, tuition revenue alone does not cover the cost of our incredible academic programming. CHS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), and we depend on the gifts that come in through our donations to continue the academic offering that we are known for and to offer a robust financial aid program. Both monetary donations and volunteering can have an extraordinary impact on our community, and often, people move in and out of both as their time and funds allow during their lives.
Your generosity, in whatever form and of whatever amount, embraces the culture and mission of our school and its longevity and vitality as a premier independent elementary school. We hope that you will continue to weigh what would be a meaningful gift for you and your family.
Your Philanthropic Journey
The philanthropic journey for most families is personal but we would be remiss if we didn’t mention how it amplifies the voice of our community. Your generosity embraces the culture and mission of our school and its longevity and vitality as a premier elementary independent school.