Dear Renbrook Community,         
          Each year at this time we publish our Annual Report, which recognizes the support of so many members of the Renbrook community. Without this support we would be a very different school and we appreciate each and every one of the 1,619 donors who have contributed in the past year. Thank you for your generosity of spirit; thank you for helping by providing financial support; and thank you to everyone who gave of themselves through volunteering for Renbrook in the past twelve months.  Thanks to all of you we have raised nearly $1.3 million for 2009-2010.
          In only a few months I have come to recognize the many special qualities that inspire such support. Renbrook is a school of great teachers who get to know each child as an individual. When they reflect on their Renbrook years our alumnae/i often describe Renbrook as their "home away from home." Our buildings and grounds are wondrous places where "everyday magic" happens, well, every day.
          The Annual Fund brings more than $500,000 to our annual operating budget. This helps us bridge the gap between the amount of revenue provided by tuition and fees and the total annual costs of running Renbrook School. Thanks to the Annual Fund we can maintain those aspects of the program that enrich our students’ lives, and we can maintain our beautiful facility and grounds.
          In 2009-2010 the endowment campaign raised more than $750,000. Our endowment provides support which sustains the school over time. As our endowment grows we are less susceptible to the economic circumstances of the moment and more able to plan thoughtfully for the future. Maintaining the best balance among tuition, costs of a quality academic program, employee compensation, and the other major drivers of our budget is made easier when we can have more non-tuition revenue to use. A significant amount of that revenue comes from fundraising and the endowment.
          We closed the books on the 2009-2010 year with a balanced budget and for the current year, as every year, Renbrook has a balanced budget again. Achieving this is challenging and involves difficult choices about our priorities. This is a challenge we embrace because we all know what happens every day at Renbrook is worth the effort. Renbrook is a school of outstanding teachers and dedicated staff; it is a place that knows character counts and that hard work and persistence will lead to success. It is a place with rich traditions that also seeks out the best of new approaches to teaching and learning. It is a moral community where children grow up understanding that how you treat others defines who you are.
          This Annual Report reflects the Renbrook community coming together to show its love for the school. I look forward to getting to know you in the upcoming year and to extending my gratitude in person for your support.

                                                        Sincerely,
                                                        Armistead Webster, Ph.D.