Capital Campaign
A capital campaign occurs during a specified period of time, usually a three to five year period, and provides funds for capital improvements or additions and allows for increases in the permanent endowment. Pledges to a capital campaign can usually be paid over a three to five year period. Prior to this time, the most recent Capital Campaign was "The Campaign for Stratford" which raised $4 million in capital and endowment gifts in the spring of 2003.
Excellence Never Rests |
The Capital Campaign for Stratford Academy PLEDGE ONLINE |
Since its founding in 1960 with 117 student and 17 teachers, excellence has been at the core of Stratford Academy. Now, through 50 years of academic leadership in middle Georgia, Stratford continues that tradition by providing superior preparation for our students to succeed at college and in life. This is born out both anecdotally and statistically by our students’ achievements in their college careers. Being the best has its burdens, however, as we must remain vigilant against satisfaction and constantly challenge ourselves to ever improve or we will forfeit our position of leadership. Put another way, Excellence Never Rests.
Now with over 900 students and a faculty and staff of over 135 Stratford’s growth and success again are placing demands on the physical infrastructure that supports the teaching and learning in our school. It is estimated that the total amount of knowledge in the world is now doubling every five years and at the end of the next five years it will be doubling every few months. Even now, Stratford is rising to the challenge of educating our children to prepare them for success in a world that is exploding with information, in which community is redefined by instant communication, and that increasingly depends on science and technology. To be successful we must ensure that our campus provides a safe place for our youth to be challenged both mentally and physically.
In the summer of 2005, the Head of School and the Board of Trustees published A Vision for the Future, a strategic plan for Stratford Academy. This document was the culmination of over two years of extensive internal assessments, external analysis and benchmarking. Many individuals, faculty, students, board members, parents, grandparents and alumni participated in the comprehensive strategic planning process. The result is a plan that reflects an effort not only to sustain but also enhance the quality, vitality and balance that are hallmarks of Stratford, and which sets it apart from its peers. It establishes clear goals and directions for the future while providing for an openness and responsiveness to emerging needs and ideas. The core elements such as academic excellence, a multidimensional educational experience, support of students, stellar faculty, communication, a sense of family, sound management and exceptional facilities, among other attributes, will be constants as they have been since the inception of the institution.
Science Facilities - $3,000,000 - Click here to view the architect's proposed floor plan. 
- Construction of four new Upper School labs and three new Middle School labs
- Lecture-style classroom space
- Renovation of existing lab space
- Smart Board technology and lab-station data collection and analysis
- Dedicated prep room for each lab and space for storing equipment
- Recognition Walk - Click here to learn more about this special project.
Athletic Facilities - $1,650,000
Loop Road (Click to view) - $750,000
- Construction of perimeter road
- Controlled campus entry and exit
- Redistributed traffic flow with access to all areas of campus
- Improvements to parking
- Additional lighting for safety
Lower School - $600,000
- Updated technology
- Refurbished existing Lower School space
Future Phase…
Lower School - $3,200,000
- Construction of new Lower School building with significantly larger classrooms
- Centralized main office
- Counseling and tutoring rooms
- Dedicated playground
- Integrated library, lab and lunch room
- Updated technology
- Renovation of existing Lower School for enrichment classes
Serving as the chairs for the campaign are Robbo Hatcher '82 and Ashley Copelan. Over the last three years, a Steering Committee has been diligently soliciting lead gifts and has raised approximately $4.5 million. On November 15, Stratford entered the "public" phase of the campaign with widespread mailings to parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents and many other Stratford supporters.
A pledge payment period of five years has been established to facilitate generous levels of giving necessary for the success of the campaign. Besides checks, gifts of appreciated stocks and bonds, real estate, life insurance and charitable trusts will be gratefully received. Campaign contributions are tax-deductible.
Our Campaign Goal is to collect another $1.25 million in pledges and lead gifts by spring 2010 so that construction can begin on the new Stratford science building. With this timetable in mind, students would be able to begin utilizing the state-of-the-art facilities in early 2011. To make your pledge online, click here.
For further information about financially supporting the Excellence Never Rests Capital Campaign, please contact Kathleen Cook Medlin '88, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 478-477-8073 ext. 210 or kathleen.medlin@stratford.org.
For campus rendering click.
