CLASS GIFT

CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL

HOME OF THE TIGERS

Dear Chapel Hill classmates,

Memories—including school-day memories—are a wonderful thing. But a wise man once said that when our memories start to outweigh our hopes and dreams, we start to grow old. Our reunion planners are betting that we are far from growing old, and that it is time to start channeling our hopes and dreams to benefit the next generation that will pass through CHHS. We are herewith kicking off the Class Gift Appeal, a memorial fund drive in honor of our deceased classmates that will continue all summer through August 31, 2012.

Our Class Gift Task Force has been very busy exploring concrete ways by which we can give something back to the school system. They have not only now identified several worthy investment projects but have also proposed a plan for us to support those projects. Each project has a special connection to those of us who graduated in 1972.

(1) The Culton–Peerman Stadium is badly in need of a new PA system. The CHHS Athletic Booster Club has identified this as a priority. Our high school athletic teams had a way of bringing us together when so many other things were threatening to drive us apart. Coaches Culton and Peerman were the public faces on that unifying effort, and it is appropriate that the athletic field has been named after them. And we feel it is appropriate that the Class of 1972 honor them by providing a new PA system and a plaque that acknowledges their positive impact specifically on us. The price tag for this is $2,500.

(2) The Performing Arts programs at CHHS needs new digital keyboards. Music arguably did as much as sports in shepherding many of us through the turmoil of the late 60s and early 70s. We all identified in different ways with those very talented classmates who performed solo or in combos, daring us to explore our own talents and to aspire to heights undreamed of. Choirs, orchestras, and marching bands were part of our school identity, inspired us, and unified us. The Junior Follies talent shows were always a big draw. And our 1972 staging of the Broadway musical “Forum” essentially declared to the Chapel Hill community that first-class high school musical theatre had already arrived before anyone even knew it was coming. Conversations about constructing Hanes Theatre began almost immediately afterward. A memorial gift would benefit performing arts and provide a memorial plaque in the Hanes Theatre Building. The price tag for each keyboard is $1,000, and Performing Arts Lovers (PALs) would like to purchase two; with the plaque, our target for this is $2,500.

(3) The PTSA Giving Campaign. Academics are the core mission of CHHS. Whether it was science, math, languages, literature, fine arts, or social studies, learning was central to the experience of our alma mater. Or perhaps we have fond memories of a club or co-curricular experience: Hillife or Different Drummer, Key Club or Chess Club, Honor Societies or team sports, the list goes on. The PTSA provides crucial support to the faculty and staff, student clubs, sports teams, and performing arts programs at CHHS. Historically, the budget is achieved through the allocation from the PTA Thrift Shop proceeds, but his year the Thrift Shop is going through a major renovation. Thus the PTSA projected a $20,000 budget shortfall for 2012-2013. The PTSA’s approach to narrowing the funding gap is a Giving Campaign, launched in August 2011. The Giving Campaign still has a shortfall of $10,000; even though we don’t expect the Class of 72 to make up this deficit, any level of giving will help the campaign.

Your generosity can help us meet these three Class Gift challenges. The sooner we receive your donations, the sooner we can encourage school officials to move forward on these projects, perhaps even having them in place by the start of the 2012-2013 school year. In fact, thanks to several classmates making advance donations, we are already making progress toward these goals. Now we need for you to step up and generously contribute to the effort. Please consider making a donation in one of the following amounts (or any amount) as you are able—no gift is too small!

$5 $25 $50 $75 $100 $200 $500 $1,000 or more

We will be collecting checks and pledges at the Rigmor House during the Reunion Weekend (May 25-27). But you don’t have to wait—you may also mail your check to:

CHHS Class of 1972 Class Gift

c/o Robert Anderson, Chair

P.O. Box 962

Carrboro, NC 27510

If you wish to support the PA system for Culton–Peerman Stadium, make your check out to “CHHS Athletic Booster Club” and write “Culton–Peerman Stadium PA system” in the memo. This will be a tax exempt donation.

If you want to support the Keyboards for Performing Arts, make your check out to “CHHS PALS” and write “1972 Gift” in the memo. Unfortunately, at this time this is not a tax exempt donation, despite the worthiness of the cause.

If you prefer to help the PTSA Giving Campaign, make your check out to “Chapel Hill High School PTSA 2011-2012 Giving Campaign.” This will be a tax exempt donation.

As the summer unfolds, watch the CHHS Class of 72 Web site (https://sites.google.com/site/chhsclassof1972) for regular updates about progress toward these gift goals. Remember, the Class Gift Appeal will end on August 31, 2012.

We hope you will join your classmates in contributing generously toward the Memorial Class Gift Appeal. But any and all gifts are important to us, so any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated. Nothing will attest better to the unity of our commitment as the Class of 1972 than to have every classmate contributing something back to CHHS.

Gary Herion, President

CHHS Class of 1972