News & Events
2017 Annual Fundraising Dinner
180 Parents, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Board of Trustees filled the Beirut Kempinski Hotel Ballroom on Friday, March 3, for the sold-out 2017 ACS Annual Fundraising Dinner. Each year, the ACS Parent Volunteer Committee (PVC) plans the event, with this year’s dinner featuring two live bands and a dance floor.
Middle School English teacher DJ Saint James emceed the event and introduced Head of School Greg MacGilpin, who thanked the crowd for its support and gave brief remarks on the significance of the ACS Annual Fund.
“Every one of us has made the decision to choose ACS,” said MacGilpin. “As your Head of School, one of the cornerstones of my belief is that these days, these years for our children are more important than any other time. More important than their college or university lives,” he continued.
“Please know that your child, your children, are in the care of people at ACS who truly believe that these are the days, and by choosing to give, to be philanthropic, you are choosing not only a stronger experience for your children now, but ultimately, you are creating a better society.”
For the first time since its inception in 2010, the dinner coincided with the annual ACS Board of Trustees meeting, allowing the opportunity for trustees who travelled to Lebanon the occasion to also attend the evening fundraiser.
A small raffle highlighted items donated by Rymco Powersports, Sarah’s Bag, Geek Express, and two ACS parents. A Spider Man Collectable poster, Hermes bracelet, iPhone 7, Sarah’s Bag clutch, Peugeot Django Scooter, and, one of the most highly coveted, a 2017-2018 parking spot in the ACS new building, topped the raffle prizes.
Alumni Go MAD (Make a Donation) for ACS
Coinciding with the kick-off of the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, ACS challenged it’s alumni “to go MAD” the week of March 1-7 to raise funds for the ACS Athletics and Activities Fund. 115 alumni donors contributed a record-breaking $19,365 in just one-week to support the cause. The online MAD Challenge campaign takes place every spring and supports a different school fund each year. This year’s Athletics and Activities Fund donations provided an immediate impact on the needs of the ACS athletic program in the form of new team uniforms, tournament venue rentals, tournament travel fees, and trophies.
Danai El-Hajj Ibrahim '06, now Director of Alumni and Community Relations, leads the MAD Challenge each year, exclaiming “this year has been the best result for the MAD Challenge. We had more donors and raised almost $5,000 more than last year. It looks like the word is spreading and that alumni are starting to anticipate that the campaign will be happening each spring. I am very excited by the positive response it has had in our community and am grateful to everyone who donated.”
Mother’s Day Fundraising Brunch
The Parents' Committee (PC) had a busy month, hosting a second fundraising event at the Villa Linda Sursock on Monday, March 20th in honor of Mother’s Day and the ACS Annual Fund. More than 150 attended the festive event. Raffle prizes were awarded and tributes were given regarding the special place that ACS mothers hold within the school community. A big thank you to Parents' Committee President Mona Maktabi and members of the Parents’ Committee.