A Message From the President

Dear Friends of Shady Side Academy,

It is a pleasure to present to you the Report of Philanthropy for the 2015-2016 school year. The generosity of our many parents, alumni, grandparents and friends during the past year set a new record in the Blue & Gold Fund of $1,354,271 and helped to raise more than $5.5 million overall for the Academy.

Tuition revenue covers 75 percent of our operating budget, and contributions to the Blue & Gold Fund help to fill the gap between tuition revenue and operating expenses. Additional contributions reflect support for financial aid, faculty compensation and professional development, as well as capital projects, endowment and other initiatives. All of these gifts help to ensure that we are providing the best educational experience for our students, and that we are able to attract and to retain highly qualified and dedicated teachers.

With the completion of the science lab/classroom renovation projects on the Junior and Middle School campuses last summer, we are now focused on moving forward with the capstone project of this effort: The McIlroy Center for Science and Innovation at the Senior School. Construction on the building will likely begin in late March or early April 2017 (we’ve raised 65% of the money for this project to date), and our plan is to have the new building on line for the 2018 school year. The programmatic and facilities improvements we’ve made – and continue to make – around science will help to take science education at Shady Side to a new level of excellence and excitement. None of these projects would be possible without the generous support of current and past SSA families.

On behalf of all of us at Shady Side Academy, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your generosity. I look forward to our continued work together and the exciting years ahead.

Sincerely,

Thomas M. Cangiano
Academy President