The Grauer School Reaches Capital Campaign Fundraising Goal at 2014 Gala

Encinitas, CA, June 05, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The Grauer School raised over $415,000 at the School’s annual gala fundraiser on May 10th, 2014. $350,000 of the money raised during the Raise the Paddle portion of the evening was designated specifically to The Grauer School’s Arc Capital Campaign. The $350,000, combined with the $2 million raised over the course of the past year and half, completed the Arc Capital Campaign’s $2.35 million fundraising goal.

“The Arc Capital Campaign Team is extremely grateful to our small community for coming together and raising over $2.35 million in less than two years. This was the most ambitious fundraising effort in the history of The Grauer School and we are thrilled,” stated Arc Campaign Chair, Carol Higgins.

The Grauer School’s 2014 Gala was aptly themed “Construction Zone Ahead.” The permits are in process with the City of Encinitas and the project is set to break ground in early June with a scheduled grand opening in Winter 2015. Phase III of construction will replace the existing temporary structures with permanent facilities at The Grauer School.

The Grauer School is a small school by design, with 150 students in grades 7-12. Phase III is not a campus expansion; rather, it is a conversion of temporary facilities into permanent structures. In addition to the $2.35M fundraising effort, the $4M project will be funded by a combination of naming opportunities, internal and short-term financing, or an angel gift.

Phase III features nearly 10,000 square feet of eco-friendly classrooms including new spaces for the English and Mathematics departments. The Loewy Family Foundation has already funded the Loewy-Linz Innovation Lab, which will house The Grauer School’s award-winning FTC Robotics Team, Shockwave Robotics. Naming opportunities still exist, among which is the opportunity to incorporate sustainable design elements that will achieve the standards of LEED Silver or Gold.

Architect Scott Thomas of Zagrodnik and Thomas Architects looks forward to incorporating green elements as well as special features into the campus. “We are planning for green/LEED elements and the final budget will determine which ones we can include in the project. Specifically, we are hoping to include solar panels, recycled materials, and energy efficient lighting and mechanical systems. Outdoor elements include a water element in the courtyard, a gazebo gathering space, a new entry trellis/arbor to help identify the main entry to the campus, and new restrooms and locker rooms.”