16      THE EAGLE GRATITUDE REPORT 2025-2026	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
   
The 2025–2026 school year has been a whirlwind and an unforgettable first year for me at                   
St. Michael's School. It seems like just yesterday that I arrived on campus, greeted not only by the        
Arizona heat but also by so many welcoming faces.
One of the primary responsibilities entrusted to me this year was revitalizing our fundraising efforts. Having always viewed 
development work as an opportunity for community building and engagement, I was excited to learn more about the 
possibilities here at St. Michael's. And, as someone who has spent my career in independent schools, I knew one thing for 
certain: our students had to be part of the process. After all, what fun is it if they aren't excited too?
The launch of our Annual Halo Fund set the tone for an incredible year. During the last week of August, we celebrated 	
Glow Week, a vibrant kickoff to our annual giving campaign. Faculty and students alike embraced the theme, sporting 
their best 1980s-inspired neon attire while helping raise awareness of this year's priorities, including faculty professional 
development, campus safety enhancements, and classroom technology upgrades. By the end of the week, the Halo Fund 
was off to a strong start.
In December, we celebrated Giving Tuesday with a student-led phonathon 
supported by a generous $10,000 matching gift from the Tankersley 
Foundation. Not only did we meet the challenge, but we exceeded it by 
an additional $5,000, which the Foundation also matched. Together, our 
community raised an impressive $30,000 in a single day.
Increasing current family participation was another key focus of this year's 
campaign. I am proud to share that we more than tripled the number 
of current families participating in the Halo Fund. This achievement 
reinforced an important message: it is not always the size of a gift that 
makes the greatest impact. When we come together as a community, 
even modest contributions can move mountains.
As we celebrate the many accomplishments highlighted throughout 
this publication, we are also looking ahead with excitement. My office 
is already hard at work reimagining and enhancing our events for the 
coming year, and I look forward to sharing more of those plans with you 
soon.
Thank you to everyone who so generously supported St. Michael's School 
through your gifts of time, talent, and treasure this year. Your commitment 
to our mission makes all that we do possible.
Here's to a successful year behind us and an exciting year ahead.
	
	
	
	
	
	
Jessica Thomson | Director of Advancement
Revitalizing Our Fundraising Efforts

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