$1.175 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN MAKING IMPACT

Upcoming Campaign Events

Kent and Melissa Allen hosted a campaign cultivation event at their home on April 17, which gave Brookhaven Academy staff and representatives an opportunity to discuss the ongoing campaign. The next cultivation meeting is scheduled as a come-and-go event on June 19 in new the 14,000 sq ft multi-purpose center. Anyone inter-ested in seeing the building will receive a tour that will explain the school's inten-tions for the building. A prayer walk through of the new building, prior to school starting back in August, will be scheduled soon.

May 2014

WAYS TO MAKE A GIFT:

CASH

BANK DRAFT

MATCHING GIFT

LIFE INSURANCE

REAL ESTATE

TRUSTS/ BEQUESTS

All contributions to the Building on Tradition campaign are 100% tax deductible.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Duo’s Volunteer-ism Fills Hearts

2

Importance of Planned Giving

2

Discussion with Grandparents

3

Thank You Campaign Donors!

4

More than $558,000 Pledged to Date

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Volume 1: Issue 3

Brookhaven Academy is moving closer to our campaign working goal of $1.175M. Campaign funds will be focused toward these six areas: (1) new furniture and equip-ment, including furnishings for the new fine arts curriculum; (2) faculty endowment; (3) academics and technology; (4) campus security and aesthetics; (5) fund for excel-lence; and (6) athletics. As campaign committees diligently meet to keep us on track, working toward our goal, some campaign funds have already been applied to upgrade safety measures on campus. An agent with the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security in Jackson walked the school grounds with administrators and made recommendations to improve secu-rity. Security cameras were ordered, and some have already been placed in strategic locations. The new brick and iron fence and entrance gate facing the interstate are now complete.

Cultivation event at the Allen home New multi-purpose center (view from stage)

An iconic scene in one of history’s greatest baseball mov-ies, Field of Dreams, features the character Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, after he built a baseball field in his backyard asking the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson, “I want to know what’s in it for me?” Harold Williams and Jimmy Gillis have never asked that question. For more than 30 years the selfless duo, born on the same day, in Morton, in 1930, have cooked hamburg-ers, chicken sandwiches, and sausage dogs for the Brook-haven Academy concession stand at countless Cougars sporting events.

Williams and Gillis are reminded of ‘what’s in it for them’ every time a former student athlete stops by to say hello and eat their food. “People have come to depend on us and we aim to never let them down,” Williams said. Gillis chimed in, “And we may be a little slow keeping up with all the orders sometimes, but we get them all fed.” Even the opposing fans know to wait until they get to the ballpark to eat their meal. “I had a parent from Central Private tell me once,” said Williams, “that he made his entire family wait on supper because he knew the ‘two old guys’ would be cooking at the ballgame. He remembered us from the previous season.” Baseball is not the only sport to which they have given decades of service. Williams ran the game clock for basketball for 21 years, and Gillis kept the scorebook for 19 years. After 30-plus years of service to BA, which includes dozens of school-related projects, there have been many ups and downs, but when asked, the duo said almost in unison... “We’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

Duo’s Volunteerism Fills Hearts, Stomachs of Generations of BA Families

Page 2

Pictured from left: Gillis and Williams)

The Importance of Planned Giving

Planned giving has always been a means of recognizing an organization in your estate, but it has grown in popularity in recent years. Planned giving offers the option to support those causes close to your heart in a way that can be struc-tured so that it is conducive to your current financial situation. However, planned or estate giving is not just beneficial to the recipient. It is also beneficial to the giver, in more ways than one. Depending on the gift arrangement and circumstances, planned giving can help you increase your income, decrease your estate taxes or receive a tax deduction for items or properties you no longer use or care to maintain. When struc-tured properly, planned giving allows you to make a gift using appreciated securities and realize larger tax savings than if you had given a gift in cash. Planned gifts are gifts that cost you nothing during your lifetime, but can also pay you income for life. They help you preserve your estate for your children or other heirs, all while contributing to an organi-zation whose mission you believe in. You can even donate your home for a tax deduction and continue to live in it rent free, or turn your surplus life insurance coverage into a gift. Planned giving will continue to gain recognition. We invite you to consider these planned giving options and benefits as you make your decision regarding your support of Brookhaven Academy and our mission. Contact Brian Emory for

more information at 601-833-4041, extension 22.

Quote from Julie here

“Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Forty years ago, the foundation of Brookhaven Academy was not built with a plan to raise tui-tion prices each year or introduce new fees.

Parents and grandparents, both then and now, have shown unending generosity, both finan-cially and through volunteerism.

Bill and Judy Burt, Linda Ebbers, Velma Estess and Harold Williams recently met with Brian Emory, Director of Development, to discuss the future of Brookhaven Academy. The group has a combined 14 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at BA, which includes some recent graduates.

A Christian school from the beginning, the group agreed that BA today reminds them of their public school education because of the family atmosphere feeling. “Since I went to a small Lincoln county school,” Judy Burt said, “it does remind me of the family atmosphere we had there.” Ebbers added, “I remember that all the teachers knew everything about us then, like it is now at BA. It reminded me of when I was teaching in the public school in 1968. Teachers focused on the children more.” Williams added, with a chuckle, “I re-member news getting home to my mom and dad before I could even get home to give them my side of the story, you know.”

Stories like these are echoed by many in our community and that will never change because the core values of Brookhaven Academy will never change. “I love hearing my grandchildren come over and talk about a Bi-ble story they learned,” Ebbers said. “They receive a foundation in what’s really important early on at BA.”

While the Christian values will never change, the cost of providing a college-ready education continues to rise each year.

“The only way we can know where we are is to hear stories from our children and others in the community about how prepared they are when they begin their freshman year in college,” Estess said. “I like hearing the stories of our students that leave the school prepared, because I know that my giving is used the right way.”

Proper stewardship of donor gifts has helped several areas of the school, but there are many classroom im-provements coming with the capital campaign funds, namely in teaching tools and computer technology.

“Even though he had a good foundation to enter college, my son told us he was in shock after the first few days at Mississippi State because there were things he had never heard before from lab teachers,” Estess said. “If you believe in what is happening out here, if you believe in the teachers who are teaching your chil-dren, then please give to the campaign.”

Page 3

Pictured from left:

Velma Estess, Harold Williams, Bill and Judy Burt, Linda Ebbers

Grandparents Discuss Brookhaven Academy, Building on Tradition Campaign

BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY

943 Brookway Blvd. Ext. Brookhaven, MS 39601

(601) 833-4041

www.brookhavenacademy.org

Thank You, Campaign Donors!

Ricky & Kelly Allen Scotty & Daisy Arnold Johnny & Jaclyn Ball Clint Bane Bank of Brookhaven Anthony & Wanda Bell Stephen & Kaitlyn Bozeman Joey Brown Julius & Judy Burt Keith & Christie Case Kris & Beth Case Bruce & Stacy Clanton Charley & Christy Clark Daniel & Loree Coleman Taylor & Lindy Coleman Kendall & Jennifer Covington Jay & Deanna Culbertson Dr. Bill & Stacy Dixon David & Marklyn Dunaway Linda Ebbers Casey & Brooke Edwards Brian & Heather Emory Cecil & Velma Estess Clint & Charlsie Estess Jerry & Sherylyn Evans Tommy & Holly Franklin

Andy & Dawn Freeman Mack Gardner Jeff & Stacy Garner Jamie & Frances Gatlin David Gilbert Chris & Kelly Grice Dave & LeeAnn Griffin Jeff & Nikki Henning Andrew & Karen Hickman Johnny & Amy Hodges James & Leslie Hood Paul & Becky Jackson Dr. Clay & Kerri Johnston Ronnie & Kim Keene Allen & Wanda Kent Terri Langley Jim & Lawana Latham Mark & Dorothy LeBlanc JoAnn Lewis Adam & Brittany Lofton Seth & Kaylin Lofton Donald & Laura Lorraine Keith & Selina Lucas Johnny Lynch Bob & Carol Massengill Chris & Melissa McGraw

Tripp McCarty Elmer & Treva McInnis Terri Melancon Dr. Steve & Juli Mills Taz & Mandy Milstead Dr. Ed & Patti Moak Hal & Kelli Miller Guy & Page Nelson Eric & Tawana Nettles Michael & Denise Nettles Troy & Brenda Orr Phillips Bark Kevin & Rhonda Posey Blake Purvis Kyle & Hilmari Ray Chris & Keiza Reid David Rigdon Jeff & Karen Rogers Clint & Christy Rounsaville Ted & Carolyn Rounsaville Dr. Richard & Paula Rushing Chad & Colette Sanford Denise & Clyde Sbravati Barry & Regina Shedd Carl & Malisia Smith Chad & Erin Smith

Clay & Kim Smith Dustin & Leah Smith Jerry F. Smith Juan & Rachel Smith Michael & Cindy Hyde Smith Mike & Josh Smith, IRM Wade & Teresa Smith Sissy Spence State Bank & Trust Jackie & Tanya Stephens Gary & Tonya Stewart Parish & Carinna Stewart Chris & Kim Thurman Myra Thurman Dwight & Kathy Trim Joel & Amanda Upton Becky Vaughn-Furlow Dale & LeAnn Waldrop Phyllis Wallace Beck & Angie Warren Bob & Dianne Watson Ronnie & Lynn Watson Dale & Lucy Watts Korey & Crystal White Eddie & Jennifer Wiggins Jimmy & Julie Wright