239 Class Gift
Class of 239,
During our virtual 40th reunion on Zoom in October, we briefly discussed Leading The Way and the new Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Central. The Class of 239 Reunion Committee has now formally created a Class Gift challenge to raise $45,000 by our 45th reunion. To help foster this effort, we’ve asked the Associated Alumni of CHS (AACHS) to create our own 239 Class Gift page.
We cannot stress enough how truly inspiring, critical, and ambitious Central’s current capital campaign entitled Leading the Way is for the future growth and development of both students and the neighboring community. This project will expand, renovate and reinvigorate the campus at Ogontz and Olney Avenues and create a world-class learning environment for future generations of high school students in Philadelphia. One of the centerpieces of this campaign will be the construction of the PAC.
Key points to help better understand exactly what is underway and how it will help to transform the school
- The capital campaign is a multi-phase project which began in 2016 and is scheduled to run through 2023. When the PAC phase is complete, upgrades will then occur on the main building, hallway by hallway.
- The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) has already provided $8.1 million, covering the cost of Phase I! This was completed in June of 2020. It included all the site preparation that will be needed for subsequent phases, including a full landscaping overhaul that will complement the new PAC, major renovations to the parking lot, lighting, walking paths, and ADA accessibility. The school is now much safer with onsite student drop-off, fire engine and other emergency vehicle access to the entire campus, easy egress from the lot after an event, and a new loading dock area.
- View the Campaign Book for the architectural drawings and other project details.
- Visit the Leading The Way page for complete details.
Phase II, the new Performing Arts Center
- Will be on the north lawn and will attach to the second floor of the main building via an enclosed bridge. The 1st floor will include a lobby that wraps around the PAC and will appear illuminated when in use. It will contain: a gallery space, a box office, a modern acoustically adjustable, flex theater space, five-room back-of-house set-up areas, storage for set props, and dressing rooms.
- The 2nd floor will include theater seating, a music classroom, a technology classroom, ensemble studio, instrument storage, lockers, a control room, offices, and rehearsal & practice studios.
- It will be available to other schools much like the new gym (mid 1990’s), it is self-contained so just the PAC can be opened in the evening or the weekend for SDP or community use.
- The building design won an AIA award in 2020 for MGA Partners Architects in the unbuilt category.
Respectfully acknowledging that everyone’s financial means to donate will vary, we hope that you consider participating with a gift that is meaningful to YOU via our 239 Class Gift page today. It is our unique opportunity as a class to contribute to a once-in-a-generation transformative gift.
We realize that a $45,000 gift may seem ambitious, but over a 5-year period we are confident it is achievable. Some of us can make a large donation, but the AACHS provides several opportunities to consider making even a modest contribution to help our class reach this goal: for example, making a monthly recurring donation of $23.90 (or $19.92 per month to donate $239 per year!). Of course, if you prefer a once yearly gift, that would be great as well.
Please consider visiting our 239 Class Gift page today and choose an amount you are comfortable giving, be it monthly or annually. Let’s remind our fellow alums that The Nine is still Fine! Questions? Send an e-mail to the Alumni Office at alumnioffice@centralhighalumni.com.
Thanks in advance for your support for future students of Central and other great classes that will contribute to the legacy of “Dear Old High”.
The 239 Class Reunion Committee
Foreverchs239@gmail.com