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Creating a Culture of Giving

Holy Comforter Episcopal School has been transformed by the generosity of its community, and we are deeply grateful for your interest and support. There are many ways that parents, grandparents, alumni, trustees, parents of alumni, and friends can take an active role in supporting the School's mission and creating the best possible educational environment for all of our students and faculty.

Through coordinated fundraising efforts and special events, we offer a variety of meaningful ways to positively impact the education of our students. Making an investment in HCES is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

The Annual Fund

“The Annual Fund provides many wonderful additions to and opportunities for our classrooms, students and teachers. From exciting technology, like robots for our STEM robotics elective, a disc golf course for P.E. classes, funds for our Astronaut Challenge team, and financial support for teachers pursuing professional development, no part of our program is untouched by the generosity of those who give.” - Middle School Teacher

Holy Comforter’s Annual Fund impacts EVERY student, EVERY day. 100% of Funds raised increase classroom innovation, contribute to scholarships, and cover basic operational needs. $1,500 per student is the gap between Holy Comforter’s operating budget and the amount charged in tuition.

Make a Donation to the Annual Fund

Supporting HCES ensures that those things we value most - small class size, cutting edge technology, dedicated faculty, first class facilities and a nurturing, loving community - will be continued.

The Bridge

By: Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man going a lone highway,

Came, at the evening cold and gray,

To a chasm vast and deep and wide.

Through which was flowing a sullen tide

The old man crossed in the twilight dim,

The sullen stream had no fear for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,

“You are wasting your strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day,

You never again will pass this way;

You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build this bridge at evening tide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head;

“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,

“There followed after me to-day

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been as naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!”

Capital Campaign V

The Track and The Commons

Capital campaigns are extensive fundraising efforts that allow us to make necessary additions and upgrades to our beautiful campus. Capital Campaign V (also known as CCV) began nearly five years ago with the vision of completing the colonnade with the addition of The Commons, our dining hall and performing arts center. While construction was completed in February of 2020, the campaign continues. Phase 2 of “CCV” will launch in the coming months. You too can help Advance HCES through contributions to this project. There are naming opportunities around campus; columns, classrooms, and even buildings. We are so blessed to be a part of the culmination of building this beautiful campus that began 25 years ago. We get to build a school for this generation and the next. We invite you to play your part.

The course of our school’s history was significantly impacted when we purchased the initial 40 acres used to move our campus to Fleischmann Road in 1997 and built the first buildings on that site – Smith Hall and Hill Hall. In 2007, the addition of the Student Center instantly became the heart of the campus. In August 2012, a resource-rich science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) facility was built. The two-story 12,385 square foot Knight STEM Building is the only one of its kind for an independent school in the area dedicated solely to STEM-based hands-on learning for students in grades K-8. The Commons Performing Arts Center and Cafe was completed in the Fall of 2019 and offers a full performing arts space and stage that transforms into a cafe for daily lunches.

Capital Projects

Naming Opportunities

Naming a column is a great way to honor current students or Holy Comforter alumni. It is also a great way to remember a loved one. A commemorative plaque will be installed on your column for perpetuity.

“Holy Comforter has laid such a great foundation for our children’s lives. Dedicating our column was a great way for our family to express our gratitude to HCES,” said Ruth Roaza, alumni parent and former member of the HCES Board of Trustees.

Purchasing a personalized brick for your Holy Comforter alumnus or grandchild makes a great gift at any point in the year. This has become one of HCES’ treasured traditions and a source of pride for all alumni to come back to campus to see.

The Crusader Legacy

Established in 2006, The Crusader Legacy honors donors who have provided for Holy Comforter Episcopal School in their estate plans. These gifts significantly strengthen HCES by providing a fiscal cornerstone for the school’s long-range plans and its ability to serve future generations of Tallahassee children. The Crusader Legacy members will help guarantee that Holy Comforter Episcopal School will remain a place where children can strive to maximize their potential in a loving, Christian environment.

Qualifying gifts include, but are not limited to, securities, real estate, bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, and life insurance. Majority of planned gifts to Holy Comforter are placed in our endowment fund*, unless otherwise directed by the donor.

We invite you to join us as a member of The Crusader Legacy. To do so, please download and print the Confidential Reply Form to notify us that you have included HCES in your estate plans. Or, if you prefer, please feel free to call our Director of Advancement, Ida Thompson at 850-383-1007 or email her by clicking here.

Thank you for your support of Holy Comforter Episcopal School.

What is an Endowment?

An endowment gift is a permanent source of income for Holy Comforter Episcopal School as it is the gift that keeps on giving. Endowment funds are invested to earn annual interest rather than spent immediately. Currently, Holy Comforter is re-investing all of the earnings that these gifts generate until a larger endowment principle is established. Once that occurs, a percentage of the annual earnings will be used for tuition assistance and faculty advancement. The rest of the earnings will be reallocated back into the fund’s principle to insure that the endowment continues to grow and yield more interest for future scholarships and support.

Holy Comforter welcomes contributions and/or pledges of any amount to our general endowment fund. Named or designated funds may be established for any reason for any approved purpose with a gift of $25,000 or more. A named endowment fund can be created in your own name or in the name of a parent, spouse, teacher, friend or other loved one. You can do this at any point in your life using cash, securities or real estate, or you can arrange for the fund to be established through an irrevocable planned gift or a bequest in your will.

A strong endowment will enable Holy Comforter to better serve our community, knowing that permanent resources are available for tuition assistance, faculty advancement and new initiatives. By contributing to or establishing a named endowment fund, you can make a permanent gift to HCES that will continue to benefit our students in perpetuity.

If you are interested in contributing to the HCES Endowment Fund or creating a new one, please contact our Director of Advancement Ida Thompson at 850-383-1007 or email her by clicking here.

Meet the Advancement Team

List of 2 items.

Ida Thompson

Ms. Ida Mattia Thompson will be joined the HCES administrative team in 2023. Ida is the proud parent of two HCES alumni, Carter ‘10 and Elyse ‘12, and was a very active member of the HCES community and Parent Association during her time here. She served as our PA president and was integral in establishing our annual gala and auction and served as a gala chair.

Ida brings a wealth of development knowledge to the position. She served as chair of the Leon High School Foundation from 2014 - 2016 and was awarded Education “Volunteer of the Year” by the Tallahassee Democrat. In 2016, Ida was named one of the 25 Women You Need to Know. Over the past 10 years, she served as the Major Gifts Officer at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (2013 - 2018) and most recently as Director of Development for the College of Health & Human Sciences of the Florida State University Foundation (2018 - 2023). Throughout the years, she has been an active member of the Tallahassee community as a board member on numerous committees and organizations around the area.
Emily Lockard

Emily Lockard joined the HCES team in the summer of 2018. Emily has spent the vast majority of her career in non-profit fundraising and events. Most significantly, she was the Marketing & Events Manager for the First Tee of Greater Charlotte where she executed their annual dinner and auction, Ladies Luncheon, golf tournament, and worked closely with the PGA staff and players during the Wells Fargo Tournament. Emily has a passion for youth development and education, so she is excited to join HCES and hopes to continue the success of special events for years to come while increasing the Crusader Fund goals.

Confidential Reply Form

Please download and print the Confidential Reply Form to notify us that you have included Holy Comforter Episcopal School in your estate plans. Or, if you prefer, please feel free to call our Director of Advancement, Ida Thompson, at 850-383-1007.