FoBSD - Donate

Donate

Thank you for your interest and support of the Buea School for the Deaf (BSD).

There are several ways to support BSD:


	Donations will be used for immediate needs, such as students’ medical costs, books, office supplies, electricity, and other expenses. At the same time, FoBSD must demonstrate a membership base in order to maintain its 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Therefore, for the first donation an individual makes in a calendar year, $10.00 will be allocated to help sustain our non-profit standing and offset minimal operating expenses.
	Parents are asked to pay $450 per year to help cover costs such as salaries, (including evening and weekend coverage), meals, uniforms, books and supplies. Although the cost seems minimal, it is a serious hardship for most families. The amount requested does not actually cover all expenses. We ask for donations of a full sponsorship if you have the means, but any amount designated toward supporting a child is greatly appreciated.
	In June of 2010, BSD had a recently-purchased, vacant parcel of land. By January, 2011, three modest classroom buildings had been constructed. However, there are continuing needs for secondary level classrooms and for actual rather than make-shift sleeping quarters. Can you help BSD to meet these needs? To make a donation through PayPal, please click on any of these pictures, or go to the “Contact” page of our website for BSD’s mailing address.

Financial Portion of the Annual Report 2010

Within our scope of operations, FoBSD is committed to “carrying out…activities consistent with and supporting the goals of BSD, including making distributions to BSD in furtherance of its charitable and educational purposes.” As a fledgling 501(c)(3) organization, we have been blessed with the support of many large and small donors. During 2010, this financial commitment has made it possible for BSD to move from a rented building, which had become too crowded, to a new site. The campus has been transformed in a matter of months from an undeveloped plot of land, purchased the previous year, to three new buildings. The first classroom building of three large rooms was followed by a second with four classrooms. The third building, having six rooms, will eventually be used for expanded classrooms, but initially will serve as a teacher preparation room, a library, and dormitory space. FoBSD takes great satisfaction in its part in these achievements and in the fact that continued building projects are proposed for 2011.

Our organizational donors and the support of a great number of individuals have made this rapid growth possible. As examples:

•           A start-up grant of $25,000 and a matching grant of $25,000 was given by the Handsel Foundation of Washington State. (The Foundation also extended a second matching grant of $25,000 received early in January, 2011, with generous indications of continued giving).

•           The Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF) of West Palm Beach, Florida, gave $15,000.

•           Dr. I. King and Mrs. Linda Jordan made a significant personal donation of over $5,000. (matched by JSF. Matching funds not actually received until January, 2011).

•           The Rotary Club of Poulsbo North Kitsap, Washington State, donated $5,800 toward bringing water to the school. This process has been long and complicated with a successful solution in sight as 2010 came to an end.

•           Nascent Solutions, a non-profit organization focusing on Africa, donated $2,000.

•           The Obakki Foundation, located in Vancouver, Canada, gave a grant of $25,000 to further the building process.

The Obakki funds were not given through FoBSD, rather, directly to BSD. However, an agreement was made that the Handsel Foundation would match the $25,000 through FoBSD, as mentioned above. We are grateful to these major donors for the unparalleled giving and confidence shown in the work of BSD.
Many other individuals through the year also responded to appeals and have made donations ranging from $10 to more than $2,000. Several schools joined the effort launched by FoBSD to “Build a classroom, For a Classroom, By a Classroom”. Initial schools participating are the:

•           Friendship Academy of Science and Technology, Baltimore, Maryland;
•           Pope John Paul II School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
•           Missouri School for the Deaf;
•           Ohio School for the Deaf; and
•           Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, Washington, DC.

The overall financial picture of FoBSD during 2010 was as follows:
Beginning balance:       $14,692
Donations received:    $127,414
Operating funds:         $142,106
Granted BSD for operating expenses: $37,467
Granted for new construction:               $86,218
Total funds granted to BSD:                $123,685
Operating expenses, FoBSD:             $2,987
Balance in account, end of 2010:      $15,434

As an all-volunteer organization, FoBSD used only 2% of all donations received for operating expenses during 2010. Most of this was the cost of transferring funds internationally. This means that 98% of funds used have gone to support construction and ongoing expenses of BSD. The procedures established require BSD to make requests to fund specific items throughout the year. Administrators send forward estimates of costs. FoBSD board members vote on allotments to be sent forward. FoBSD then receives documentation from BSD demonstrating how the money was spent. We trust these facts help demonstrate responsible stewardship on the part of FoBSD and look forward to continuing this successful collaboration on behalf of deaf education.

M. Teresa Arcari, President

Click here for the full 2010 Annual Report.