Annual Fund 2022-2023

A Letter from the Annual Fund Co-Chairs

 Dear CES Families, Alumni and Friends,

Coast Episcopal School has been a part of my life since before I was born. My grandfather, Father Charles Johnson, founded the school in 1950, and my mother graduated from CES in 1971. I attended Coast Episcopal from preschool through sixth grade, and now my children are in Toddler Town, second grade and fourth grade at CES. 

After many years at CES, it is still difficult to fully express what makes Coast such a special place. It is the school’s dedication to developing all aspects of a child - their physical, spiritual, emotional, creative, social and academic sides - that creates the unique learning experience here and gives our kids the opportunity to learn, grow and be themselves.

 I remember during my time at CES, we had a high school, and sporting events were a major part of the school community and spirit. In the past few years, we have seen sports return to Coast Episcopal, with basketball and cheer last year and flag football this year. It has been wonderful to see the impact on both the children and the school community. The games we hosted at home filled our gym with such community spirit and enthusiasm – it was so exciting to feel the energy in the air. 

The gym, though, looks very much like it did when I played here in sixth grade almost 25 years ago, which is why I am excited that my wife, Amanda, and I are chairing this year’s Annual Fund Campaign. The 2022-2023 Annual Fund proceeds will be used, in part, for sprucing up our gym ahead of basketball season. This gym “refresh” will include fixing the walls, installing new paneling, improving air circulation and adding a fresh coat of paint. We think it will make a big difference in the look and feel of the gym and lend even more excitement to the upcoming basketball season.

We will have a way for the students to get involved with this effort through a “Hoop-A-Thon” in January, with students (and some adults, including me!) collecting pledges for the number of free throws made. It should be a great way to get everyone involved and excited for the upcoming season. 

I’ve seen the impact of involvement in sports in my own life and my children’s, and I am so glad we are able to share these benefits with our CES students today. Athletics has both physical and mental health benefits, building confidence while encouraging children to work together, face challenges and persevere. The playing field teaches kids about success and failure – and how to deal with the consequences of both. These are skills that will help our children the rest of their lives.

Having sports at CES also creates the opportunity for more students to see these benefits because, surrounded by peers, parents and teachers who know and love them, our children feel comfortable trying new sports and skills. This experience strengthens the students’ connections, as it does our entire school community. We learn and grow together. 

This team spirit is a reminder of how special our CES community really is. It was great to see the CES family rally around basketball last year. I loved seeing our gym full of parents, students, family and friends, all cheering on our players. It reminded me of my own days in the same gym and of everything I love about our close-knit, loving Coast Episcopal community.

Amanda and I ask you to join us in supporting this year’s Annual Fund Campaign. In addition to the gym improvements, the Annual Fund helps support many aspects of the CES school experience. Annual Fund contributions provide the resources not covered by tuition alone, from curriculum and technology, to faculty training and financial aid, to our wonderful integrated arts programming. They are all a critical part of the unique educational experience at Coast Episcopal School, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our CES families and friends every year. 

Thank you for your support of CES, and we look forward to seeing you at the Hoop-A-Thon or an upcoming basketball game. 

Go Raiders!

Sincerely,

Amanda and Ben Benvenutti

2022-2023 Annual Fund Co-Chairs

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