Central High School Foundation Opening Doors of Opportunity 2017 ANNUAL REPORT A Letter From Opening Doors The President of Opportunity A Year In Review A Note from the Executive Director On behalf of the Central High School Foundation (CHSF) Board members and The title of this year’s Annual Report, Opening Doors of Opportunity, is the perfect Foundation staff, I want to thank you for your past, present and future support of Omaha metaphor for what the Central High School Foundation does every day for the students Central High School. and staff of Omaha Central High School. Whether it is providing scholarships, planning a new building addition, funding unique classroom activities, or connecting our current It has been a truly busy and exciting year for our organization. In addition to CHSF’s and future students with alumni and community, the job of the Central High School day-to-day operations, which keep Central a school of choice and opportunity for young Foundation, every day, is opening doors to ensure every EAGLE has a second-to-none people, the Foundation achieved a very special milestone. On June 22, 2017, the high school educational experience. Foundation held its ground breaking ceremony for the school’s 22 million dollar Arts and Library Addition. This event represented the culmination of three years of hard Since 1859, Omaha Central High School has stood on Capitol Hill overlooking work, commitment and patience, in which the Foundation negotiated, designed and downtown Omaha. Over the past one hundred fifty-eight years, Central High School has funded a new 21st century learning environment for current and future Central High played an important role in opening the doors that have facilitated Omaha’s growth from School students and staff. a little village on the Missouri River to a major Midwest metropolitan center of commerce, education, arts and technology. Nobel Prize winners, Academy Award winners, national, The Central High School Arts and Library Addition, which will be located on the east regional, state and local leaders and businessmen and women have all walked through the side of the school grounds, is a Foundation-funded project that will provide over 50,000 open doors of Omaha’s downtown high school. square feet of new learning space to meet the changing and growing educational needs of the school’s 2,500+ students. Curricular areas directly benefitted by the new It is a sad truth that most major U.S. cities’ downtown high schools have been forced to building include the Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Art, and Drama Departments. close their doors because of declining student enrollments. Instead, they have become The new building will also include a new Library and Media Center, with panoramic educational themed magnets for a special class of student, or are now considered a failed views of downtown Omaha, along with a 300-seat Black Box Theater. In addition to the institution with no future in the 21st century. Omaha Central High School, on the other new building space, the second part of the project, in cooperation with OPS, will involve hand, continues to adapt to the challenges facing it and prosper as one of the largest and repurposing over 25,000 square feet of the original building. The repurposed space most diverse – as well as one of the most successful — high schools in the state of will ensure that Central High School students will continue to have access to world-class Nebraska. educational spaces and learning opportunities. How can it be that Omaha’s public downtown high school has been able to survive and We view this project as an important door to open, and a means by which our students thrive when other cities’ downtown high schools have failed? The answer can be found in can continue to explore the arts and the world around them. We want our Eagles to be the people who have opened the doors, the people who are opening doors, and the able to spread their wings in spaces designed to fit the changing demands of a 21st people who will come to open the doors of this unique beacon for public education. At century education. We also know that Central High School – a proud institution of the Central High School Foundation, we will always be opening doors to ensure our tradition and established excellence – needs the ability to adapt and change to the current school and students succeed! educational culture in order to continue offering its best to future students. We believe this Addition ensures that the school is able to do just that. As you review this year’s Central High School Foundation Annual Report, please take great pride in your support and help in “Opening Doors” for the finest public high The tentative move-in date for the Arts and Library Addition is winter 2018, and the school in the country: Omaha Central High School! completion date for the repurposing is summer of 2021. These spaces will provide a huge benefit to our entire Central High School community, the Omaha Public Schools, and the city of Omaha. To learn more about the Arts and Library Addition, as well as to Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle, follow the project’s progress, please go to the CHSF website and click on the Impact link. In closing, I want to, again, thank you for your commitment of time, talent, and treasure. Your ongoing support is critical to ensuring that Omaha’s Downtown High School - JOIN THE Central High School - continues in its role as one of this country’s premier CONVERSATION: secondary public educational institutions, as well as the “Crown Jewel” of the Omaha Michele Roberts News from the Nest Public Schools. GO EAGLES! Executive Director www.facebook.com/chsfomaha Sincerely, www.twitter.com/chsfomaha @chsfomaha Matt Aden www.chsfomaha.org President, Class of 1974 Board of Directors Matt Aden, CHS 1974 Rob Likes, CHS 1991 Julie Cobb Matt Darling, CHS 1999 Ed Bennett, Ed. D. Keith Bigsby, Ed. D. President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Principal Principal Emeritus Rusty Crossman, MD Andy Haggart, Kristie Hayes, MD Mike Lebens, Merrilee Moshier Miller, Harley Schrager, CHS 1966 CHS 1988 CHS 1973 CHS 1970 CHS 1966 CHS 1965 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $11,741,397 Certificates of deposit $400,000 Deposits $600 Investments and cash $2,434,869 restricted for endowment Total Assets $14,576,866 NET ASSETS 2017 Unrestricted $575,242 Temporarily restricted $12,173,611 Permanently restricted $1,828,013 Total Net Assets $14,576,866 Foundation Office Photography Courtesy of: Michele Roberts Josh Bucy Sydney Davidson Joanne Wagner Givens Executive Director Communications & Database Events & Alumni Relations Finance 2017 Annual Report | 3 1951 1961 Alumni - Reunion Recap 2016 Reunions The Class of 1951 celebrated their 65th Reunion on September 23, 2016, at Cascio’s Steakhouse. Classmates came from near and far to join in the festivities. Those in attendance included reunion committee members and a handful of out51 of town classmates. The Class of 1961 gathered to celebrate their 55th Reunion on September 23rd and 24th. Classmates had an opportunity to reminisce about their high school days at the Fox and Hound on Friday night. The 1966 1976 reunion weekend concluded with a nice dinner at Cascio’s Steak House on Saturday evening. 61 On August 26th and 27th, the Class of 1966 celebrated their 50th year reunion. On Friday, classmates gathered to golf at the Field Club of Omaha in the afternoon before spending a fun evening socializing in their banquet hall. On Saturday morning, the class toured Central and capped the reunion weekend with a banquet and live music from “The Confidentials” at the Happy66 Hollow Country Club. The Class of 1976 celebrated their 40th reunion in July. They started out their weekend on Friday night listening to Kenny Loggins at the Bank of the West Celebrates America concert at Memorial Park. Then on Saturday, the crew danced the night away to The 70’s Band at the Cottonwood Marina. On Sunday, July 3rd, a dinner, awards banquet, 1981 1986 followed by music and dancing was held at the Firefighters Union Hall. The weekend was concluded76 on Monday, July 4, with the Ralston Independence Day Parade. Many new memories were made as the Class of 1981 got together in early October to celebrate their 35th Reunion. On Friday night, classmates tailgated before the Central football game against Lincoln High. Following the game, the Eagles spent the rest of the evening at The Session Room for a late snack and beverages. The reunion wrapped up with a tour of CHS on Saturday81 morning. The Class of 1986 had a weekend full of fun activities! The weekend kicked off with the “Taco Ride” on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail on Thursday. On Friday, classmates met for the Central football game against North Platte before walking over to the Blue Jay Bar and Grill after 1991 1996 the game. The Class of ‘86 toured the school on Saturday morning before a golf scramble at the Elmwood86 Park Golf Course in the afternoon. The main event was an outing at O’Connor’s Irish Pub on Saturday evening. The Class of 1991 got together in August to celebrate their 25th Reunion. On Friday night, classmates enjoyed a fun evening of cocktails and appetizers at Champions Run. The following morning, Central students gave tours of the school. The reunion weekend concluded with an event at Brix Midtown Crossing.91 Eagles from the Class of 1996 met Setptember 16th and 17th to celebrate their 20th Reunion. On Friday night, classmates took in the Eagle football game.