The fundraising office at Miami Shores Doctors Charter School is on-track to make money for the school this year.

The village of Miami Shores allocated $50,000 this year to support the schools new development office, and the effort is now expected to generate at least $82,000, for a net gain of $32,000.

So far, the school has raised $35,000 in private donations this year, up from $19,000 at this time last year with only volunteer fund-raisers.

Plans call for raising an additional $27,000 from the seventh annual Golf and Tennis Tournament, set for April 19 at the Miami Shores Country Club and Tennis Center, and another $20,000 from a fundraiser in May, bringing this years total to $82,000. Last years total was about $39,000.

The villages $50,000 contribution to the schools fund-raising effort this year includes $35,000 in salary for Development Director Ellen Bonet plus $15,000 for other fund-raising expenses.

Plans call for the village to make the same contribution next year, but for the development office to be self-supporting thereafter.

Bonet updated the Village Council on her efforts at a meeting Tuesday.

Mayor Jim McCoy said its still a little early to evaluate the fund-raising efforts, but he is encouraged by the progress thus far.

Doctors Charter School was founded in 2005 through a collaboration of Barry University, Miami Dade Medical Foundation, and the village of Miami Shores. MDMFs donation was divided into two parts. The first part was used in the founding and construction of the school, which serves grades 6 through 12. The second part is being held by the Village Council as emergency funds.

The $100,000 the school is using to create a Development office is coming from those funds.

Originally posted here:
Fund-raising efforts paying off at Doctors Charter School