History of  SMSS Endowment Fund Project
by Dr. John L Alipit, MD

Endowment according to the American Heritage Dictionary is defined as funds or property donated to an institution, individual or group as a source of income.

A brief history is appropriate for the benefit of the Alumni and Friends of St. Mary School in Sagada who have not heard how the Endowment Fund was started and for what reason. 

When Mr. Frank Longid was alive trying to keep St. Mary School "Alive", I sent money to SMS as seed money for an Endowment Fund but Frank requested that the money  I sent be used for the immediate needs of the school which I consented to knowing the critical financial status of SMS. 

Subsequently, I contacted Inez '55 to help me contact some of our Class 1955 who may be willing to start an Endowment Fund for SMS.  We contacted Dr. Florence Fiagoy Dulnuan; Dr. Fred Zabala; Dr. Andrew Bacdayan, Mrs. Fedila Salvador Ferrer; Ms. Alice Egsaen; Mr. Henry Bawaan; Mrs. Betty Buyagawan Kurzdorfer (Germany).  One did not pledge out of the 9 of us with initial pledge of $600.00 each payable in 3 years.  I pledged $3000.00 to start it and  I believe we came up close to $7000 up to date. 

Our fervent hope then was to stimulate other classes, alumni. and friends to do likewise and certainly many donated to the Frank memorial intended for the Endowment Fund.  This  may look like a separate fund but it should not be. It is very common to see a list of donors to a certain Endowment Fund (Common Fund) whether as corporate, individual, or group donors. 

Our Class 1955 agreed that the money (Principal) was not going to be spent but only the interest  income upon approval of the officers / BOT and this was affirmed during our memorable SMS Meeting last June in Edwin's and Mia's mountain top palace (West Virginia). 

I have been quiet recently about the Endowment Fund Campaign due to the upsurge of funding for the three science labs,  Computer Dept, Stapleton Building, and now the Library and the Sports Complex. 

With the unprecedented success of  Phases 1 & 2,  including the Classroom renovations which we solicited funds from generous donors, we seem to be ahead of  schedule which is laudable, but the long term sustenance of what we started to build will depend on ongoing donations particularly for the Endowment Fund. 

From my point of view, the Pledge System is the easiest and cheapest way of soliciting knowing that we are all scattered and quite difficult to arrange functions to raise funds and sometimes more expensive to do after considering the time involved, expenses, etc. 

Our son graduated  from Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1992, and we still get yearly solicitations from the school and so many other Foundations and Agencies asking the same.  In a small town, it is hard to say NO. 

I have said more than enough. I will await comments from the rest of the members of the committee for the Endowment Fund. 

Thank you all for your patience. 

                   John L. Alipit, M.D.,Hillsdale, Michigan 49242

                         1-517-439-1209(Res); 1-517-437-3361(Office)