The Harbor Fund

What it's all About

It's all about the children -- the bright, creative, enthusiastic young members of the Harbor community.  The children are why the teachers come to work in the morning with smiles on their faces, why parents become so engaged in the life of the school, and why Harbor's founders took the bold step of starting a new school in 1958.

In keeping with the school’s mission, "Harbor cherishes childhood, cultivates wonder and inspires confident learners and leaders,” Harbor Country Day aims to provide its students an education not available elsewhere. The purpose of The Harbor Fund is to help Harbor Country Day School to better serve students.

Why the Harbor Fund exists

The cost to educate your child at Harbor Country Day School is far greater than the tuition Harbor charges. The same is true at every independent school.  Many schools, however, can turn to income produced by their endowments to supplement tuition.  Harbor's endowment, though growing, is still small.

Thus Harbor, like every independent school, relies on annual gifts intended for general purposes to help complete the funding of its programs. (See links below for some samples from sister schools on Long Island).  Aside from the Harbor Fund, other sources include income from Harbor’s Summer Camp and Workshops program and budding endowment.) 

The Harbor Fund, which is raised and completely expended each year, is made up exclusively of these annual gifts from you and other members of the Harbor family. 

What the Harbor Fund pays for

Contributions to the Harbor Fund support the core budget of the school, which involves every aspect of the school’s program.  The Harbor Fund allows the school to do more than would otherwise be possible.  It enhances teachers’ salaries, technology, athletics, special events, financial aid, and faculty professional development.  It helps to provide school supplies, software for classrooms, basketballs, library books, power and light, fuel oil, and upkeep on Harbor’s historic school home. The list goes on and on. 

Because Harbor is non-profit, every dollar goes toward the school and program.  The bigger the Harbor Fund, the more that’s possible.

The Harbor Family

Ask people what makes Harbor special, and you hear replies like these: "The school is challenging yet nurturing." "Nothing else challenged me - not high school or college - the way Harbor did."  "I was as close to my eighth grade classmates as I am to my brother and sister."  "It's safe."  "It's a home away from home." 

Students, parents, grandparents, teachers, staff, alumni, parents of alumni, and trustees are all part of the Harbor family.  Many Harbor students start in Nursery and continue right through to graduation from Eighth Grade. That's eleven years of the Harbor experience - longer than students will spend in any other educational setting. This rich, well-rounded experience shapes young lives, not only in our students' academic knowledge and habits, but also in their character, their confidence, and their skills at living and working with others.

The Harbor Fund — Participate!

The Harbor Fund is the cornerstone of the school’s fundraising efforts.  It is the annual giving fund; a gift to the Harbor Fund shows your commitment to the education of your child and to Harbor’s continued growth and improvement of program.  Harbor invites every member of the school community - the parents of children currently enrolled, graduates from each year, the parents of graduates, the grandparents of current and past students - to join in support of the Harbor Fund.

Give what you can afford; gifts of any size are welcome and appreciated.  Every gift makes a difference.  They all add up and they all count toward overall participation.  Whether you choose to become a member of the Green and White Club, the Founders' Circle, or some level in between, your generosity and your support are valued.

Participation is important!  Your participation in The Harbor Fund shows not only your support for the Harbor Country Day of the present, but also your expectation that an even stronger Harbor will continue long into the future.

Compare and Contrast

Portledge School

Friends Academy

East Woods School

Greenvale School

Ross School

For more information about giving to the Harbor Fund, please contact Sally Dessart, Director of Development, at (631) 584-5555 or sdessart@hcdsny.org.