Dear Parishioners,

After much thought, conversation, and advice I have decided that IHM Parish and School ought to take a step back this year and NOT HAVE a FALL FESTIVAL, 2020. Although there were many positives about this fundraising effort, there also were some drawbacks that cause me to pause on doing this Fall Festival and come up with another kind of event for 2021.One positive about the second annual Fall Festival was seeing so many neighbors of Cuyahoga Falls and non-parishioners at this event as we opened it up with free admission to all. That was very good and wholesome. I have always wanted an event to be able to draw out alternate sources of revenue as BINGO did and not simply rely upon school parents to financially support the event. This is the underlying principle on which I hope to find another kind of school operations fundraiser.

The silent auction at the FALL FESTIVAL and the car raffle also were both totally helpful in raising money for the school operations. IHM will be doing a car raffle in 2020.

ANNOUNCEMENT
I have asked TANA RUESTER and MELINDA MCILROY both school parents to co-chair what we are now calling a SCHOOL OPERATIONS FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE. Theirs will be a two-year volunteer commitment. I am grateful to both of them for seeing the importance and value of raising money for school operations.

Every parish that has a school needs to fundraise for school operations so as to assist in keeping a lower cost for educating a child in that school.

• Their job and ministry will be twofold:
• To fundraise for school operations through an annual three-month long CAR RAFFLE in fall of 2020
• To begin creating an ALUMNI REUNION EVENT for 2021 (a fundraiser, possibly scheduled for every other year after that)

Just so you know there are now FOUR (4) fundraising committees at IHM SCHOOL.
1. The PAG (Parents Assistance Group) which also has the IHM MUSTANG 5K Committee
2. The Athletic Association for CYO sports
3. The Excellence Fund
And the newly formed:
4. The School Operations Fundraising Committee

These committees represent distinct groups with unique missions to enhance the IHM experience for all students. Fundraising efforts and goals differ from each other. Fundraising profits are not shared among the groups, and occasionally fundraising efforts will overlap. Your support for any and all of these purposes truly blesses the students who attend IHM.

I am confident that this year and next year we can build up a good net profit for school operations with this new committee and its goals. I am always open to hear your ideas, comments, and advice.

Many blessings,
Father Jim