asf annual report 2010-2011

Annual Report2010-2011

Here’s what you’ll find on the pages ahead:

Progress reports from the executive director, and leaders from the Board of Trustees, the Institutional Ad-vancement Committee, the Alumni Council and the Par-ent Association.

Personal messages from a cross section of involved members of the ASF community — administration, fac-ulty, student body, alumni, parents and friends of the school.

A Capital Campaign update, including fundraising activities and the two newest additions to the ASF cam-pus — the Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center

and the Mary Street Jenkins Wellness Center.

An Annual Scholarship Drive update, with a re-view of the year’s special fundraising events.

Alumni initiatives, highlighting the vital role that the alumni play in community building.

The Parent Association year in review, covering its special events, community-building activities, volunteer involvement and fundraising activities.

How to give: All the ways you can be part of the future of ASF.

Welcome to the 2010-2011 ASF Annual Report

ASF Vision Statement

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The American School Foundation, A.C. is the preemi-nent English-speaking college preparatory school that pre-pares its diverse student body by design to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Rooted in over 120 years of experience, ASF exemplifies:

A Caring, Diverse Student Body and an Inclu-sive Community: ASF enrolls highly motivated students from diverse cultural, national, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. The learning community values individual differences, diverse cultural perspectives and acts with thoughtfulness and humanity. ASF inculcates respect for democratic principles and a commitment to civic respon-sibility and service, seeking to encourage an atmosphere of inclusiveness and promotes the active participation of its students, faculty, administration, staff, parents and alumni in goals, objectives and decision-making. The commitment to the practice that students have a voice and a choice in their academic experience and activities is evident.

Academic Excellence: ASF seamlessly blends an Ameri-can, Mexican and international curriculum to inspire stu-dents to achieve the highest standards of intellectual and personal development. Students thrive because individual capabilities and learning styles are recognized. Students in-tegrate creative and critical thinking, effective oral and writ-

ten communication in all classes. Educators emphasize and encourage the meaning and value of community and the joy and importance of lifelong learning.

Talented Teachers and Leadership: The commit-ment to attracting and retaining exceptionally qualified ed-ucators shows. ASF is known for recruiting worldwide and for its investment in continuous training for faculty and staff.

Modern Infrastructure: ASF is a 21st century learning environment because of ongoing investment and steward-ship in: state-of-the-art classrooms conducive to interactive learning; the finest technology, classrooms, science labo-ratories and athletic facilities; a new performing arts venue and the vanguard of technologies for students to research, work and communicate effectively.

Sound Financials: ASF has the soundest and most transparent financial policies that inspire confidence for a robust endowment. This enables ASF to remain a solid insti-tution, capable of meeting its goals.

Because of its unity in vision, ASF achieves the ultimate goal of nurturing responsible young men and women who meet their highest potential and successfully face the considerable challenges of our global society.

ASF Mission StatementThe American School Foundation, A.C. is an academically rigorous, international, university preparatory school, which offers students from diverse backgrounds the best of American independent education. In all aspects of school life students are encouraged to love learning, live purposefully and to become responsible, contributing citizens of the world.

Be Part of it: In the 2010-2011 school year, the Be Part of it initiative encouraged community members to reflect on what it means to be part of ASF. At the bottom of most of the pages of this Annual Report, you will see a few of the many ideas that were shared.

Rosa Pisinger (’87) • ChairCatharine Austin (’78) • 1st Vice Chair

Carlos Williamson • 2nd Vice ChairCarla Ormsbee • Secretary

Joan Liechty • TreasurerCésar Buenrostro (’85)

Richard CampilloMurray H. Case

Les deGraffenried

Francisco DemesaSebastián Fernández

Fernando FrancoMaria de Lourdes Galvan

Frances HuttanusAntonio Rallo

Tito Oscar VidaurriMartin Werner

The 2010-2011 ASF Board of Trustees

Dear ASF community and supporters,

Through the generous contributions from our donors, The American School Foundation continues to build on its nearly 124 years as an educational leader in Mexico and among international schools. Your donations have allowed us to provide financial support for worthy students and to carry out the next steps of the school’s Master Building Plan. This is a stellar example of what a community can do through cooperation and collaboration.

By being part of the ASF community today, and through your contributions to the Annual Scholarship Drive and the Capital Building Campaign, you are allowing us to secure a bright future for tomorrow’s students and families. Our tuition and fees are used to cover only our day-to-day expenses, which is why your gifts are so important for our financial aid and campus improvement goals, and why they are so greatly appreciated.

As we all know, the last two years have been difficult ones for the world economy, which makes the continued support we have been receiving all the more remarkable. In tough economic times, the Board of Trustees and school leadership redouble their commitment to manage the school’s finances responsibly and effectively, ensuring strict fiscal controls while still focusing on our community’s true needs and moving forward to fulfill our mission.

This year, thanks to your generous donations, 12% of our student body receives financial aid and our Capital Building Campaign goals are becoming a reality as construction of Phase One of both the Mary Street Jenkins Wellness Center and the Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center nears completion.

The American School Foundation is fortunate to be able to count on so many dedicated and generous individuals to build our community, helping to further strengthen and support our school’s mission and vision. As we begin the 2011-2012 school year, I thank you for your contributions of every kind. Because of you, all of our stakeholders – alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff – can continue to do what we do so well: provide a world class education for our students.

I look forward to your continued support in the years to come. Be a part of ASF’s tomorrow, today!

Sincerely,Paul Williams

“You are

allowing us

to secure a

bright future

for tomorrow’s

students and

families”

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R e p o r t s :

Being a part of ASF is not just attending school. It’s more than that. It’s not just taking and receiving, it’s also giving back. — Mariana C., US student

Paul Williams ASF Executive Director

Dear ASF supporters,

The American School Foundation, A.C. has a long history of educating students of diverse backgrounds to become contributing citizens of the world. Throughout its history as a non-profit institution, ASF has depended on the generosity of donors to accomplish its mission.

During September of 2010, the Board of Trustees and the school leadership began working on a new strategic plan to guide ASF as it moves toward the future.

With the mission of ASF as a guide, the school’s strategic goals were discussed. How should we envision ASF in the future? What values should hold the community together? How will we prepare our students to become responsible, contributing citizens of the world? As we approached these questions, we kept in mind the categories of ASF’s Vision Statement.

ASF is an Inclusive Community made up of a Caring and Diverse Student Body. It is important for us to seek and retain talented families and students from different nationalities, religions, cultures and disciplines, regardless of their ability to pay our tuition. Participation of all community members is encouraged through partnerships that enhance our community’s shared values of respect and tolerance. By blending American, Mexican and international curriculums and respecting individual learning styles, Talented Teachers and Leadership encourage the joy and importance of learning in students, thus promoting Academic Excellence. In the 21st century, it is imperative that ASF have Modern Infrastructure. New pedagogies call for modernized classrooms that can sustain the latest technologies and interactive learning, as well as better sports facilities and art venues that will offer our students an advantage as they discover their own potentials. All of this can only be accomplished with Sound Financials — that is, with financial policies that ensure ASF remains a solid institution, capable of achieving its goals.

The 2010-2011 school year brought many achievements. Thanks to funds raised through the Great Minds Need Great Spaces campaign, important advances were made in the Master Building Plan. The first phases of both the Mary Street Jenkins Wellness Center and the Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center are scheduled to be finished by December of 2011, allowing students to study, prepare and perform in optimal spaces. Furthermore, thanks to the generosity of donors, the school was able to offer financial aid to a large number of students who, as a result, will be able to benefit from an ASF education. We also implemented community outreach programs through Community Enrichment Academies for public school teachers, in such subjects as technology, multimedia, English as a second language, environment and music.

Throughout this Annual Report, you will read about a number of special events, initiatives, group efforts and individual acts of generosity that took place during the 2010-2011 school year, allowing ASF to keep moving forward. At the same time, even more academic, artistic and sports events took place whose goals were not fundraising but rather to demonstrate the extraordinary achievements of ASF students. Their successes illustrate the kind of excellence in education that a committed faculty and staff can offer a diverse student body.

As a non-profit institution, it is thanks to our donors that our ambitious plans can become a reality, maintaining ASF’s status as one of the leading academic institutions in the world.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank all of you for your support.

Sincerely, Rosa Marentes de Pisinger ('87)

Rosa Marentes de Pisinger (’87) Chair of the Board of Trustees

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL FOUNDATION, A.C2010-2011 Annual Report

R e p o r t s :

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The American School

Giving Program

R e p o r t s :

With ASF poised to begin a new era, our parents, alumni, faculty, students and friends rose to the occasion during the 2010-2011 school year. Their generosity resulted in new gifts and pledges totaling $9,201,850 pesos, making this one of the school’s most impressive fundraising years to date, and giving us more than ample reason to look to the future with confidence. That future includes wonderful new facilities that promise to offer our children more opportunities for learning and for developing their talents.

In late 2010, we embarked on construction of the new Mary Street Jenkins Wellness Center, thanks to a cornerstone gift from the Fundación Mary Street Jenkins. The venue will provide for athletic events, Extended Learning activities, physical education classes and flexible meeting spaces, as well as a space for large gatherings and more after-hours and weekend activities for students.

The Vive Saludable by PepsiCo Bleachers, another significant addition to the athletic program, became a reality through commitments from PepsiCo and the McCoy-MacDonald Family.

In January of 2011, through a lead gift from the Fundación Amparo, and with funds secured through the generosity of dozens of dedicated donors to the Capital Campaign’s “Great Minds Need Great Spaces” effort, we were able to break ground on Phase One of the long-awaited Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center, which includes a 650-seat theater that will be a worthy venue for operas, concerts and plays, as well as a forum for debates, Model UN sessions and seminars. In addition, it will offer our students a safe venue for student-organized events such as concerts, fashion shows and festivals.

Meanwhile, our Annual Scholarship Drive registered an unprecedented success. A record number of 580 gifts were received. The Annual Scholarship Drive was also supported by special events, such as the annual Golf Tournament and Silent Auction. With this support, ASF is able to comply with its mission of promoting diversity and to continue instilling the knowledge and values in our students that enable them to become responsible, contributing global citizens. Donors to the Annual Scholarship Drive help provide some 290 students with financial aid.

Also supporting financial aid is the Fundación de Asistencia Educativa Irene Anzaldúa, IAP (FAEIA), which offered six scholarships. This was made possible through proceeds from the Holiday Bazaar in December, with its 90 stands, as well as from a successful grant proposal made to Nacional Monte de Piedad.

Adding in scholarships falling under the umbrella of the Mexican Public Education Secretariat (SEP), all these efforts combined mean about 12% of our student body benefits from financial aid.

A year of unparalleled achievement has inspired us to aim even higher for the 2011-2012 school year. This period will be marked by the continuation of Phase Two of our building projects, with major goals including the renovation of our arts classrooms in the Fine Arts Center and the placement of tennis courts on the roof of our Wellness Center over the coming years..

This is an exciting moment in The American School Foundation’s long history. As we move forward with new campus facilities and expanded curricular offerings, I want to thank you for your generous and faithful support.

Sincerely, Frances Huttanus

Frances Huttanus • Chair of the Board of Trustees Institutional Advancement Committee


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To be part of it for me would be to have a helping hand and big smile to help you carry a big load every day. — Staff member

ALUMNIAlvarez Varea Maria José (1990)AnonymousAustin Cathy (1978)Besquin Neumann Daniel (2003)Buenrostro Moreno César (1985)Castillo Iriarte Marcelino (1947)Castro Xenia (1996)Clayton William E. (1953)Danner de Ledwith Louise (1956)De St. Aubin Stephanie (2001)Draine Bruce T. (1965)Furbeck Boltman Irma (1952)Galindo Stahl Martha K. (1958)Garciagodoy Juanita (1970)Golley Linda (1974)Gwynn James (1946)Gwynn John (1952)Haakh Gilbert E.T. (1942)Hunter Barbara (1953)Kolteniuk Ricardo (1994)Lechner de Brooks Kathleen (1948)Martínez Guevara Dora (1950)McDonald Alonzo Susie (1956)Medellín John (1979)Paredes Santiago (1989)Santoyo Beltrán Elsa (1955)Schmidt Anne A. (1940)Solís Romero Rodrigo (1987)Tello de Meneses Ma. Victoria (1956)

PARENTSAboumrad Chedraui Family Achar Abadi Nelly Adler Zaslav Mario Aiza Hojel Family (1986/1989)AnonymousBallesteros Gutiérrez Juan PabloBaudouin FamilyBraun Murillo JavierBustamante Sfeir Family (1983)Campillo RichardCase FamilyCervera FamilyCosio Clusa FamilydeGraffenried LesDel Río Audibert BernardoDemesa FranciscoDuque González Family (1988)Elías Boton Family Escudero de Mateos Amaya Fernández Sebastián and Ivette Ferrer Barroso FamilyFranco Bustillos FernandoFraser Porraz FamilyGómez Tena FamilyGonzález Calvillo RodrigoGrossman Sandy and AndreGuerrero Rivera FamilyHojel Pacheco Family (1987)Hubp Martin FamilyIbarra Fariña FranciscoJones Romo Family Justus Mauricio (1987)Katzman Richard (1977)Levin Santangelo FamilyLozano Panameño FamilyMateos Castañón FamilyMendoza Klein Family (1991)Naranjo Mauricio Olvera Liechty Family

Ormsbee CarlaParent AssociationPeralta CarlosPhillips Olmedo de José Irene (1955)Pilliod FamilyPisinger Marentes Family (1986)Popovits Rene and Verónica Raz Guzmán JoséReimers IsaacRendon Russell Family (1992)Rivera Castañeda FamilyRojo Fernández FamilyRuíz de Velasco PabloSaltiel Serrota José Santacruz del Valle FamilySolórzano Giardinelli Family Spinola RicardoSulaimán de la Rosa Family Trueba Ruíz Family Valdés Acra Eduardo Valenzuela Pedro Vidaurri del Castillo TitoVidaurri Salas FamilyWerner Martin and Mercedes Williamson Carlos

STUDENTSClass of 2018ECC K3 Classroom 14LS Classroom 2DLS Classroom 2FLS Classroom 2GLS Classroom 2HLS Classroom 3BLS Classroom 3ELS Classroom 4GMS Students

GRANDPARENTSAnonymousBotton Julio and Dolly Cane Suzanne Goldschmied AdeleHernández de Merino Flora (1957)McCoy Horacio (1957)Quevedo López CarlosSouroujon FamilyHamer Mr. and Mrs. Thurston R. (1952)Uriegas Family Varea Gilabert Carmen

FACULTY AND STAFF Abarca Trujillo Miriam Aguirre Tovar Elisa Del Socorro Ajuria González Alicia María Alaníz Estrada José Carlos Álvarez NancyAnonymousBeltrán ElisaBeltrán Michele Berentsen Heger Ivette (1990)Berry Murphy Cynthia Ann Betancourt Ashton Bilbao Ugalde Itziar Blanchette Linda Jean Calderón Moreno Lucienne Annette Campa Robledo Mónica Campos Kane Karla (2001)Carrera MaruCasanueva Cortina Marian Castañar Vicente

Chenier Jonathan Couto Márquez Ángel Javier Crutchfield Sklarski Rebecca Nancy Cummings Stephanie Gail Dávalos Sánchez Teresa Leticia De Jesús Breene Juan De León Rodríguez María Elda De St. Aubin MercedesDeLong Snyder Cynthia Devilbiss Muñoz Harold Daniel Dillon Rachel Ellen Domínguez San Millán Liliana Drury Martha Dora Dunford Bethany Lynn Escobar Rojo Adriana Espín Salgado Laura Bruna Espinosa Ma. Del CarmenGalán Rangel Yolanda (1965)Gallie Kevil Amy Irene Ghirlanda De Haslam Alicia María Giral López Manola Goldschmed Harrison Susana (1991)González Martínez De Escobar Celes Gutiérrez Zanatta María Eugenia Hanes Bailey Twyla Jan Hennessy Michael Albert Jr. Hernández Franyutti Paulina Hernández Naufal Mariana Hinojosa Infante Tania Howe Olivia Gonzalez Hubp Patsy Hunt Evan and Anne Immink Swart Fleur Jackson William Allen Jeffcott Stirling Mary Elizabeth Jessel Pérez Sagra María De Lourdes Keeler Keenan Lisa Ann (1983)Kelman Desatnik Anna Sarah Leo Katherine Luisa Levy Marks Cecile Babette Loaiza Mateos Claudia Roberta Mankoch Medel Antonieta María Marín María José Márquez Aguirre Ilya Karina Martínez De Escobar Simón Gua-dalupe Martinez Jennifer Alicia Morales Álvarez Laura Patricia Novoa Escobar María Del Consuelo Ochoa Delgado Marcela Ochoa Zenteno Laura Olper Benuzillo Renee (1985)Ordóñez Camacho DafneOrnelas Cravioto María de LourdesOrtega Pareyón Claudia Amanda (1990)Oseguera Amy Marie Susan Parga Rubio Federico Payne McDerment Susan Marion Peñaloza Santillán Clementina Pérez Galán Mariana Phillips Leslie Piccaluga Gutiérrez María Elena Ramírez Espinoza Juan Gabino Ramón Verdín Lorena (1982)Reyes Santillana Alejandra (1987)Rivard Scepaniak Jean Rojas Aguilar María Cecilia Roldán Fernández José Ruíz Vargas Vidal Salas Valencia María Del Rocío Salcedo Hugo

Salcedo Morales Jessica Isabel Sanabria Alcaraz Marisela Schlusselberg Portnoy Renee Segebre JoséSegura Quintanilla Luz EugeniaShimanovich Couriel Leslie Smith Turner Robin Lee Solorio Enríquez Ana María Solórzano Bejar Silva Virginia Sotomayor Núñez Velia del CarmenSpencer Jr Steven HaydenStarke Sloane Sterkel Mercier Veronika Lynn Tagle Memri Tapia AraceliTolumes Villafaña Lorena Judith Trautman Erin Michelle Trejo Téllez Javier Iván Ugalde Sánchez Omar Valle Alerhand Axel Ver Duin Megan Leigh Webber Cynthia Ann Westholm MichelleWheelwright Tess Thatcher Williams PaulWolpert Kuri Janet Woroszylski Yoselevitz Helen (1993) Zaragoza Tejas Diego

FRIENDSAnonymousHeyman Timothy and MaluHuttanus FrancesOlivares HelaineRivera Orozco Horacio Viberg GordonWilliamson Sybil Davis

ON BEHALF OFÁlvarez de Silva Román and Ana SofíaBaker AllandeGraffenried LesFernández DanielGalvan LourdesSalcedo HugoSegebre José

MEMORIAL GIFTSBrott Ralph LudmillaCarrington LeonoraDe la Riva Lorraine (1964)Martínez Mark (1992)Schon Isabel (1957)

CORPORATE AND FOUNDATIONAmerican Express AnonymousDelta Group Fomento EducacionalGenomma LabGoldman SachsIGSAPepsiCoProducciones y Activaciones de Vanguardia S.C.Tecnología Intercontinental S.A. de C.V.Tonic FilmsVolarisWhiskey Films

A Warm Thank You to All Our Donors and Sponsors Who Contributed to the Annual Scholarship Drive, Capital Campaign and Special Events During 2010-2011:

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SILENT AUCTION50 FriendsAbitbol Cathy Achar FamilyAJ TradingAllen Carr’s Easyway MéxicoAmore Tatiana AnonymousAntiguo Colegio de San IldefonsoArréglaloArroz con LecheASF Alumni CouncilAtherton Richard Ayestaran Escalante FamilyAzul de OaxacaAzureBaby CottonsBB MundoBello AntonioBig OrangeBistro EstorilBlanco Flores FamilyBloomBlue SpaBody XpertBounceBrain PopBrickBrockmann Linda BrunaBuen OjoBuenrostro Moreno CésarBufete QuijanoBuhler Ronald CaleCanizzo Centellas FamilyCárdenas Adriana Carral Lorenza Castemalle Alemán FamilyCentro de Entretenimiento Palmas/KashCentro de Especialidades Odon-tológicasCentro Óptico PalmasCentro QiChaque ChoseCheca José FamilyCheca Kuri Alfredo & FamilyCheca Laviada FamilyChelala Ortega FamilyChertorivski Salomon Chili FruitsChilim BalamChulisCIE/OCESACielito Querido CaféColgate PalmoliveConsejo Mundial de BoxeoCountryCrown ParadiseDe CrabDe la Peña José Abel De Yturbe José and Jimena Del Río Hamer FamilyDel ToroDeleiteDestino GPSDevlynDiageoDigitopresiónDupuisEdid Jaris FamilyEditorial LyrsaEl Bebé ViajeroEl Lago de los CisnesErawanEscajadillo Family

Escuela Comercial Cámara de ComercioEstée LauderEucerinEzquerro Sound SystemFacetaFantasías MiguelFeher & FeherFerriz Rodrigo Finca de Santa VeracruzFlamencoFonda GarufaFoto del BosqueFour Seasons Punta MitaFranco Gabriela Fraser Porraz FamilyFundación NextelFuzzionGalewicz Tatiana GeoGifanGillette FusionGoccoGoogleGoxi ChemicalGraña Jaime GravitaGreen DogGrupo AlseaGrupo CeverGrupo ExpansiónGrupo MalazzoGrupo PlanGrupo PresidenteGrupo SagamaGuadianaGuerra Suárez FamilyGuns Frantz Gutiérrez JimenaHand LabHerdezHotel CaliforniaHotel Las NubesHotel Marquis ReformaHotel Playa VivaHotel Quinta RealIASA ComunicaciónIbarzabal FamilyID WallIleana CelisImor ClosetsIncredilbe Buffet and Fun CenterIvoireJasoJW Marriott Mexico CityKaloni Science CenterKen Hair StudioKick Rossana KimaatKimberly ClarkKing FishKokoletL’ Atelier du ChocolatLa Casa de la EducadoraLa Cueva del YoguiLa MaissoneteLa TerminalLadduLandoLas BrisasLas Nanas de la CebollaLelo de la Rea FamilyLibros, Libros, LibrosLima AzulLomelí FamilyLópez Zotoluco Eulalio Los Canarios

Los TulipanesMacario JiménezMaldonado-Álvarez FamilyMani e PiediMantenimiento Donald CleanManzanniManzo FamilyMareazulMarein Andres MarinterMarkova Nadine Márquez-Eindorf FamilyMartínez JacquelineMaya Gabriela Mayan ResortsMcLellan Sara Medellín Annelis Mendonca Karine Mendoza Klein FamilyMerikansky Arie MGCMicrosoftMolina Patricia MontecarloMontelongo Dora Montemayor Andrea My CupcakeNacif Jennifer Nae Tatiana Nava Liz NespressoNiveaObregón Andrés and AdrianaOld SpiceOlive DennisOrdorica Pilar Orvañanos de Gómez Mara PanteraParaíso GolfPeniche Montelongo PedroPérez Vargas Anacecilia PicachoPiel CanelaPineda CovalinPiso 51PondsPrinselPropielPujolQuintana-Hurtado FamilyQuintana-Ortiz FamilyQuintanilla Pedro Randazzo DelphaRegala 1,2,3RemeritasReQer2Restaurante HarumiRestaurante San Angel InnRicalde-Ruíz-Massieu FamilyRivera FamilyRokaRoshfransRussell Larry San Miguel DesignsSánchez JuliaSánchez Navarro Lebrija FamilySanta Cruz José Luis Santoyo Jorge Savannah & MairenaSerrano Mauricio Sigal Samantha Silva Ruíz Karina Sir Winston Churchill’sSmaltumSonana JaquelineSport CitySt.Tropez

Sud 777Sulaimán de la Rosa Family Sulaimán Mauricio Sushi SantomiSuzy’s StuffSyrahTanaka Cindy Tanya MossTarragona MargaritaTatanTexas RibsThe BashTide to GoTodo en OrdenTony Roma’sTousTsimaniV & Co.Vázquez AlejandraViajes IntegralesVillaseñor Pavla Virginia FuertesVISViu Manet VolarisWaisser Efrain Weinberg CarlaWerner MercedesXpressa

GOLF TOURNAMENTAon Risk ServicesBosque RealBounceCaras SportsCongresumCuervoDevlynGatoradeGifanGillette FusionGoldman SachsGrupo CeverGrupo PresidenteHotel Hilton Mexico CityHotel Quinta RealKaloni Science CenterLa Cava de los AmigosLorantMarinterOld SpicePiel CanelaRancho AvandaroSeguros AtlasTecnolometTequila HerraduraTexas RibsToyota Financial ServicesWarranty GroupZientte

5/10K RACECIE/OCESACirculo KEnergy Fitness/Hard CandyESPNFeher & FeherPumaSport FitnessTecnológico de MonterreyTelcelTransportes LIPU


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The Capital Campaign

Supporting Campus Development

Chair Emeritus Horacio McCoy (’57)

General Campaign Chairs Gordon Viberg

Rodrigo González Calvillo

MembersFernando GutiérrezCarlos Williamson Marilu Hernández

Cecilia SabaVicky Fuentevilla

Paulina CosioViviana Gómez

Luz de Lourdes Gómez de MaderoRosa Pisinger (‘87)Frances Huttanus

Paul WilliamsMichele Beltran

The 2010-2011 Capital Campaign Steering Committee


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The 2010-2011 school year was an especially reward-ing one for The American School Foundation’s Capital Building Campaign.

That’s because the hundreds of individuals and orga-nizations who in recent years contributed so gener-ously to fund the school’s ongoing building program were able to see the rewards of their efforts literally rise before their eyes.

Construction on the Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center and the Mary Street Jenkins Wellness Cen-ter began shortly after the start of the fall semester, continuing throughout the school year and over the summer, with both scheduled for Phase One comple-tion in December 2011.

The upcoming dedication of these two marvelous fa-cilities is a huge advance for the quality of education at ASF, a monumental achievement for the Capital Campaign and a lasting tribute to those ASF commu-nity members and friends of the school who gave of themselves to support these physical improvements for present and future students.

It is by no means the end, however. Phase Two for both the Wellness Center and the Fine Arts Center is now focusing on outfitting the buildings — that is, providing all the non-structural equipment and facili-ties needed for both centers to fulfill their potential.

Also, these facilities represent just one stage in the long-term implementation of ASF’s Master Building Plan, which guides the school’s ongoing renewal of its educational facilities with one goal in mind — in-creased academic quality.

None of the funding for these physical improvements comes out of student tuition fees. Nor does it come from any government sources. It comes from the contributions of people like you to the Capital Cam-paign, under the very fitting theme of “Great Minds Need Great Spaces.”

Donations during the 2010-2011 school year totaled $5,525,875 pesos. This is an impressive figure be-cause, unlike the previous year, it does not include very large foundation contributions. It was made possible through the spirit and generosity of a wide variety of ASF community members and friends, who contributed in many ways — cash, in-kind donations, multiyear pledges and participation in school fund-raising events.

Every one of you deserves an enormous thank you. And that gratitude will extend for decades as future generations of ASF students reap the rewards of the superb educational facilities made possible by your selfless support of the Capital Building Campaign.

A Special Message from Margo Torres, Project Committee Chair of Fomento Educacional:

The mission of Fomento Educacional A.C. is to promote bicultural and educational activities, enriching mutual understanding and increasing intercultural communication between Mexico and the United States.

When two organizations have similar founding principles and are committed to their responsibility for the promotion of education as a means to foster better understanding, transparency and accountability, the resulting partnership is a synergy that benefits Mexico and the United States. Such is the case with Fomento Educacional and ASF.

Since 2006, Fomento Educacional has proudly participated in the support of the Community Enrichment Academies with ASF. Thanks to the dedication of the ASF faculty and administration, as well as that of the participating teachers from the Public Education Secretariat (SEP), several hundred secundaria teachers and thousands of public school students have benefited greatly from this exceptionally successful program.

By contributing to the new Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center, Fomento Educacional aims to support a forum for premier educational experiences and cultural exchanges through the arts, guest speakers, conferences and workshops.

Fomento Educacional is looking forward to many more opportunities to expand our various collaborations with ASF towards our shared interests and goals in many areas and in promoting bilateral exchanges and understanding between the two nations.

The Mary Street Jenkins

Wellness Center

The first building phase of the new Mary Street Jenkins Wellness Center is scheduled for completion in December of 2011.

The finished facility will mark a huge step forward in ASF’s continuing effort to provide its students with the best possible facilities for developing their minds and bodies, while also respecting sustainable building standards.

With a major boost from a cornerstone gift from the Fundación Mary Street Jenkins, the new Wellness Center will stand as a tribute to all the ASF community members and friends of the school who contributed to the Capital Campaign that made this facility possible.

Its function will be to advance the school curriculum — primarily, but not exclusively, in terms of physical education. The Wellness Center will not only provide a modern venue for indoor athletic events, physical education classes and fitness training, it will also offer sites for Extended Learning activities, meetings, large gatherings, weekend and after-school events, festivals and much more.

As with all infrastructure improvements financed by the Capital Campaign and carried out under the Master

Building Plan, the Wellness Center has been designed and constructed based on specific needs that have been identified over the years.

For example, the multipurpose area, which includes the basketball and volleyball floor, wil have flexible bleachers and suitable floor dimensions that can accommodate full-scale athletic competitions with appropriate spectator seating, but also allows for various practice sessions or physical education classes to take place simultaneously.

Another example of how the Wellness Center meets identified needs is the location of PE teachers’ and coaches’ offices right there in the facility. Combined with showers and dressing rooms within steps of both the gymnasium area and the athletic fields, the ability to save time and improve supervision will translate directly into curricular benefits.

As we celebrate the December completion of the Wellness Center, it is important to keep in mind that the building’s construction constitutes Phase One of the overall project. Phase Two will focus on outfitting the building — that is, acquiring the equipment and other materials needed to bring the facility to optimum operation.

Two examples of Phase Two needs will be the installation of the tennis courts on the Wellness Center roof and the acquisition of new fitness machines and other athletic equipment (as shown in the artist’s rendering on the facing page).

That’s why funds raised for the Capital Campaign during the 2010-2011 school year were so important, and why continuing the effort in 2011-2012 is essential. Everyone’s contribution, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated.


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Wellness Center construction was about at the halfway point in this June 2011 photo.

Architect’s rendering of one side of the Wellness Center.

Being part of it is leaving your mark on the school through your life here. — Mathias R., US student

The Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias

Fine Arts Center

The Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center will stand as a crown jewel on the ASF campus when the construction phase is completed in December 2011. With its 650-seat theater and art gallery, it will serve as a cultural focal point for the surrounding community and for Mexico City as a whole.

The Fine Arts Center’s primary purpose, however, is to serve the educational needs of ASF students. The performing arts and the visual arts are an important part of the ASF curriculum, and the new center will provide the kind of quality facilities and resources to match the high goals of the ASF arts programs.

So just like the new Wellness Center — and every other infrastructure improvement carried out under the Master Building Plan — the Fine Arts Center was conceived and carried out with the school’s curricular needs in mind.

For example, the theater itself will provide a true venue, complete with a backstage area, a green room and adjustable seating, for student stage and musical productions, of which there are many at all grade levels.

The gallery and other readily accessible spaces will serve to showcase student art, consistent with the ASF philosophy that works by students should be seen, not just graded.

The additional classrooms in the Fine Arts Center will help fulfill the school goal of developing the creativity of all students, not just those who are more artistically inclined.

Also important to ASF goals, the Fine Arts Center meets LEED standards to qualify as an environmentally friendly “green” building.

The new Fine Arts Center is entirely funded by the Capital Campaign, through voluntary donations from members of the ASF community that have ranged from small contributions from the youngest students to large cornerstone gifts from such organizations as Fomento Educacional, A.C. and Fundación Amparo.

Following the completion of construction comes Phase Two of the Fine Arts Center project, which consists of outfitting the building with the kind of equipment and materials needed to provide the kind of enriching art education that ASF seeks to offer all of its students.

The unique and exciting “Take a Seat” campaign moved ahead in full force during the 2010-2011 school year, giving ASF community members and friends of the school a golden opportunity to literally become part of the new Fine Arts Center.

For $1,000 dollars, donors can have one of the theater’s 650 seats named after them (or after someone else they wish to honor), and have that name forever immortalized on a plaque on that seat.

Donors are not only becoming a part of a cherished performing arts venue, they are also helping to fund the construction and outfitting of a vital educational facility on the ASF campus.

So far, the generous seat-takers have ranged from graduating fifth graders who pooled their classroom money to make a donation in the name of the Class of 2018 (see page 14), to the Fundación Cultural Mexico-Estados Unidos, which will have an entire row named in its honor after a generous donation.

There are still seats left for the taking. Anybody interested in becoming part of ASF history while advancing arts education can contact Michele Beltran in Institutional Advancement at [email protected] or (55) 5227-4904. Payment plans are available.

How Can You Help Fund the Fine Arts Center? Take a Seat!


13

By July 2011, the Fine Arts Center was starting to take shape, on its way to becoming the showcase partially depicted in the architect’s rendering on the facing page.

The Annual ASF Art Fair, organized by the Parent Association, is not only a major cultural event for the entire ASF community and the Mexico City art world, it is also a significant fundraising event.

The 41st Art Fair, which took place on November 7th, 2010, raised $1,161,418 pesos in support of world-class education for present and future ASF students. Much of that amount went to the Capital Campaign, as the Parent Association delivered the second annual installment of three pledged 400,000-peso donations to the Great Minds Need Great Spaces program.

One of the most popular and appropriate ways that the Art Fair contributes to the Capital Campaign is through the Art to Art event. This is an auction in which fair visitors bid to take home works of art created by ASF students at all grade levels.

The 2010 auction raised $94,450 pesos for the Capital Campaign, with the money targeted for the construction and outfitting of the new Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center. That means that students who are receiving an art education at ASF

have contributed financially, through their work, to improving art education facilities at the school. Hence the name of the event — Art to Art!

The Art Fair raised money for the Capital Campaign (as well as the Annual Scholarship Drive and other ASF educational needs) in many ways:

Ticket sales: $517,460 pesosArtists’ registration: $264,600 pesos

Sponsorships: $232,916 pesosChildren’s area: $10,032 pesos

School club registration (food booths): $6,900 pesosGallery exhibit revenue: $35,000 pesos

And, of course, fundraising aside, the 41st annual ASF Art Fair was a dazzling success as a cultural event, with more than 3,000 people attending to enjoy the work of more than 100 community artists as well as student artists, the featured ASF artist Sharon Moon and a special exhibit entitled Contemporary Sculpture in Mexico 1990-2010.

Students finishing their Lower School years gave a much-appreciated boost to the funding of the Fine Arts Center when they “took a seat” in the new theater. At the June 2011 Stepping Up ceremony, marking the transition from Lower School to Middle School, it was announced that the entire graduating fifth grade class had participated in the Take a Seat initiative (see page 13) by donating enough money to have a seat named in honor of the Class of 2018. Thus, today’s students have directly participated in making possible better school facilities for the rest of their ASF education, and for the education of countless students in the future. They personify the kind of community involvement and selfless generosity that make ASF special. Congratulations to the entire Class of 2018!

14

Young Donors

A Great Art Fair Helped BringGreat Spaces to Great Minds

One of the most significant developments during the 2010-2011 school year was an agreement reached between ASF and ASF dad Carlos Peralta, president of Grupo IUSA, that will accelerate a new era of technology-assisted learning at The American School.

The new working relationship is based upon a landmark gift to the school for ASF’s Connected Learning Community initiative in the Middle School, Upper School and top two grade levels of the Lower School.

The connectivity initiative, which is being phased in beginning in the fall of 2011, represents the next step in ASF’s developing digital strategy, which in recent years has brought to the school computer labs, portable labs, classroom and library student devices, teacher laptops and wireless and LCD projectors in each learning area.

The Connected Learning Community initiative will connect students digitally with their teachers and each other. The goal is not technology for its own sake, but rather to give ASF students access to 21st century learning skills and methodology that will help them demonstrate creativity and innovation, communicate, collaborate, conduct research, use information, think critically, solve problems and make decisions.

Mr. Peralta’s generous donation to this project is as fit-ting as it is appreciated. His father, Alejo Peralta y Díaz Ceballos, was a pioneer in Mexican communications and connectivity. His legacy lives on in the philan-thropic organization named for him. In appreciation of Carlos Peralta’s close involvement with ASF’s edu-cational mission, his father’s name will also grace what will be known as the Alejo Peralta y Díaz Ceballos Cen-ter for Teaching Excellence.

The recently remodeled Upper School Building, which now includes the Sheila Rafferty Ahumada Administrative Building, has so quickly become an integral part of ASF campus life that it seems as though it has always been there. In truth, though, the modern, LEED-certified “green” facility was made possible only by the donations of hundreds of community members and friends of the school, both individuals and organizations. These generous contributors to the cause of quality education were honored on January 18th, 2011, at a special breakfast in Founders Garden to celebrate the official opening of the building. Their support will always be remembered and appreciated.

I certainly love ASF. It is an amazing community. I enjoy being with my friends during the school day. And I especially like being able to learn so much about so many different subjects.

ASF is a modern school and it is very advanced compared to others in Mexico City. I think it is a great school.

But I also think it can keep improving. We can make a lot of things even better, and that includes the actual campus itself. To give one example, we can make some improvements in the Middle School’s agora.

To repeat, I think ASF is great just as it is. But there’s no reason why we can’t all help to make sure our school keeps getting better and better.


15

Connecting With the Future

A Special Message from Patricia Garza, Middle School Student:

Honored: The Donors Who Made The Upper School Renovation Possible

It is wonderful to be part of a caring and learning community. — ASF teacher

The Annual Scholarship Drive

Supporting Scholarships

Executive CommitteeMónica Sulaimán (Co-Chair)Román Alvarez (’85) (Co-Chair)Adele GoldschmiedHelga Mendoza (’91)Hugo SalcedoJosé Raz GuzmánKarina RogersLeslie PhillipsMarissa Russell (’92)Martha Elena Domínguez (’83)Mauricio Justus (’87)

Golf Tournament CommitteeSven Wallsten (’91) (Chair)Carlos WilliamsonLeón Merikanskas (’93)Fernando GutiérrezGonzalo BarrutietaTom Sullivan

Silent Auction Committee:Adriana Wallsten (’91) (Chair)Adriana CortinaDora MontelongoFernanda SuárezGraciela UriegasHelga Mendoza (’91)Karine MendoncaLola José (‘82)Mariana AyestaranMariana HaroMarissa Russell (’92)Regina Lelo de la ReaTatiana Amore

Silent Auction VolunteersPaloma Mendoza (Emcee)Irene Checa (Emcee)Allen Jackson (Emcee)

Jonathan Chenier (Emcee)José María RamirezJavier Couto and the Maintenance TeamCynthia DeLongSilvia NúñezMaribel MoralesLuz A. TamezPilar VillaseñorCarlos SotoTavane EstañolVerónica EstañolAraceli BecerraJovany BaezCarlos ReyesVidal RuizJosé RoldánCarmen RodríguezJavier EguíaJuan PérezMiriam AbarcaAlberto Vázquez

Carlos SalinasGregorio LealTere GutiérrezLuis VacherónEdith HerreraViviana GómezMartha SalinasJennie Wallsten (’94)Lunda SchwartzRichard and Karen CampilloFrances HuttanusSantiago and Ivette FernándezAnnelies MedellínAllison Hamer (’90)Angie EsteveAna María AutriqueMelissa GoslinSusan FascianiMónica CadenaLaurie BrennanKarina Silva Ruiz

The Annual Scholarship Drive

A Special Message from Michelle Westholm,

Upper School Teacher:

Every year many teachers and other ASF staff members choose to forego their traditional holiday gift and instead donate the amount that gift is worth to the Annual Scholarship Drive. The 2010 holiday season was no exception, with staff members donating $41,200 pesos. With the Parent Association matching that amount, the total donation came to $82,400 pesos. Here, one of those dedicated teachers explains why they made that choice:

One of the classes I teach is called Theory of Knowledge, and every year in this class we have a unit in ethics. We examine different schools of moral philosophy, ranging from categorical to justice to care to environmental (and many more in between). However, among all of these different philosophies, I hold a special place in my heart for Aristotelianism — the belief that developing good character is a lifelong process, as well as the foundation of an ethical life.

Each year, as I review Aristotle’s ideas with students, I am reminded that character is formed through actions. As he wrote in Nichomachean Ethics: “[I]t is by doing just acts that the just man is produced, and by doing temperate acts the temperate man; without doing these no one would have even a prospect of becoming good.”

This quote reminds me that right now we teachers are off to a “good start.” But we can do more. We can grow in generosity. It is my hope that one day our gifts will provide full ASF tuition for at least one child from the Tacubaya community. And then one value can become many: generosity, inclusivity, empathy and equality.

The Annual Scholarship Drive is ASF’s ongoing fund-raising effort to provide financial aid to families who otherwise could not afford an ASF education for their child or children.

The money raised goes into a special Endowment Fund for Financial Aid, from which the aid is distributed through a rigidly controlled and impartial process based solely on financial need.

During the 2010-2011 school year, the Annual Scholarship Drive raised $3,675,975 pesos for the Endowment Fund. In that period, about 290 ASF students’ families were receiving financial aid from the Endowment Fund.

It is estimated that more than 12 percent of the ASF student body is benefitting from scholarships and financial aid of some kind.

Donations to the Annual Scholarship Drive come from across the spectrum of ASF community members — parents, grandparents, alumni, teachers, staff, students and friends of the school. Much of the money comes from special fundraising events, many of which are described in the following pages.

The generous donors to the Annual Scholarship Drive have strengthened the ASF community, and helped the school achieve its goal of a more diverse student body.

Ser parte de esta comunidad es apoyar con los recursos disponibles, habilidades y contactos que ayuden a nuestro

hijo a abrirse camino en una comunidad. — ASF parent

17THE AMERICAN SCHOOL FOUNDATION, A.C2010-2011 Annual Report

The American School Foundation’s annual Golf Tournament has become a popular sporting event in Mexico City, as well as a much-loved community-building social occasion and a wonderful fundraising opportunity that benefits the Annual Scholarship Drive.

The 8th annual version of the tournament was held in the fall of 2010, attracting 165 participants and raising more than $750,000 pesos for the Annual Scholarship Drive.

The success of the event, which was organized by a special committee chaired by ASF alum Sven Wallsten (’91), was made possible by the support of main sponsor Toyota, as well as Bosque Real, on whose beautiful course the tourney took place.

A special thanks also goes out to the corporate donors who sponsored the tournament. They are listed on page 7.

And the winners were:

1st Place: Ezequiel Gutiérrez, Felipe Franco, Luis Gutiérrez and Efrén Franco.

2nd Place: Leon Merikanskas (’93), Erik Sigal (’93), David Sigal, Arturo Gutiérrez and Carlos Atri.

3rd Place: Francis J Toedtli (’97), Gustavo Rodríguez (’97), Richard Valdés (’97), Andres Rivera (’97) and Pablo Elek (’97).

Best O’Yes: Fernando Villaseñor Longest Drive (Women): Natalia VázquezLongest Drive (Men): Felipe Franco

One of the most successful ASF fundraising events of the 2010-2011 school year was the 8th annual Silent Auction, which raised more than $938,000 pesos for the Annual Scholarship Drive.

Thanks to the generous support of Grupo Presidente, the auction was held at the Hotel Presidente Intercontinental. More than 1,000 items were up for bid, including VIP U2 concert tickets (which went for $40,000 pesos), 10 stays in Cancún (about $1,250 pesos each) and an original work by the Oaxaca-born artist Fernando Andreacci ($5,000 pesos).

The Silent Auction, which took place on March 16, 2011, and featured a St. Patrick’s Day theme, was a true ASF community effort. All the lots up for bid were donated by ASF parents, alumni and friends. Four ASF staffers emceed the event, and a hardworking committee chaired by Adriana Wallsten (’91) organized a flawless evening, with the help of dozens of other volunteers (see page 17 for all their names).

Strokes for Scholarships:The 8th Annual Golf Tournament

Silent Auction: A Community Effort

18

Follow the golden rule, participate in activities and help others. — MS student

In addition to the Annual Scholarship Drive, another source of financial aid for deserving ASF students is the Fundación de Asistencia Educativa Irene Anzaldúa (FAEIA), a private assistance institution named for a longtime former ASF teacher and principal. During the 2010-2011 school year, six ASF students received scholarships from FAEIA.

This valuable charitable organization raised an additional $315,950 pesos in 2010-2011 for its ASF scholarship program. One source of that revenue was a donation of $100,000 pesos from the ASF Parent Association. The biggest source was the annual Holiday Bazaar, which brought in $195,950 pesos for the FAEIA.

The three-day event (December 8 to 10, 2010) featured 90 booths, offering students, parents, staff and visitors a wonderful opportunity to do their holiday shopping while supporting quality education for students whose families need a little extra help.

Helping make the 2010 Holiday Bazaar a success were Lola Checa José (‘82), Maria Elena Cantu (‘88), Cynthia Castro (‘89) and Jennifer Martinez.

Grandparents and Grandfriends Day, a heartwarming friend-building event that also raises funds for the Annual Scholarship Drive, has now become an ASF annual tradition. It is a special day when the Early Childhood Center doors open up to grandfathers, grandmothers and other “grandfriends” who come to experience a typical ECC morning with their little loved ones.

The 2010-2011 Grandparents and Grandfriends Day event took place on February 15, 2011, with more

than 600 grandparents and grandfriends attending and participating in the same classroom and recreation activities as the youngsters.

Grandparents and Grandfriends Day was organized by Adele Goldschmied, former ASF teacher, current ASF grandmother and longtime ASF volunteer, in coordination with Institutional Advancement team members, Parent Association volunteers, ECC staff members and the hardworking ECC homeroom parents.

Grandparents and Grandfriends Day:Friend-Raising at the ECC


19

A Fun-Filled Holiday BazaarHeled FAEIA Fund More ASF Scholarships

Kids Helping KidsIt turned out that during the 2010-2011 school year, some of the most spirited contributors to the Annual Scholarship Drive were the youngest members of the ASF community — Early Childhood Center and Lower School students.

Students in seven Lower School classrooms and one ECC classroom chose to donate, as a class, classroom money that otherwise could have been used for a party or other classroom fun. In other words, these young-sters gave selflessly so that other children could have an opportunity to receive the same education they are enjoying.

The classrooms that made these gifts were ECC Room 14 and Lower School 2D, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3B, 3E and 4G. Four of them (2D, 2G, 2H and 3E) are shown here.

And the students’ support for the Annual Scholarship Drive went even beyond that. All ECC and Lower School students participated in the annual Chocolate Sale, which took place from September 22nd through October 1, 2010.

With the much-appreciated help of the Arellano Aguilar family, Marissa Russell (’92) and Hershey’s, the stu-dents raised more than $120,000 pesos for the Annual Scholarship Drive.

20

I’m a part of it because I play every day!!! — Alejandro A., ECC student

A Special Message from Evan Hunt, Head of Lower School:

The ASF Parent Association: Families Helping FamiliesIt says a lot about the ASF community that the Parent As-sociation is one of the most important factors in growing the fund for financial aid. Put another way, many parents of current or prospective ASF students who otherwise can’t pay the tuition will be able to give their children a quality education thanks in a large part their fellow ASF parents.

That fact alone is a good description of what the term “ASF community” is all about.

During the 2010-2011 school year, the Parent Association was able to contribute a total of $441,200 pesos to help make scholarships and financial aid available to families who would not be able to afford an ASF education with-out it. This is a remarkable sum, considering that the PA also donates to the Capital Campaign and other school needs (see page 28).

The PA’s major contribution was a check for $300,000 pesos to the Annual Scholarship Drive, depicted in the accom-panying photograph with Aliki Elias (’85), the 2009-2011 president of the Parent Association and Frances Huttanus, chair of the ASF Board of Trustees’ Institutional Advance-ment Committee during a special end-of-the-school-year breakfast on June 1, 2011.

The PA also contributed by matching a winter holiday dona-tion of $42,200 pesos made by participating teachers and

other staff members. It also donated $100,000 pesos to the Fundación de Asistencia Educativa Irene Anzaldúa, or FAEIA, which provides scholarships for ASF students (see page 19).

Though many ASF parents make direct contributions to the Annual Scholarship Drive and other areas of the ASF Giving Program, the PA’s big role in providing financial aid is by no means based on cash donations from parents. Every ASF parent is automatically a member of the Parent Association, and there are no memberships fees or required costs.

Rather, many parents contribute by volunteering to partici-pate in the various fundraising events organized by the PA. For example, the annual Art Fair (see page 14) is by far the single biggest source of revenue for the PA’s fundraising ef-forts. Whether it’s by cash, in-kind donations or hands-on participation, every parent’s contribution is important — and very much appreciated.

I know from personal experience that ASF is well respected not only in Mexico City but also in the United States and around the world. Whenever I am on vacation or out of the country for other reasons, I am always amazed at how many people I come into contact with who know about our school. And this is true even for those who have never even been to Mexico.

Because of the kind of institution ASF is, I have been able to succeed in helping Lower School students grow emo-tionally as well as academically. This balanced emphasis on both tangible and intangible improvement defines my approach to education as well as my vision for the future of ASF.

Just as important, my own children, George in ECC and Ana in Lower School, enjoy going to school at ASF. I know the education they are receiving, which allows them to become bilingual and internationally minded, is the best gift my wife and I could ever give them.

While I am pleased with the progress the school continues to make, I am convinced that we can do even more. That’s why I emphasize generosity and support for the school’s financial needs.

Even though people are our most important resource, students need to use the tools of today to be competitive in this ever-changing world. For this to be possible, our campus, teachers and programs must continue the never-ending process of changing, modifying and improving.

I want to be part of that experience. All of us who care about ASF can find ways to help the school continue to make us proud, and to help young people be in a position to be successful in what-ever field they choose.


AlumniSupporting ASF’s Future

R e p o r t s :

Leon Merikanskas (’93), Chair of the Alumni Council


You fall in love with ASF in your early days, and when you leave you fall in love even more! Years pass and suddenly you’re a parent and the

question that pops up is: When are admissions at ASF? — ASF alum and parent

Leon Merikansas_0009.CR2

Dear ASF Community,

The 2010-2011 school year was a vibrant, fruitful one for our alumni community, full of activity and moments of sharing. With an ongoing dedication to preparing children to become responsible, contributing citizens of the world, we launched a robust program of events that brought this mission to life. All of this could not have been done without our newly restructured Alumni Council, which has worked hard to accomplish these goals.

The year kicked off with the traditional Golf Tournament, a major ASF fundraising event with which the alumni community has always been closely involved. As always, the 2010 tournament proved to be an enjoyable activity for those alumni who played as well as for those who came out to spend the day with their friends in a relaxed environment.

In the early spring, we enjoyed meeting members of our alumni community at our Networking Night at Hotel Brick, which resulted in building helpful business connections as well as spending a fun night out. We have received excellent feedback from these gatherings and are happy to note that not only have great friendships been formed on these nights, but also successful business networking. Networking Nights will become our platform for social, educational and liberal arts events that I am sure all our alumni community will enjoy.

In March of this year, we introduced our first Alumni Soccer Fut 7 Tournament, which turned out to be a success. More than 120 alumni from different classes showed up to be a part of this wonderful event, where each class from 1997 to 2011 had a team representing it. This tournament will continue every year and become an ASF tradition.

We closed the year on a high note with the 2nd Race for Education, in which about a thousand parents and 250 kids spent a day of fitness, health and fun together.

Our most important asset as alumni is our community. We realize and value that, and truly thank you for your support in being part of the very important effort of bringing our community together.

I look forward to seeing all of you during the 2011-2012 school year.

Sincerely,Leon Merikanskas (’93)

23

The thousands of ASF alumni around the world repre-sent the lifeblood of our extended community. These loyal graduates have gone on to pursue a myriad of dif-ferent careers and life projects since their school days, but they have one thing in common — an undying loyalty to ASF and a desire to see the school continue to move forward for the benefit of future generations of students.

Alumni help build the ASF community in many ways: By volunteering at the school. By participating in school events. By donating to the Capital Campaign or the Annual Scholarship Drive. By using the Alumni page at the ASF web site (www.asf.edu.mx/Alumni/Home.html). By sharing news, milestones and anything else of interest with other alumni in the pages of Focus, the ASF magazine. And of course by organizing periodic class reunions where bonds are fortified and friendships renewed.

During the 2010-2011 school year, the Alumni Council and the ASF alumni coordinator organized a number of special activities that strengthened the alumni role in community building. These alumni-initiated friend-raising events are hugely important for creating links among individuals, bridging the gaps between different generations of alumni and solidifying the alumni community into a powerful force for the benefit of the school and its students.

The ASF Alumni Soccer Tournament This first-ever event took place on March 26, 2011, with more than 120 alumni attending and participating. Ten different graduating classes fielded teams for the 7 vs. 7 competition on the ASF campus, from the years 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1997 and 2011 (whose members hadn’t yet graduated at the time of the tournament!) The champion was none other than the Class of 1997, the oldest team in the tournament and appropriately named “Oldies But Goodies.”

Networking NightThis event brings together alumni from across the spectrum of ages, backgrounds and professional experience to meet, connect and have fun. The 2010-2011 edition, which took place at the Bar Brick @ Brick Hotel in Mexico City on May 4, 2011, had a special casino theme, which not only increased the level of fun but also made it easier for the attending alums to get to know each other as they “gambled” together at the roulette table.

The 2nd Run for Education This action-packed and fun-filled Sunday morning on campus brought together more than a thousand adults and about 250 kids for 5K and 10K races. Held on May 22, 2011, the alumni-initiated event combined several top ASF priorities — the promotion of healthy bodies and minds, community building and promoting the Annual Scholarship Drive. Organized by the Alumni Council (especially Leon Merikanskas, Mauricio Quintana, Janet Huerta and Melissa Berenstain), the day of running was made possible by the following businesses: Transportes LIPU, 4000 Taxis, Safe Storage, Circulo K, Energy Fitness, Hard Candy Fitness, Banamex, Bimbo, Chevrolet, ESPN and Gatorade.

Taking the Initiative

I think of including people and being included. — MS student

24

Leon Merikanskas (‘93) - Chair Mauricio Quintana (‘00) • Mauricio Justus (‘87)

Janet Huerta (‘03) • Melissa Berenstein (‘03) Cathy Abitbol (‘93) • Juan Rebolledo (‘00) Yuria Garcia (‘95) • Paola Camacho (‘95)

Pablo Goebel (‘77)

Front row: Leon Merikanskas, Cathy Abitbol, Mauricio Justus. Middle row: Mauricio Quintana, Juan Rebolledo. Back row: Yuria García, Paola Camacho, ASF Alumni Coordinator Cindy Tanaka, Ruy Villamil. Alumni Council members not pictured: Janet Huerta, Melissa Berenstein, Pablo Goebel, Gerardo Sepulveda.

It’s incredible how time flies, but something that never changes is the love I have for this school. Time passes, people change, they come and go. But whatever happens, we can never forget all that the school did for us, the good memories, the incredible friends and the amazing education that will stay with us forever.

For me, it was really sad to graduate and leave all this behind. But the good thing is that it doesn’t end with graduation. We all become part of the alumni, part of the great family that only a school like ASF can build. That’s why I’ve always wanted to be involved in something so dear to me. I want to continue with the tools my school gave me and make a difference in our community.

My main goal as part of the Alumni Council is to build a good, strong and solid community, and to show students the importance of that community and the changes it can help us bring.

I want students to know that they can make a difference in this competitive world. But to make a difference, we need each other to be strong and to care, like a big family. I want to make sure all students understand that once they graduate, the ASF family will always be there for them as they try to make a better world.

Becoming part of the Alumni Council is the least I can do for a great school. ASF is a huge part of my life. I can say that everything I experienced there over 14 years made me the person I am today.

I’m proud to be an ASF alumnus and now also the proud father of an ASF student!

The 2010-2011 Alumni Council

A Personal Message from Mauricio Quintana (’00), ASF Alumnus:

Five More Stars are Born

A special alumni initiative to help offset the cost of the Angela Florio Green Room in the soon-to-be-completed Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center completed its second year during 2010-2011, with positive results. Five more decorative stars were purchased at $500 dollars a piece. Along with the four purchased the year before, these stars will adorn the green room (a space where performers prepare or wait to go onstage) with the names of the donors on them.

The 2010-2011 star donors were:Timothy Foarde Craver (‘79) /John Kozuch (‘79) /

Frank Meckel (‘79) • Manuel Gonzalez Aguade (‘84) •Jason Grossman (‘98) • Ellis Joseph Toussieh

Bigio (‘63) • Adele Goldschmied/Helaine Olivares •David Euresti (‘97)

Angela Florio, the former ASF drama teacher for whom the green room is named, is helping to spear-head this effort. Anyone interested in having their own star on the wall of the green room can contact the ASF Alumni Office at [email protected].

25 THE AMERICAN SCHOOL FOUNDATION, A.C2010-2011 Annual Report

The Parent Association

Supporting Our Children

Dear ASF parents and community,

The Parent Association is a multicultural volunteer group of ASF parents that strives to promote the welfare of students and the integration of the community. Parents of any child registered at ASF are automatically members of the PA and no membership fees are charged.

During the 2010-2011 school year, the Parent Association planned and organized a number of events that focused on community building, hospitality and fundraising. The Welcome Back Picnic at the beginning of the school year was an opportunity for new and returning families, as well as faculty members, to meet and interact in a relaxed environment. The PA organized a number of hospitality events, including meals for the faculty during the Back-to-School Nights, a Holiday Brunch for teachers in December and the Teachers Day Brunch in May, in which parents sent in dishes for all our staff to enjoy. We also hosted a special Lower School Homeroom Parents and Teachers Lunch.

Our ever-popular cultural visits continued during the year, with outings to the Palacio Nacional, the UNAM campus, including the University Contemporary Art Museum (MUAC), and Chapultepec Park to visit the newly refurbished El Carcamo site and the Museum of Modern Art. Other special PA events were the annual Turn Off Your Screen Go Green Week, which focused on an awareness campaign and included several conferences, an Environment Fair, the annual Used Book Fair and English Book Fair, and the always fun ASF Goes to La Feria, in which students and parents enjoy a day at the famed Chapultepec amusement park.

PA fundraising events not only support the school, but also build community by giving all our members opportunities to get involved and help out. Our 2010-2011 events raised more than $1.5 million pesos in support of the school and its students. The most important event was the 41st edition of the annual Art Fair, which featured a special exhibit entitled “Contemporary Sculpture in Mexico 1990 – 2010,” with more than 100 artists displaying their work. There was also a Plaza del Angel antiques area, an ASF student art show and the Art to Art Auction. More than 3,000 people attended the fair, and all the efforts resulted in donations in excess of $1 million pesos to our school.

Over the year, the PA was able to donate $441,200 pesos to the Annual Scholarship Drive, $400,000 pesos to the Capital Building Campaign as part of a three-year pledge to the Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center and more than $300,000 pesos to other diverse school needs.

None of the Parent Association’s accomplishments in 2010-2011 would have been possible without the help and commitment of our parent volunteers. I extend my hearfelt thanks to all of you.

Sincerely,Aliki Elias (’85)


26

R e p o r t s :

Aliki Elias (’85), President of the Parent Association 2009-2011

Once you have been to ASF, you are always part of it. Anywhere in the world, it’s an instant identification with

fellow alumni. — ASF alum

Community Building + Fundraising= Support for Our Children

A Special Message from José Raz Guzmán, ASF Parent:

The Parent Association’s long list of achievements during the 2010-2011 school year confirms its status as one of the most important ASF organizations for facilitating parent involve-ment, encouraging academic participation, building a sense of community, advancing the school’s mission and, most of all, supporting the young people for whom ASF exists.

Thanks to PA efforts, ASF parents were welcomed back with a picnic in August and a coffee for new families in Septem-ber. The monthly general meetings gave all parents a chance to learn about, and become active in, important school is-sues. And scores of parents took advantage of opportunities to participate academically, serving as school coordinators, ECC and Lower School homeroom parents and as proctors during testing (NWEA and ENLACE).

As always, the PA sponsored a number of special events to enrich the lives of ASF community members, including fairs, conferences and visits to nearby cultural sites, as well as the annual Turn Off Your Screen Go Green Week, designed to re-mind us of the joys of low-tech, earth-friendly pursuits.

The PA expanded its traditional role as host of various special breakfasts, brunches, luncheons, awards ceremonies and cock-tails to show the school’s appreciation for all the ASF commu-nity members who contributed to the advancement of the school’s mission. The honorees included teachers, staff mem-bers, graduating seniors and their families and, most especially, the many volunteers who donated their skills, effort and time.

As a key fundraising organization for the school, the Parent Asso-ciation always combines community building with its fundrais-ing efforts. The most significant example of this is the annual Art Fair, which the PA sponsors and organizes. The November 2010 fair resulted in $1.16 million pesos for the school. (See page 14 for more about the Art Fair.)

Other PA community building/fundraising projects in 2010-2011 included the English Book Fair (which raised $84,656 pe-sos), the Used Book Fair ($42,000 pesos) and the family outing to the La Feria de Chapultepec amusement park ($170,000 pesos).

As a result of its fundraising efforts, the PA was able to make the following donations to ASF:

• $441,200 pesos for financial aid. This included a $300,000-peso donation directly to the Annual Scholarship Drive, $41,200 pe-sos as a matching gift to go with donations made by teachers and staff and $100,000 pesos through the separate financial aid efforts of the Fundación de Asistencia Educativa Irene Anzaldúa.

• $400,000 pesos to the Capital Campaign. This is the second of three annual payments to honor a pledge totaling $1.2 million pesos for the construction and outfitting of the new Ángeles Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Center on campus.

• $300,000 for various school needs. This money helped pay for hospitality and events like graduation ceremonies, the Model United Nations program, holiday gift for teachers and many others.

I believe that ASF is a vibrant and successful learning community that is a great example to schools in Mexico and abroad. What we see, live and enjoy today at ASF is the result of the vision of the founders and the efforts of many generations of teachers, administrative staff, employees, students, friends and parents who have contributed in many ways to keep alive and improve an institution. The American School Foundation is a non-profit entity, and it is refreshing to see that all its efforts are focused on creating the best possible school for our children.

Being an active participant in some of the school’s activities has allowed me to meet and interact closely with the administrative staff and some of the teachers. I am very impressed with the professional manner in which the school is run. Like every other institution, ASF faces challenges and problems. I admire the open and committed manner in which those challenges are being met.

In my view, our collective willingness to contribute our time, efforts, best ideas, skills and resources in a selfless manner is, to a large extent, what has allowed ASF to become what it is today. I strongly believe that every member of the ASF community shares a responsibility to continue strengthening and improving ASF for the benefit of future generations.

ASF is a great success story and Mexico needs many more like it!

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A Big Thank You to All the Parent Association Volunteers!

The Parent Association Executive Board 2010-2011

2010-2011 Volunteers: Standing Comittees Ana Paula Alanis Dagmar Calleja Tamara Cherem Adriana Cortina Karen Márquez Lourdes Zebadúa Art Fair Committee Ana Paula Alanís Norma Bermúdez Paola Besa Liliana Carvajal Fernanda Contreras Patricia Córdova Adriana Cortina Cynthia DeLong Aliki Elías Lola José Helga Mendoza Salma Menéndez Marcela Olivares Margarita Orozco Paloma Porraz Adel Rei Alma Rosa Rodríguez Blanca Santacruz Janet Segura Karina Ruiz de Silva Rosi de la Vega Linda Zatarain Division Representatives Anaisa Abad Mariana Ayestaran Paola Besa Lucy Castillo Tamara Cherem Fernanda Fonseca Martha Gutiérrez Anacecilia Santamaría Karen Sotelo Mónica ValnerSandra Woroszylski

LS Grade Level Coordinators Ana Paula Alanís Kathia Cervantes Fernanda Conesa Adriana Cortina Liz Franco Tatiana Galewicz Fernanda Guerra Christina Moguel Marcela Olivares Adriana Wallsten LS and ECC Homeroom Parents Paulina Aguayo Paulina Aiza Ana Paula Alanís María Alarcón Vero Arellano Elena Arreola Mónica Ávila Mariana Ayestaran María Ballesteros Nora Ballesteros Lorena Blanco Miriam Bravo Gaby Bustamante Roberta Canasi Diala Canelo Alejandra Caraza Lucy Castillo Ma. Isabel Castillo Karla Cervera Carol Cesarman Laura Checa Yona Chertorivski Diana Cielak Fernanda Conesa Adriana Cortina Paulina Cosio Ana Cuellar Claudia Cueto Anya Debarle Beatriz Diaque Barbarella Duque Ingrid Escobar Nadine Estrada-Karachi Paulina Farías

Gina Feher Leticia Fernández Yvette Fernández Anacecilia de la Fontaine Tamara Franco Klijne Gainza Lola García Mariana García María Giard María Giardinelli Bibiana González Lizbeth González Mini González Sofía González Martha Gutiérrez Mariana de Haro Luz Maria Hernández Anne Hunt Lola José Sarah Khan Adriana Klein Alicia Koller Martha Konigs Juliana Lasta Beatriz Laviada Laura Laviada Cindy Litchi María López Cepero Alejandra Macías Roberta Malagón Claudia Manzano Gaby Manzo Karen Márquez Aurora Martínez Marizza Martínez Anne Medellín Cecilia Merino Flora Merino Olga Micha Gabriela Múzquiz Tatiana Nae Jessica Entebi de Naftali Ana Ogarrio Luciane Oliveira Mónica Ordales Olga Orellana Claudia Paullada Elena de la Peña Ana Elena Pérez

Arantxa Pérez Lorena Pérez Duarte Melanie Pérez Marcela Pilliod Malu de Prado Carmen Quijano Ihtzi Quintana Valentina Quintana Alejandra Quintero Bárbara Quintero Tatiana Ramírez Mónica Rangel Marcela Reynoso Izmil Riveiro Lynnette Rivera Claudia Ruíz Massieu Marissa Russell Ana Sagaseta Lourdes Saltò Viviana Sánchez Cecilia Santacruz Urinda Santana Fernanda Suarez Aparna Sundaram Jaqueline Tanus Patricia Tavarez Verónica Uhthoff Ho Yon Um Graciela Uriegas Alejandra Valdez Lorena Valera Ma. José del Valle Lucina Van der Linden Susana Viesca Grace Villarreal Virna Winckelman Karen Zabicky Patty Zamora All parents of ASF students are members of the Parent Association, and we thank them all for their involvement. We apologize if your name has mistakenly been omitted from this list of special parent volunteers.

Aliki Elías (’85) - PresidentAlma Rosa Rodríguez - Vice President

Paola Besa - TreasurerFernanda Contreras - Assistant Treasurer

Helga Mendoza (’90) - SecretaryBlanca Santacruz - Parliamentarian


In compliance with Mexican law, all tax-deductible receipts are now sent by e-mail in an electronic format. This change, which went into effect in the 2010-2011 school year, means that it is very important for you to provide the school with your correct fiscal data.

Cash gifts to The American School Foundation, A.C. are tax deductible as al-lowed by law in both Mexico and the United States. It is very easy to make a gift, and there are many ways to do it:

TO THE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP DRIVE By check: Please make checks payable to THE AMERICAN SCHOOL FOUNDA-TION, A.C. and mail to: The American School Foundation, A.C. Office of Institu-tional Advancement • Bondojito 215 • Col. Las Américas • CP 01120, México, D.F.

In person: Your donation may be delivered to the Office of Institutional Advance-ment on the ASF campus. Or you may deliver your donation, in a sealed enve-lope, to the main office of your child’s school.

By credit card: ASF accepts VISA, MasterCard and American Express.

By phone: Contact Michele Beltran, director of Institutional Advancement, at 55 5227-4904 or [email protected].

By wire transfer: Make your deposit to: The American School Foundation, A.C. BBVA Bancomer • Cuenta 0109407898 • CLABE 012180001094078984.

On-line: You may make your donation through the ASF web page by going to www.asf.edu.mx, and then clicking on “Support ASF.”

TO THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGNBy check: Please make checks payable to THE AMERICAN SCHOOL FOUNDA-TION, A.C. and mail to: The American School Foundation, A.C. • Office of Institu-tional Advancement • Bondojito 215 • Col. Las Américas • CP 01120, México, D.F.

In person: Your donation may be delivered to the Office of Institutional Advance-ment on the ASF campus. Or you may deliver your donation, in a sealed enve-lope, to the main office of your child’s school.


By phone: Contact Michele Beltran, director of Institutional Advancement, at 55 5227-4904 or [email protected].

By wire transfer: Make your deposit to: The American School Foundation, A.C. Scotiabank Inverlat • Cuenta. 00107749279 • CLABE 044180001077492791

TO THE FAEIABy check: Please make checks payable to: Fundación de Asistencia Educativa Irene Anzaldúa I.A.P. and mail to: The American School Foundation, A.C. • Office of Institutional Advancement • Bondojito 215 • Col. Las Américas • CP 01120, México, D.F.

In person: Your donation may be delivered to the Office of Institutional Advance-ment or you may deliver your donation, in a sealed envelope, to the main office of your child’s school.


By phone: Please contact Michele Beltran, director of Institutional Advancement, at 55 5227-4904 or [email protected].

By wire transfer: Make your deposit to: BBVA Bancomer • Cuenta. 0450437247 CLABE 012180004504372478

SPECIAL GIFTSGifts in kind: These are gifts of tangible property and may be eligible for a chari-table deduction based on their fair market value. Gifts of this sort range from computers and furniture to hotel/restaurant vouchers and building materials and supplies. Please note that no items can be given directly to a specific teacher or program without consultation with the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Bequests and planned gifts: These provide support for the Endowment Fund for Financial Aid through individual bequests, annuities, lead trusts and other planned giving vehicles. Contact Michele Beltran, director of Institutional Ad-vancement, at 55 5227-4904 or [email protected].

Estate planning: You may create a legacy by leaving a gift to future students in your estate plans. For more information, contact Michele Beltran, director of In-stitutional Advancement, at 55 5227-4904 or [email protected].

Receipts by E-Mail

A Special Message from Rodrigo Alexander Hernández Ponce, Upper School Student:

How to Give to ASF

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It is often inferred that education is knowledge of the basic skills that are part of our daily routines. But ASF goes beyond “basic” to encourage questioning and understanding of our impact on the world, and vice versa. This allows for a multicultural interaction that leads to the exchange of great ideas, ways of being and long-term friendships. That is what I most enjoy about my experience at ASF.

ASF also breaks that inclination to think that education relies only on academics in the classroom. Students instead are involved in extracurricular activities both on and off campus. For example, I have been playing basketball for almost five years, and we often compete at other schools, sometimes in different states. The many community and service clubs highlight ASF’s commitment to our local, regional and global community.

ASF is part of an increasingly globalized and smaller world that has allowed many of its students and faculty to explore new horizons. My vision for the future of ASF involves the forming of more and more global citizens who will spread their knowledge to new places, using their insights for the benefit of the entire planet.

Moreover, it is wonderful that ASF provides initiatives to allow capable students from all different backgrounds to have the opportunity to enjoy an ASF education. Parents, staff, alumni, students and various institutions have been continuously involved to support this honorable cause.

Bondojito 215 Col. Las AmericasMexico D.F. 01120

Switchboard: (5255) 5227-4900 Fax: (5255) 5273-4357

Homepage: http://www.asf.edu.mx

asf annual report 2010-2011

Documents

asf community administration

future of asf

asf campus

community building

fundraising activities

value of community

motivated students

diverse student body