Dear Alumni:

As we begin another school year, we have already encountered two major hurricanes in Florida that have caused great destruction. We know that many of our alumni may have been affected by these storms. Please know that our prayers are with you.

Many thanks to all who contributed to the Annual fund drive for 2003-2004. Our drive concluded on August 15th, the close of the school’s fiscal year. I can not say “thank you” enough to the alumni who generously contributed. We raised $236,596 from our alumni, $188,346 from alumni parents and $17,156 in matching gifts. We also raised $506,290 from our current parents. Additional monies were raised at our alumni events which included $107,000 at the Golf Tournament, $24,631 at the Fishing Tournament and $12,413 at the 100 Dollar Raffle.

Your support this enabled us to:

1) Wire the entire school for Internet access
2) Purchase 152 new computers for all classrooms and one Lab.
3) Renovate the entire “B” building with new floors, ceilings and furniture.
4) Install new flooring and ceilings in the Locker Rooms.
5) Install a new floor in the Lawrence Bell Media Center
6) Tile various walls in the school
7) Complete the Baseball Complex.
8) Provide financial aid for needy families

Your generosity has given our students wonderful opportunities. You should be very proud of what is being done on a daily basis at Columbus. The traditions of Father Champagnat and the mission of the Marist Brothers are being lived out every day by our students and faculty and the Columbus family spirit is stronger than ever.

This year we have a student body of 1,312 with a freshmen enrollment of 353. Brother Michael Brady has done a terrific job as the Director of Admissions. No one, not even transfer students are admitted without first taking an entrance exam.

Listed in this newsletter are the names of the alumni and alumni parents who generously donated this year to the annual fund. Any donation that came in after August 15th will be attributed to the 2004-2005 annual find drive. If for some reason your name was omitted and you contributed this year please notify me and accept my apology. I will include your name in the next newsletter.

The Marist Brothers, lay faculty and students express their sincere appreciation to you. Without your support we are lost. We need more and more alumni to contribute each year so we can keep the tuition cost at an affordable price while we improve our facilities and educational programs.

God bless you and your families. Please know how grateful I am from the bottom of my heart. Please come by and visit Columbus so you can see for yourself how your money was spent.

Ever Grateful,

Brother Kevin, F.M.S.
President