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LiftForLifeAcademy.org | Educate. Empower. Uplift.™

ACADEMYNEWSLift For Life Academy1731 South BroadwaySt. Louis, Missouri 63104-4050

Phone: 314-231-2337Email: info@liftforlifeacademy.org

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S PostagePAIDSt. Louis, MOPermit No. 5700

LiftForLifeAcademy.org | Educate. Empower. Uplift.™

liftforlifeacademy

@Lift4LifeAcad

@liftforlifeacademy

Lift For Life Academy | ACADEMY NEWS | 2018 | ANNUAL REPORT

Our Amazing Volunteers The following volunteers donated their time and expertise from June - September of this year. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Abby Kassebaum at AKassebaum@liftforlifeacademy.org.

Collins AffumUsuma AhmadBrittany AndersonErnie BanksSharon BatemanCathy BeckJeff BenskyDenise BogardDiana BourisawSandy BoxermanAlfreda & Rob BrownJack BurkeJennifer BushRuth ByersJary Carpenter-BransonJulian CarrollAngela CarronDebbie ChampionSeena CherianBarb & Harvey CitermanSharon ColonaDennis CopeRene Crosswhite

Simone CummingsJoe CunninghamScott DolanMichael DunskyWill FarrellTami FernandezRita FreedJustin GoldenbergPaula GrahlherrSheila GurleyMark HarringtonPaula HartJoe HasenmuellerKate HatfieldAndrew HerndonBeau HerndonBruce HorwitzAmit JhaKevin KickhamStephen KomorekAbadi KurniawanCarol KyserBrian Liberman

Mary Jo LibersteinRochelle Weiss & Steve LoebChristopher MenkeRob MillnerChaney NoahJeanette OesterlyTorah OglandesJulie OlivarriRoxann ParkerMilford PeabodyCarolyn PetiteMatt PitlykRochelle PopkinBeth RobertsDan RodenbergDiana Rogers-Adkinson Jim RyanTim SagonaBernie SalkyLinda SandersCraig SandvigLisa Schlesinger

Pat SchroederMark SchwiessKathy SehnertCaitlin ShanleyKanika SharmaLaura SilverbergMelody StaigerJulie SternAllie SwinnenRoxann TaylorTodd TaylorErica TocksteinLaura TrombenAlisha TruemperTaylor UnderwoodChakradhar VaddeMartha ValentaMariah VoylesJake WebbDavid WelknerMargaret WintersGina & Bill Wischmeyer

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Earlmika HarrisJennifer HennesseyThomas and Karleen HoerrLotsie and Rick HoltonSheila HunsickerHurst Family TrustJackson SupplyFrank JacobsMarie JaryJazz St. LouisTiana JonesDr. Randy and Susan JotteNeal and Susan KalishmanRobert and Marianne KarshSusan KelterKevin KickhamAnne and John KleinStanley and Susan KottlerJane KrasnoffMayor Lyda KrewsonBarbara LarsonVicki and Gary LazaroffHarry and Gail LeMayDavid and Janet LeMayAnnette LeonardSteve and Terri LeytonLilly Christy Busch Hermann FoundationJeff Loeb & Maggie LoebLou and Carol LoebnerTim and Kelli Lovejoy-DaileyKelly LubkerHerbert Lubowitz, Jr.Virgil and Linda MantleJulie and Steve MathesMary McCabeJim McMullinChristopher MenkeMetro Leadership LeagueJeff & Trish MeyerDavid MooreKristin MorseStuart MorseHarold and Shirley MosingerRich MossMatt Moynihan & Brian SmithGina NakisMindy NathanMs. Ellen NeedlesSanford and Rosalind NeumanJillian Renee NicholsSam and Rhoda NussbaumJudy OwensAshby OwensToni & Dave PaulusDr. and Mrs. William PeckJudy PeilDr. Shirly Pervil and Alan PervilLiz and Chris PoelkerRochelle PopkinLinda PrengerAaron PrikaskySuzanne RackersDr. Diane RankinLeslie RebyArnie and Terrie Robbins Nancy and Al RoseJohn and Audrey RothbarthMary Ruppert-StroescuGeorge RyanMichael SansoneLilly ScharffDavid and Randi SchenbergLisa Schlesinger and Charles AllenBevis SchockRich and Barbara ScissorsDr. Kenneth Scissors and Mary ThomPeter and Cecilia SeppTyler ShearburnRick and Becky ShermanKIm ShermanLaura Silverberg and Bob EllisEllen and Gary SouleSt. Louis Auto & Truck RepairLaura StaleyJerry StamsonThe Hon. Kathy A. Surratt-States

Roxann TaylorArnold and Dotty TepperRose TerranovaErich and Michelle ThurmannKirsten TidwellEvelyn TischlerMr. and Mrs. Craig ToderSharon and Eric TolnaiPam and Gregory TrappJulie Trausch-AzarMadge and Tom TreegerBrenda TurnerTasha TurnerAnne von der HeydtWaldinger Corporation / St. Louis AirTanisha WardWebster UniversityMary and Richard WeinstockLori WeinstockAmy WeinstockMrs. Carol WeismanGene and Roxanne WeismanEllen and Sanford WeissMegan WilsonAl and Glenda WimanBrad and Jill WintersRyan WithersDr. Carolynn WolffWilliam WolffKimberly WoodLisa YostMr. Ken ZhengIvo and Jitka Zvolanek

Other GiftsAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousTamara ARaven AkramRichard and Stephanie AlportSidra Brown Markus BaerJarren BakerSabrina BecktonKathleen BibbinsJune BiermanKevin and Carol BlinderBoeing Company Gift Match ProgramDr. and Mrs. Benjamin BorowskyKassandra BottsMichelle BougieCatherine BoulangerShannon BradleyDianne BrewerRachel BrightfieldAllen and Ronnie BrockmanGenifer and Matt BrownKimberly CaldwellMs. Dorothy CarpenterGinette CarpenterDelaine CharltonCoca Cola GIVEMs. Allison Beth CohenMarshall Cohen and Carla Scissors-CohenDaniel CommesEmily CraigKristen CrainRobert Sweney and Maria D’Agrosa SweneyDanne DancyGerald and Mary Beth DanielsBruce and Reva DavisSandra DeckerBernard and Ruth DeHovitzThomas DevittJohn and Karen Doggette

Michelle DorsettTovah EdwardsLeeAnn EdwardsJon Erblich and Jane FriedrichLaura ErranteeScripEdgar and Nidhi EverettMary Lou FarrowEdward Feutz & Cheryl FeutzAnn Fingerhood and Art HansellJosh FischerStephen and Jane FishAmelia FishAndrew FishCindy Follman and Jay BaumJaclyn ForstScarlett FosterChuck and Karen FriedmanKathy FuchsElizabeth GarnerGivable.org CommunityLisa GlaserRon GlazerMichal Grace and Walter CarrDr. David and Mrs. Leigh GreenhawMr. and Mrs. Harvey GreensteinSharon GrigaitusDelores GrollmanLynn Friedman HamiltonMary Beth HandleyMatt HanewinkelJoshua HanewinkelAudra HarroldPaula and Shawn HartCaity HawksleyJoAnn HoehnEric HornJacob HurstGloria Jans & Edward JansGail JohnsonDrew JonesRebecca JonesSandy KaplanLauren KellettKennedy KHJohnna KolaksWanda KriegerThe Kula FoundationMarsha KuninL.J. LaskeyHadassah and Buddy LebmanCarla LeeAndrew LeeDebbie and Mike LeftonMr. and Mrs. LehrerFalicia & Melvin LewisGay LipmanJoe LudewigMr. Chris LundebergAmanda MagaldiCleatus McConnellCasey McMahonLisa MelandriDiane MendsDavid Mesker, Jr.Joe and Laura MillerThe Paul Miller Charitable Fund for Chidren and the ArtsJesse MitchellSean MoranMarilyn and Geoffrey MorrisonEden MorrisonCindy MurdochAlex MurphyJane NicholsCarol NoellschDoretha L. NormanTina O’TooleMs. Mary OttosonDiana PadratzikMichael and DeAnn PomattoChristy and Bob PratzelAllyson QuigleyChelsea RPhil and Nina RadmanAbby RaeslyMaggie Rainey

Bill and Jan RaischJacqueline RedmondDiane RedmondJay ReiterSue Rich & Jodie RichCarol RighiAmanda RogersWanda SamsCathy SandersElizabeth SchlemmerSchnucks Markets Inc.Chad SchwamCarrie SextonAudrey ShanfeldAlvin Sher & AdrienneShelley SigholtzCheri SimonThe Honorable Ellen Levy SiwakJanet SowellJeanine SpringerCraig StevensKerim StrikovicChristian SuppanKarla Thoroughman & GregMadge & Thomas TreegerLinda VesperDebbie and Leonard VinesJohn WaldronSusan WalkerAshley WalkerMatthew WardLisa WarticovschRachel WeisWells Fargo Matching Gifts ProgramAlvin WernerStephen WestbrookCarmen WiedenhofferJeff WiktorskiVicki WilsonAlan and Susan WitteNancy WunderlichFran Zamler

In-Kind DonorsAcme Glass CorporationBaby LockLaura Kathleen BakerJohn and Judy BanachDebra BassTheresa BellJeff BenskyMarlene BirkmanJessica BlankenshipMiles BledsoeJanet BloomThe BooksourceCraig and Jan BoringRobert and Edith BrownThe Buddy FundCamp ManitowaErica CampbellMark and Lisa CarrollIndia ChapmanMike ChickanoskyEdward ChodMs. Allison Beth CohenSharon Colona and Scott WibbenmeyerDavid and Jean CowellNancy and Marian CzyzewskiSteven and Andrea DentJulie DerbyDebbie DerousseJeremy and Marni DeutschDiamonds DirectDan EberhartIntercon Chemical CompanyEye Care Charity of Mid-AmericaJames FeickErin FernandesTami and Jim FernandezThomas Fishwick & Debbie FishwickFlooring RehabSam FoxmanChuck and Karen Friedman

Arja FrissTed and Kristi GallupAlyson and Gregg GarlandMary Ann GoldbergBecky and Bobby GoldbergRobert and Marilyn GoldwasserPaula GrahlherrHager HingeHannah HajicekHilary HartungKate and David HatfieldJosephine HavlakJohn and Lisa HellerAnna HoseIntercon ChemicalJackman’s FabricJazz St. LouisSusan KelterKevin KickhamDrs. Mark and Claudia KrasnoffGeorge KriegshauserKUTOVicki LaRoseHarry and Gail LeMayLeft Bank BooksDerek LewisLion Forge ComicsLooking Glass DesignsMacy’s Street Law ProgramMadco PrintingBonnie K. MannMarylen Mann & Frank JacobsKathy MergelSusan MillevilleRobert and Joy MillnerBrian MosierMurphy CarpetSharon and Mark NaesNestle PurinaBill and Ruth OranElisabeth PeacockR & G InvestmentsThe Ritz-Carlton St. LouisTroy RobertsonCraig SandvigRichard ScherderLisa Schlesinger and Charles AllenBeth ScottGray SessomsSheryl SimonTim SnareSt. Vincent DePaul ParishThe Staenberg GroupRobin SteinerSTORYTRACKStrauss PeytonTaconyBen and Ricki TischlerTRUEFrank Trulaske and Carrie McDanielVilla LightingElizabeth and Craig WagnerSean and Carol WalshWeissman’s Design for DanceScott WibbenmeyerDevin WomackSteve and Charlie WulfWWT FoundationMrs. Marilyn YoungSharon ZelmanGary and Diane Zenk

* Indicates donor has passed away.

Mission

Lift For Life Academy is a challenging learning community where all students are empowered to maximize their full potential as students and citizens.

Letter from Marshall Cohen

2018 marks our 18th year at Lift For Life Academy and our vision for how we can help St. Louis City’s underserved children maximize their potential. Since our inception, we’ve grown from 60 students to 585, expanded our high school space and built a brand new gym. But our vision is larger. In the next phase, we hope to build an elementary school to provide a LFLA education for our students beginning in kindergarten.

With philanthropic support from our community, we will create space for Kindergarten and 1st grade classes and in subsequent years, add 2nd through 5th grades. This strategic move will ensure that our students are proficient in core subjects at their respective grade level, vastly improving their odds for lifelong success. Currently, 75% of new students, entering 6th grade, are 1-3 grade levels behind in math and reading.

Expansion of the John Mann Wing this winter includes plans for six additional high school classrooms and locker rooms for the gym. Our anticipated growth will bring a larger student population and more teachers and staff; however, we are committed to preserving our family-oriented atmosphere. When you talk to students, a frequent comment is “LFLA feels like a second family to me.” They feel safe and happy here and those feelings make it easier for them to learn.

Speaking of learning, our graduation rate is 97% daily, and over 80% of graduating seniors over the past several years pursue college, technical school or the military.

We’re excited about our vision and will continue to give students a nurturing, compassionate and challenging learning environment so they can pursue their career dreams and become responsible and contributing citizens.

Thank you for supporting our academy on this exciting journey.

Best regards,

Marshall CohenExecutive Director & Co-founder

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July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 Donors

Our donors are critical to our success and we are grateful for every gift we receive. If we have made an error, please contact Susan Kelter at314.761.7371.

$25,000+AnonymousAnonymousAnonymousLee H. Cruse Charitable TrustPaul and Susan K. GoldbergInnovative Technology Education FundLuxco CorporationBayer AG (formerly Monsanto Fund)The Sound RoomCarol and Michael StaenbergYawitz Family

$10,000Anonymous AnonymousAnonymousAnonymousArlene Lilie Interior Design, Inc.Green Family FoundationJohn and Alison FerringBonny FilandrinosKen and Sally GoldmanThe Guth Foundation Charitable TrustMark and Jane HarringtonThe Ritz-Carlton, St.Louis Mildred, Herbert and Julian Simon FoundationSaigh FoundationSanford and Gloria SpitzerTromblee FoundationGina and Bill WischmeyerHerbert A. and Adrian W. Woods FoundationJane and Whitney Harris St. Louis Community Service on behalf of Marylen Mann & Frank JacobsMark Wrighton and Risa Zwerling The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

$5,000+Anonymous Anonymous American Eagle Credit Union FoundationJack and Anne BaderSigmond and Marie P. Baer Charitable TrustHenry J. Bangert and Joan LovelaceCindy BrinkleyMaxine Clark and Bob FoxSharon Colona and Scott WibbenmeyerDennis CopeCuriumOlive A. Dempsey Charitable TrustJack and Ellen DeutschEnterprise Bank & TrustEmployees Community Fund of BoeingKendra and Jim EpsteinTami and Jim FernandezJack and Robin HakeMr. and Mrs. Paul H. HatfieldRichard and Lynn HillJordan Charitable FoundationJames and Pam KrekelerKuhn Foundation

Bonnie K. MannMaritz, Inc.Mitch Markow Lisa MecheleMark and Carol MestemacherOlin Corporation Charitable TrustSusan and Gordon PhilpottHermann T. and Phenie R. Pott FoundationBeth and Don RobertsSander FoundationMrs. Lisa SchlesingerDeborah and Mark Sessel St. Louis Philanthropic OrganizationNorman J. Stupp FoundationDoug Tashma & Lauren TashmaFrank Trulaske Family Foundation & St. Louis Community FoundationDeWitt and Caroline Van Evera FoundationVatterott Educational CentersMr. and Mrs. George Herbert WalkerSean and Carol WalshDiane and Gary Zenk

$2500+AnonymousAnonymous AnonymousSusan BlockDebbie Champion Snyder and Jeff SnyderChandler and Ellen CurleeDa-Com CorporationJennifer and Jonathan DeutschScott and Carolyn DolanExpress Scripts FoundationU.S. Bank, NAJan and Rand GoldsteinSarah and Aaron GreenwoodJames and Cissy HackingHochschild, Bloom and Co.Ted and Judith IsaacsNancy KalishmanKen and Pam LesterMarilyn LipmanMajor BrandsMoDOT St. Louis DistrictAlison and James OwensMary and Steve SchoolmanDiane Seeger SimpsonSociety of Informational Management St. LouisAndy and Mary Ann SrencoTodd and Sarah TaylorSteve and Joanna TschudyVatterott FoundationRochelle Weiss Wells Fargo Advisors, LLCSteve and Charlie Wulf

$1,000+AnonymousAnonymous American Eagle Credit UnionBarbara Barenholtz and Milton HiekenSharon BatemanBMO Harris BankGina BremehrJennifer Bush and Margaret RobertieCaleresCentral BankClean UniformRene CrosswhiteDavid and Beth DeutschMeghan Devereaux and Bart BaumstarkDollar General Literacy FoundationMelissa EarthmanSuzanne and Bob EbelMr. and Mrs. David C. FarrellSam and Marilyn FoxGarbanzo Mediterranean Grill, LLCWendy and Daniel Gerarty

Gershman Charitable TrustLoura GilbertOscar Goldberg Beau HerndonAnne & Tom HerrmannWarner and Helaine IsaacsRobert and Diana JacksonJen KaslowKenneth and Nancy KranzbergMary Jo and Jerry LibersteinCharles and Rosalyn LowenhauptPaul and Leslie LuxMarylen Mann and Frank JacobsMark Twain Community Resource CenterCarrie McDanielMercedes Benz of St. LouisBonnie MurphyNestlé Purina PetCareNetwork For GoodMilford and Nancy PeabodyMs. Amy PelligreenBrian and Mindy PultmanAndrew and Mimi PultmanLewis ReedDrs. Lisa Ring and Gregory StorchJohn and Elizabeth SametJulie and Will SchmidtMark Schweiss and Lisa YoungbloodSusan and David ShermanSidener FoundationPaul SimonsGianna Jacobson and Todd SiwakSoft SurroundingsJohn Sterling and Monica MooreMary StraussJustin and Tedd TrabertTracy Family FoundationTRUE FitnessKen TuckerEd and Lynn WakefieldRichard and Josephine WeilPat Whitaker and Dick MilesLinda and Steve WielanskyLeland WolffJane WulfSharon ZelmanZumwalt Corporation

$500+AnonymousAnonymousMonica AllenCharles AllenRob and Cathy AltholzErnest and Angela BanksTaylor BenardJames and Catherine BergesDr. Libby BlaneyDenise and Robert BogardSanford and Cynthia BoxermanGina BreadonEstate of Ms. Ellene BreininThe Buddy FundBarb BurrowsSuzanne CharakHarv and Barb CitermanJune CohenNancy and Donald DiemerJohn and Yvette DubinskyJennifer Eberle and Barak FeldmanRyan FishSam FoxmanRita FreedGess Donor Fund - Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, Inc.Gilmore Electric CompanyMr. Jeffrey Glik and Dr. Rachel GlikAnne GradyJan GreenbergKate and David HatfieldJohn and Lisa HellerDr. and Mrs. Jacques HerzogDebra Hollingsworth and Mark Stacye

Industrial Soap CompanyRaizell and Mark KalishmanJohn and Diane KalishmanRobert KelterEssie and Earl KesslerDr. Ira and Barbara KodnerRichard and Lisa KranerCarol and Eric KyserMel and Dorothy LefkowitzDavid and Stefanie LevensonBarbara LowenbaumKaren and Craig LundgrenMarci MarshDave and Jamie MarvelStan McCaslinMizzou Off BroadwayAaron and Nancy NovackErma O’BrienEmily OwensOptimist Club of ClaytonKelly and Kevin PeckDean & Jean PorterEmily Rauh PulitzerJake and Chelsea RenfroIvette RothschildAnn Marie RuhlinNancy T. RussellTatjana and Robert SchwendingerNicole ScottJudith ShawJay and Maria ShieldsCheryl SteinDorothy Stein*Julie and Tim SternHarriet Switzer and David CroninKristin and Zachary ThompsonJim WelchJohn and Marti Wennemann

$250+Robert and Maureen AhrensPatricia ArnoldRonald and Margaret AylwardJeff and Katie BenskyMaris BergDonald and Christina BergalMarlene BirkmanRobert and Edith BrownGeorge A. Capps Memorial Foundation Community SchoolRandy Costas, Rankeitay Charitable Fund of the St. Louis Community FoundationDon and Susannah DanforthFrank and Kathleen DanzoRoy Day and Deborah LundKate and Mike DunskyDr. and Mrs. Gerald EarlyKim and Timothy EberleinKathy EvansSivan FernandezRobert FishboneLaura GerhardtPhyllis GoldbergSusan GoldenbergSteven Goldstein and Laura StaleyGoogle Inc.Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth GreenStuart and Elaine GreenbaumJean GrossmanGreg and Jaclyn HakeNancy HerzogKelly HillJanie HochmanJeff and Susan HochmanMarcia KerzLisa Rose KoanJoseph and Lucinda KrutzschVicki and Dennis LaRoseSteven and Susan LipsteinPhyllis and George MarkusHeather NeimeyerMr. David NewbergerJill PeckinpaughMorgan Powers

Johana ProbstStephanie RivenCraig SandvigKatherine & Russell SchamburgMartha ScharffMark and Lisa SchwartzJulian and Helen SeehermanBruce and Lily SeymourAlvin and Nancy SiwakTerry SparksDr. and Mrs. Stuart SpragueBob StaedNancy Van DillenRenee WalschJo Anne WarrenScott WibbenmeyerTimothy & Susan WilliamsMichael and Patricia WolffThomas and Cynthia WoolseyLinda Yatkeman

$100+AnonymousAnonymous AnonymousAnonymous Anonymous Dena AccardiKathryn AdamchickCheryl Adelstein and Daniel DavisonAudrey AdreonLaurie BadlerRamon BahlJanice BaileyBeverly and Phil BarronDr. Donald and Jeanie BassmanMatthew BehlmannDavid and Cynthia BenavidesMr. and Mrs. Philip BergerJoan BerkmanJohn and Glenna BreenBob and Pat BrowningLiz BuchmanJack and Sara BurkeCathy and Bob CarneyMark and Lisa CarrollKev CattrellDanijal Ceric & Majda Kreso CeriRandall and Linda ComfortKim CommackDavid and Jean CowellStacey CribbinHarold and Renee DenlowMr. and Mrs. Adam DentJulie DerbyTom and Kathleen DewoskinJim J. DolanBob DubinskyBarbara EagletonJill and Matthew EdwardsJill EichwaldBeverly EinsteinRita EisemanLiz EisenbergerColleen FavazzaChesley FilipiakSam FoxmanLois FrankBarbara FremderCheri and Ronald FrommToni GackaTed and Kristi GallupAlyson and Gregg GarlandGene Slay’s Boys Club of St. LouisGeneral Mills Box Tops For EducationMs. Gary GerchenBecky and Bobby GoldbergBarry and Susan GoldenbergLinda and Benjamin GoldsteinKaren GoodmanMark and Judith GoodmanPaula GrahlherrVicki GroswaldMichael and Roberta GutweinMatt HallRalph HallJudith Harmon

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Lift For Life AcademyExpenses

2017-2018

Salary Related $5,474,865 (74%) Building & Equipment Maintenance $756,723 (10%)

Student Food, Transportation & Supplies $637,087 (9%) Contract & Professional Fees $513,930 (7%)

Lift For Life AcademyRevenue

2017-2018

Government Grants & Contracts $6,734,257 (80%) Capital Campaign $852,369 (10%)

Contributions $429,223 (5%) Special Events $213,043 (3%)

Program Support $158,652 (2%)

4 | Lift For Life Academy | ACADEMY NEWS | 2018 | ANNUAL REPORT

Our Very First Gym Opens after 18 YearsThe excitement was palpable during our Gym Celebration on September 6th. After 18 years of having practices and games at other schools and venues, we finally have our own home court. Stirring comments from our founder, Marshall Cohen, Board President, Scott Dolan, Deputy Director Dr. Noble, Athletic Director Chandra Palmer, and senior, K’lyn Johnson were followed by the vibrant chants and routines of our cheerleading squad. In attendance were many of our generous supporters who made this dream possible.

The Varsity Basketball team waited anxiously on the sidelines. With the nod of their coach, Terrence Hobson, they charged the court, dribbling skillfully, eager to see who had the chance to sink the first ball into the hoop. The crowd erupted into bedlam with the first basket and the team was in their element, running up and down the court until long after the crowd had dispersed.

Our teams will have many more moments of joy and exhilaration, experiencing their games on their home court with the fans cheering them on. It’s just begun!

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Next Steps

As this annual report goes to press, we are pleased to announce that due to three very generous grants, we are close to meeting our funding goal for the construction of the John Mann High School Wing expansion. The six new classrooms, including new Science and Fashion Design labs, will address our biggest organizational challenge to physically grow the LFLA campus to better meet the needs of current students and to support future growth and planned expansion of the Academy.

As we end 2018, we now move into Phase III planning for a proposed Elementary School, a move that was approved by the State of Missouri and our Charter sponsor, Southeast Missouri State University, earlier this year. The desire to provide our students an LFLA experience beginning in kindergarten has long been a dream of many. Each year since we opened in 2000, 75% of incoming sixth graders arrive 1-3 grade levels behind their peers, requiring students to double up on their core subjects until they finally catch up to their peers their senior year. Imagine what we could accomplish—more importantly what our students could accomplish—if they could begin their formal education at LFLA beginning with kindergarten.

Building on the belief that every child has three teachers—parents (guardians) first, classroom teachers second, and their environment third—Lift For Life Academy must strengthen its efforts earlier to help students have the best chance for success. Creating an elementary school allows LFLA to reach students sooner, significantly improving outcomes for their success. The projected campaign goal is $7 million and soon we will begin to explore the feasibility of this project as we begin discussions with our key donors and supporters.

Rendering by Trivers Associates, Inc.

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Capital Updates

Lift For Life Academy continues to invest in its infrastructure, and greatly enhance the students’ academic experience, with the recent opening of the Health & Well-Being Center (gym) and the Staenberg Arts & Activity Center. After 18 years, students now have a gym for physical education classes, school-wide programs, career fairs, and athletic events! At the recent gym ribbon-cutting event, the basketball team and cheerleading team demonstrated their skills and their smiles told every donor and guest how grateful they were for the generosity of so many. The gym, coupled with the arts education, physical activity and flexible learning spaces in the Staenberg Arts & Activity Center, provide much needed room for both middle and high school students. This investment in the health and well-being of each LFLA student would not have been possible without the $2.6 million in philanthropic support from many in our community.

Phase II will include construction of locker rooms with showers, washers & dryers, lobby and concession areas as well as a black box theater. The estimated cost is $700,000.

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TRIBUTESJune - September 2018 In Honor of Sharon BatemanMary Ottoson

In Honor of Gordon and Terry Bloomberg’s 60th Anniversary and Terry’s 80th BirthdayAnonymous

In Honor of June Cohen’s BirthdayAnonymousShirley CohenBecky and Bobby Goldberg

In Honor of Roy DayCatherine Boulanger

In Honor of Ellen and Jack DeutschDavid and Beth Deutsch & family, Jennifer and Jonathan Deutsch & family, Jeremy and Marni Deutsch & family

In Honor of Oscar Goldberg’s BirthdayBecky and Bobby Goldberg

In Honor of Ilene Osherow’s BirthdayBecky and Bobby Goldberg

In Honor of Rochelle WeissEllen and Sanford Weiss

In Memory of Lawrence and Ellen BreininMr. and Mrs. Christopher Wills

In Memory of Barbara Kaplan FleiderRich and Barbara Scissors

In Memory of John MannJackie and Mary Lipsitz

2018 - 19 BOARD of DIRECTORSScott R. Dolan, President Senior Vice PresidentU.S. Bank, N.A. - Private Wealth Management

Tami Fernandez, Vice PresidentCommunity Volunteer

Gina Wischmeyer, SecretaryCommunity Volunteer

Brian Liberman, TreasurerVice President, Commercial LendingCentral Bank of St. Louis

Laura Kathleen BakerFashion Designer

Ernest (Ernie) BanksGlobal Operational Excellence DirectorCurium

Jeff Bensky, Ph.D.Chief Strategy OfficerHealth Pointe Solutions

Sanford J. BoxermanShareholderCapes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C

John P. Burke, Ph.D. Immediate Past PresidentSociologist

Kate HatfieldPrincipalHatfield Consulting, LLC

Beau HerndonSr. Associate Software Engineer1904labs

Mary Jo Liberstein, Ph.D.Community VolunteerRetired Clayton School District Assistant Superintendent

Mark Schweiss, CFP, CPA, CFASenior Wealth AdvisorModern Dollar Planning

Debbie Champion SnyderFounding PartnerRynearson Suess Schnurbusch & Champion

Lift For Life Academy1731 S. BroadwaySt. Louis, MO 63104-4050(314) 231-2337info@liftforlifeacademy.orgliftforlifeacademy.org

Lift For Life Academy is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Charter sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University

The Academy News Magazine, 2018 – No.5 is produced by the Development Department of Lift For Life Academy. Contributors: Marshall Cohen, Janet Frain, Susan Kelter, Abby Kassebaum.

Profiles of LFLASeveral segments make up the LFLA community: students, parents, faculty and volunteers. We had a chance to interview individuals from each of these groups to give outsiders a better idea of what LFLA is like.

Volunteer Profile – Carolyn Petite Carolyn Petite has been a reading mentor for over 8 years, coming in every week to read one-on-one with a middle school student. Carolyn is a master at building rapport with her students and they all really enjoy reading with her. One of her student’s reading levels went up by four reading levels in one year, a true sign of how invaluable her volunteer time is to the students. “The students I’ve worked with are enthusiastic, diligent and so appreciative of my time and attention. I wasn’t prepared for how warmly I’d be greeted and respected and I love it,” expressed Petite.

A Teacher Profile – Amanda Cernich For Amanda Cernich, a 9th-11th grade special education teacher who transferred here from another charter school, the atmosphere is starkly different from her previous urban school. “There’s a community feeling here among both students and teachers. And, I feel safe which is ironic because my previous school had security guards but the gang activity and the lack of consequences created a risky environment.” At LFLA, expectations are set and students respect the rules and hold to them. On occasion, if a student has an issue, the situation is handled immediately. “I feel so welcome at LFLA,” expressed Cernich, “and I’m very happy to be here!”

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Accomplishments

The success of our students continues with each graduating class. Last year was no exception as 74 of 75 seniors graduated in May, and more than 80% over the past several years are attending two or four year colleges, technical schools or serving in the military.

Our average daily attendance remains in excess of 93% and in 2017, we received an outstanding 85.4% Annual Performance Report grade.

Our faculty and staff continue to provide mental, social, behavioral and emotional supports even as they focus on giving each student the best academic experience possible. Our full-time social worker and assistant ensure that students’ needs are being addressed, from vision and dental needs to trauma therapy and physical needs such as food and clothing.

Unique classes including Engineering, Computer Coding, Music, Mandarin Chinese, Fashion Design and other STEM focused learning, provide broader learning opportunities.

With more than 85% of students qualifying for free or reduced cost lunch, we provide each student a nutritious breakfast and lunch prepared by an experienced chef, setting them up for daily success. We continue to do whatever it takes to help our students achieve. This would not be possible without an extensive network of partners who provide in kind support and donors who recognize that it costs an additional $800 per student to provide what they need to succeed each year.

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For Tracy Vilsaint, visiting Ghana for two weeks in June with an AFS community service program entailed a couple “firsts.” It was the first time she had been out of the country and the first time she had been away from her twin sister, Stacy. “It definitely made me feel more independent and exposed me to a totally different lifestyle. In Ghana with my host family, the chickens would wake us up as early as 5 am. We’d eat breakfast at 6 am which consisted of eggs with lots of onions. During the day, I learned African dancing and drumming, how to make hand-dyed Batik fabric and visited slave museums and schools.”

The biggest lesson Tracy learned from this experience was how many more resources Americans have versus Ghanaians. In Ghana, cold showers are the norm, washing clothes is done by hand, and street vendors are plentiful. “Living in Ghana for two weeks made me realize how blessed we are in the States. It was definitely a life-changing experience for me,” expressed Tracy.

After she graduates, Tracy wants to pursue a major in international studies with a minor in education. “Schools are not good in Ghana,” stated Tracy.

“I want to change and raise the educational standards around the world. LFLA has given me a good education and I want others to have that same experience.”

Tracy’s twin sister, Stacy Vilsaint, studied in Costa Rica for six weeks this summer, living with a host family in the village of Grecia,in the central region of the country. Each day she would attend the local school with her host sister from 7 am to 4:30 pm. “I had taken some Spanish at LFLA but I didn’t realize that all the teachers would be speaking in Spanish,” commented Stacy. “ It was difficult but gradually as time went on, I felt like I was picking up on what was being said.”

According to Stacy, her host mother prepared Gallo Pinto, Costa Rican rice and black beans, for every meal. “It was good, “said Stacy, “and I really didn’t grow tired of it.” “Costa Rica was a great place to visit. Almost every day you need to carry an umbrella because it rains suddenly for a short time. Grecia, where my host family lived, was a small town. Everyone knew each other and they even started to say ‘hello’ to me when I was walking on the street. I would go back for sure.”

Parent Profile – Tracy Wilson, In Tracy Wilson’s opinion, LFLA offers a great education, providing students the opportunity to take advanced college credit courses so they can accelerate their learning skills. Her daughter, Tylea, an LFLA senior, has been taking advanced college credit courses through Saint Louis

University and also through Southeast Missouri State University, giving her a maximum of 20 college credit hours if she passes them successfully. “Academic expectations are high at LFLA,” expressed Wilson, “and that’s definitely made Tylea the best student she can possibly be.”

Tracy (left) and Stacy (right)

Tylea Wilson

Student Profiles - Justin Plummer, Nicholas Murphy, Tracy and Stacy Vilsaint We have so many successful students that narrowing it down to one is literally impossible. So we’ve spotlighted four current students who stand out in unique ways.

8 | Lift For Life Academy | ACADEMY NEWS | 2018 | ANNUAL REPORT

Justin Plummer, a senior who this past summer was accepted into Washington University’s Young Scientist Summer Focus Program. For eight weeks, he attended this program Monday – Friday from 9 am – 5 pm, conducting research on functional metagionomics, which in layman’s terms means the study of the broad range of genetic material that is present in particular environments or natural samples.

“My science teacher, Ms. Tidwell, inspired me to attend this program and I had real concerns that I would not be accepted. But I made it and the program

built up my confidence in so many ways … ACT preparation, and two mentors who assisted me with my research project and homework. After Justin graduates, his plan is to attend college at Harvard, Saint Louis University or Washington University and study science, with an emphasis in research.”

“I’ve been attending LFLA since 6th grade and the teachers have made a huge difference in my

learning and success. They take the time to ensure that all students understand the material. Also key is the fact that LFLA offers dual enrollment classes so you can earn college credit even before you graduate from high school.”

Nicholas Murphy, also a senior, spent six weeks this summer at a music camp at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Core courses consisted of music theory, eurhythmics, and solfege (solfege teaches pitch, to hear and sing harmonies, and how to write down music you create in your head.) Electives included piano seminar, piano lessons

and the art of the audition. For extracurricular activities, Nicholas participated in orchestra, choir and a jazz ensemble, which was his favorite.

“This was a very unique experience for me and definitely challenging. I think I was the least experienced at the camp because I’m not skilled yet in reading music. But I learned a lot and have a better perspective on what paths I need to pursue,” expressed Nicholas.

While at camp, Nicholas stayed with a host family and walked to and from class each day. “It’s really hilly there. So it was tiring but I’m very glad I was able to go.”

Nicholas Murphy

Justin Plummer