Whitinsville Christian School opened a performance of Disney’s The Little Mermaid with the announcement that the recent Rise Up & Build campaign has not only met, but surpassed its goal of $18.5 million. Rise Up & Build is the capital campaign that provided funds for the school’s largest addition to date, as well as increasing the WCS Endowment Fund.
“The theme of Rise Up & Build comes from the Biblical story of Nehemiah, a political leader and visionary who decided to undertake the major construction project of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls,” said Lance Engbers, WCS Headmaster. “The key verse in Nehemiah 2:18b says, ‘Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.’ The Nehemiah Center became the natural choice when it came time to choose a name for the physical structure. The Nehemiah Center speaks to the commitment of our entire to community to rise up and make this beautiful addition to our campus a reality.”
“We are humbled by and in awe of this achievement,” said Dr. Adam Meyer, Director of Advancement. “Our sincere gratitude goes to the three chairs of the Rise Up & Build campaign. John Esler, Tony Brookhouse, and Tom Swaim have shown dedication and a generous commitment of time and resources without which we would not be celebrating the success of the campaign. Reaching our goal is important not only in the funding of construction, but also in the increase to our endowment fund. The fund is an important source of financial support for all WCS students. It allows WCS to keep tuition rates at an affordable rate, making a WCS education an exceptional value.”
The announcement comes as The Nehemiah Center is being utilized in ways that many have dreamed of for years. The Center for Arts and Worship hosted concerts for the WCS Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Encore Vocal Ensemble in October. The WCS Drama Club performed Disney’s The Little Mermaid over two weekends in November to sold-out crowds for all four shows. The new gymnasium saw cheering fans of the volleyball team and excitement is building for the basketball season opener scheduled for December 8. The Nehemiah Center also hosted an unprecedented Crusader Lecture Series with New York Times best-selling author Dr. Greger.
“WCS has been blessed with incredible growth in our facilities and our enrollment over the last two years,” said Sonia Zeyl, Director of Enrollment. “I’m always excited to meet the new students and their families who come to be a part of this community. The Nehemiah Center brings new attention to the characteristics that have made WCS special for 89 years.”
To learn more about WCS, please visit whitinsvillechristian.org.