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Bishops Trust Overview
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Overview
Bishops has a proud history, going back to when the school was founded
in 1849 by Bishop Robert Gray. During those years, the school has
touched the lives of many, as students, parents, and staff. Bishops is
fortunate to have a large community of supporters, both in South
Africa and around the world.
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Bishops is often seen as a wealthy institution, and most people assume that the school is well-endowed. Sadly, that is not the case. The school runs on a break-even basis each year, with the income received from fees just covering the school’s operating costs. The largest expense of operating the school is the cost of employing staff, which is typical for any school. However, in order to be a leading school producing excellent, well-rounded graduates, Bishops has a higher staff complement than many other schools of comparable size and pays salaries well above the average. The remainder of the income is used for maintenance and operations, and there is very little, if anything, left to allocate to free reserves for upgrades and infrastructure.
The school’s endowment fund is pitifully small for a school with such a long and proud history as Bishops has, with a multitude of successful old boys operating at the highest levels in their chosen fields throughout the world.
The time has come to address this and the other pressing needs that the school faces as it plans for the future. The Bishops Trust was revived in 2016 for this purpose, and in late 2016, the 175 Campaign was launched. The new trustees include ODs, current parents, past parents, and staff members. A number of the trustees represent more than one of these communities.
A number of priority projects have been identified. These are:
- Bursaries
- Capital Projects
- The General Endowment Fund
The 175 Campaign is an appeal to the whole Bishops community: old boys, parents, past parents, staff, and even current students. We ask you all to give generously to ensure that Bishops can face the future on a strong footing, continuing to be an inclusive center of excellence, producing graduates who can contribute meaningfully to their communities and, in turn, support Bishops someday in the future when they have the ability to do so.
If you would like to find out more about The Bishops Trust, 175 Campaign, please see here.
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The Hamilton Mvelase Bursary Fund
"I learned that love, truth, justice, mercy, and peace can change someone's life as a whole." Hamilton Mvelase
Photo taken by Dr. P Murray the day before Hamilton died.
Bishops is an extraordinary school with excellent staff and resources. It is our hope that here, every boy finds something that inspires them, for we believe that inspiration is the catalyst to success. As an institution of excellence, Bishops plays a pivotal part in the future of South Africa and thus has a duty to shape the future leaders of this country.
In order to make an impact, we need your help.
In a country afflicted by hardship, education is the solution to a number of South Africa’s problems. For socio-economically disadvantaged groups, access to good education is challenging. For this reason, we are launching the Hamilton Mvelase Bursary Fund.
Hamilton was a previous beneficiary of a Bishops Bursary, and his story is a tragic one.
Those who knew him described him as a hard worker and a natural leader. He was popular with his peers and a great sportsman.
Tragedy struck in late 2007 when Hamilton passed away unexpectedly at the age of 15.
His story continues to inspire generations of young men at Bishops. The Hamilton Mvelase Bursary Fund will help ensure that young men from similar disadvantaged backgrounds are given the opportunity to excel and become future leaders.
The Capital Project Fund
Bishops has a number of capital projects that need to be funded in order to maintain and enhance the facilities of the school. These projects are vital in ensuring that Bishops remains a leader in education and provides the best possible learning environment for its students.
The General Endowment Fund
The General Endowment Fund is crucial in providing Bishops with the financial resources to support its mission, programs, and initiatives. The fund helps to ensure that the school continues to thrive and provide an excellent education to its students, while also giving back to the community.