OWs in the USA
Old Wulfrunians in America Inc. was established to provide a forum for US based OWs to celebrate their commonality, that is - Wolverhampton Grammar School, and to explore ways of supporting the school to ensure it can continue to meet the needs of students now, as it did when they were in attendance.
For more information on OWs in the USA go to : http://www.owsintheusa.com/
Specifically the aims and objectives of the group are as follows:
- To strengthen the network of WGS alumni in the USA for professional, academic, career and social purposes
- Develop active chapters of OWs in the US across the country. Chapter representatives in each of these regions will serve as local contacts and strengthen the OWs in the USA network for alumni and prospective students, organising social and other events for alumni and friends in their areas.
- Support WGS's development efforts throughout the US with special events and chapter related activities.
Membership of OWs in the USA is open to all former students who are based in the USA and as the group develops we hope it will offer some of the following:
- Invitations to local chapter events, as / where arranged
- Subscription to OWs in the USA e-newsletters
- Inclusion in, and access to,OWS IN THE USA online Membership Directory
Charitable Status
The charity was set up as a exempt charitable organization under Section (501) (3) of American charity law in order to provide an effective vehicle for supporters to donate to the charity. The benefits to supporters of giving to a (501) (3) organisation are:
- American taxpayers who give to a US 501(c)(3) get a tax benefit for giving called a tax-deduction.
- A tax deduction is significant to an American. First of all, the deduction is practically automatic. Secondly, it is a benefit to the donor.
- 501(c)(3) is a section of the US Internal Revenue Code. It means that an organization is exempt from tax on the donations it receives and donations to it are tax-deductible to the donor.
- Tax-effective giving (the tax deduction) is a powerful part of US giving – without a tax deduction, a charity stands little chance of receiving anything other than the smallest of gifts.
- Americans cannot get tax deductions for giving directly to a non-US organization. They can, however, give to a 501(c)(3) organizations which uses the money to support a non- US organization. The 501(c)(3) to which the donor makes a donation may be one which supports a number of charities or one which supports only a very few charities.
- This is the position for individuals and for US companies without a Company Foundation if they want to give out of US-taxed profits.
Aims & Objectives of OWs in the USA
As an exempt charitable organization under Section (501) (3) the mission statement of Old Wulfrunians in America is as follows:The primary object of the Organization is to improve education. Old Wulfrunians are people of any nationality who have attended Wolverhampton Grammar School in England. They are interested in making an impact on the education of children where they live as well as supporting the activities, as they relate to the education of children, of the school that they attended. Wolverhampton Grammar School is a fee paying public school that provides an excellent education for children from 11 to 18 years of age, and has been doing so for nearly 500 years.
Giving your support to OWs in the USA
Wolverhampton Grammar School has benefited from the generosity of many benefactors over the years and everyone at WGS continues to be thrilled and surprised by the number of supporters who contribute to the school in so many ways.
Access to Excellence
Access to Excellence is the underlying notion of WGS’s fundraising activities and it embodies two fundamental aims.
Access: the school has always endeavoured to open its doors to any potential student that fulfils the academic prerequisites, regardless of their financial situation.
Therefore along with a strong programme of academic and music scholarships, the school offers a number of bursary supported places. These means-tested bursaries permit the beneficiaries to experience a WGS education.
Donations pledged from OWs in the US will raise money to greatly increase the number of means-tested bursaries and widen access to school within the community.
The additional aim of our fundraising endeavours is to continue to uphold the highest standard of Excellence by further upgrading the infrastructure of the school so that when money is required for capital development, support will be available.
