Dear Fellow Franklin Graduates,

It is with great pleasure that I greet you from our alma mater. I am extremely excited about the distinct privilege I have been afforded to serve you as the Development Director. I loved Franklin as a student and have to come to appreciate and respect it even more as an employee. Franklin gave me a solid foundation for life beyond academics. I now have the chance to help ensure its strong foundation for many years to come by finding new opportunities for giving by the members of our community and beyond.

The Falcon Spirit is alive and well in its community- its students, parents, grandparents, alumni, staff, faculty, Board and volunteers. Without the support of each and every member of our community, Franklin would not be the unique, caring and thriving school that it is. We would love to know what you’ve been up to and how to contact you! Please send us news about any important developments or events in your life, i.e. marriages, births, deaths, new jobs, awards, etc. so we can share them with the rest of our Franklin community. News can be sent directly to me at christina_read@benfranklinhighschool.org or call 504-286-2600. I urge you to stay connected with your alma mater and your classmates. We invite you to be involved in the following ways:

• Be an advocate for BFHS in the local community and around the world
• Offer your professional expertise as a resource.
• Represent your fellow alumni and serve on the BFHS Alumni Association Board.
• Help plan your class reunion.
• Find lost alumni.
• Volunteer to plan and implement new Alumni gatherings.
• Attend Alumni events like the Holiday Party or Ben’s Bash.
• Assist students in finding internships and post-graduate work.
• Attend BFHS athletic events, cultural arts events and special lectures.
• Share news or milestones in your life.
• Support academics and extra-curricular programming by contributing generously to the “Ben Franklin Future Fund.”

Please take the opportunity to support Franklin’s community by exploring the ways you can give back. Every gift to Franklin is important to the development and education of our students, and every gift ensures the continued strength of our community.

I look forward to working with all of our dedicated alumni to carry on our Franklin traditions and sustain the excellence. If I can ever be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at 504-286-2609 or christina_read@benfranklinhighschool.org. Go Falcons!

Sincerely,

Christy Cowart Read ’89
Development Director