Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 11

Headmaster’s Student
Assistance Fund
Thornton Academy is dedicated to
equipping all students with what they
need to achieve success.
Originally established by the Class
of 1988 to honor Headmaster Rene
M. Menard ’88, the Headmaster’s
Student Assistance Fund supports
disadvantaged Thornton Academy
students whose education has been
placed in jeopardy by unforeseen
family circumstances.
Students attend Thornton Academy
through district residency or tuition
payment. Occasionally, students are
forced to transfer out of Thornton
Academy for tragic and heartbreaking
reasons. This fund allows Headmaster
Menard to issue scholarships that allow
established TA students to complete
their education without displacement.
Thanks to generous donations from the
Thornton Academy community, this
fund has been expanded to support free
meals for students in need, in addition
to tuition assistance.
Due to Thornton’s independent school
status, public funding does not pay
for free breakfast and lunch as it does
for public schools. Instead, meals for
students in need are funded through
other avenues, such as donations from
alumni and community members.

Thornton Academy
currently spends
$240,000 a year to feed
the 230 students who
participate in this
program.

What Do Students Say?
“Thanks for the free
breakfast and lunch. Without this program, I wouldn’t be
able to eat all day until I got home.”
“I am thankful for free lunch and breakfast because when I
don’t have money I’m still able to get food.”

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation that will sponsor
a student and will go directly to the free breakfast and lunch program,
please call 207-602-4456 or choose “Headmaster’s Student Assistance
Fund” at www.thorntonacademy.org/give

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