Dear Fellow Alumni,

Enrolment over the past few years has been quite stable at between 290 and 300 students. Income from this enrolment has enabled us to start paying back on the two big loans which were taken out when the School was rebuilt after the earthquake but we still have a long way to go. We are currently paying about Yen 48 Million, including interests, per year to our creditors, equivalent to 12% of our total annual income. As we still owe Yen 480 Million, it will take us another 13-14 years to settle these debts.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to set any funds aside for repairs/improvements. The current administration building, which also houses the library and the assembly hall/cafeteria, survived the earthquake but is now in dire need of major repairs. (This building was already there when I graduated, so you can imagine how old it is! I’m sure many of you have fond memories of this building where our graduation ceremonies used to be held.)

Although our School was founded in 1951 in Higashi Suma and moved to its current site in 1952, the first graduation ceremony took place in 1954. There were no commencement ceremonies in 1955, 1958, 1962 and 1965. This year’s seniors therefore represent the 50th graduating class. In commemoration of this milestone in our history, I would like to start a drive for a very badly needed building fund. I am therefore appealing to you for donations of Yen 5,000, US$50 or Euros 50, or multiples thereof.
Please send your donations to:

I thank you in advance for your generosity and invite you to drop in at the School whenever you are in town.

Sincerely,

Fritz Leonhardt (56),
Chairman, Board of Directors

"TOKUZO"(Tokutei Koeki Zoshin Hojin)

I am very happy to report that our application for "TOKUZO" status has been approved, giving both individual and corporate donors special preferential tax treatment. If, therefore, you would like to have your donation treated as tax-deductible, please request Ms. Nancy Kohara (koharan@marist.ac.jp) to send you a "TOKUZO" receipt.

Sincerely,

Fritz Leonhardt (56),
Chairman, Board of Directors

April 11, 2008

With the help of our very own Brother Ramon and Brother Hugh Turley of Marist Brothers in Chicago, IL, we have found a way for our alumni in the U.S.A. to donate to our fund drive and receive tax-deductible recognition. The Marist Brothers is an IRS verified 501(c)(3) charity.

All donations must be made to the MARIST BROTHERS with a brief statement by the donor that the gift is intended to assist Marist Brothers International School in Kobe. Gifts are to be sent to:

Br. Hugh P. Turley,
FMS, CFRE, Co-Director
Marist Brothers
Provincial Development Office
4200 W. 115th Street
Chicago, IL 60655-4397

Upon receipt, the gift will be acknowledged in writing by the Development Office using IRS approved terminology. This letter of acknowledgement should be retained by the donor and is sufficient to claim a tax exemption for the gift. The gifts will be periodically transferred to Kobe.