Posted: March 3, 2010

The Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee (LHSAGM) has exceeded its $6 million challenge goal by the Feb. 28 deadline, making it eligible to receive a $3 million matching gift from an anonymous donor.

The association, which Lake Country Lutheran in Hartland is part of, was challenged by the donor to collect $6 million in campaign contributions by Feb. 28 to receive the matching donation. With less than two weeks left, it had raised nearly $4.43 million. But by midnight Feb. 28, the official campaign total stood at $6.26 million with campaign totals still coming in.

"We have truly been blessed," said Todd Moritz, CEO of the Lutheran High School Association. "Few thought that we could accomplish this objective, especially in a recession. But we know that with God nothing is impossible. "

The Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee (LHSAGM) operates three high schools: Lake Country Lutheran as well as Milwaukee Lutheran and Greendale's Martin Luther high schools.

The association has been faced with financial challenges recently that could have threatened the three high schools' operations if the campaign fell flat.

LHSAGM lost more than $4.2 million - $1.4 million in 2008-09 alone - in part because the downturned economy had affected individual and church giving as well as the association's inability to respond to their financial challenges.

The association's cash reserves were depleted and it had exhausted its ability to borrow money. Officials predicted the association would run out of cash by June if the campaign was unsuccessful.

Additionally, the association has been dealing with substantial long-term debt. The association accumulated $27 million in debt, most of which came from the expansion in Lake Country with the construction of Lake Country Lutheran High School. The debt also includes the Milwaukee Lutheran fieldhouse and bleacher projects.

"Success in this campaign puts us in a very solid position for the future," said Moritz. "Our focus now turns to the long-term growth of our three great schools through continued academic performance, upgrading and improving our facilities and beginning work on further reduction of our long-term debt all while remaining faithful to Him."

Lake Country Lutheran Principal Mark Bahr said the campaign's success will allow the school to move forward. He said it is a vote of confidence that while there are financial challenges, this and generations to come will be able to receive a high-quality Christian education.

The campaign received more than 2,600 gifts to help offset the association's long-term debt.

"We received gifts of all sizes, like the $9 gift, in cash, from a college student," said Tim Young Eagle, director of campaigns for the association. "And they came from near and far, including a pledge from a 1986 Milwaukee Lutheran alumnus currently stationed in Iraq who heard about the campaign and wanted to contribute."

The campaign began sluggishly and had accumulated a meager 172 gifts and raised just under $1.2 million in its first 16 months, the association reported. But after replacing the professional fundraising firm that the association had employed during that time, the campaign went "grass roots," with big results.

"In June, we changed the whole focus of the campaign and reached out to our considerable and devoted alumni base," Young Eagle said. "These people love our schools. Once they became aware of the need and the opportunity, they were mobilized to action and from November of 2009 through the Feb. 28 deadline, we received in excess of 2,400 gifts and more than $5 million."

The campaign received more than 300 gifts and $1 million in the final week.