To the Editor:

On behalf of our family, especially our first and fifth graders, a sincere thank you to the anonymous donor who so generously gives $25,000 a year to the principal’s discretionary account at Sippican School. What an amazing act of kindness and caring for our community. We understand this gift has been used to buy 200 Chromebook laptops, has helped families who need help with field trip expenses and equipment for the nurse’s office among other items. Our principal says she “works really hard to live up to the intent that it was given” and, indeed, these items suggest she has done a great job. Who better to prioritize these needs than the leader of the school who lives and breathes this work every day.

The money is given anonymously which means the donor takes his or her satisfaction from simply the act of doing it without taking credit. This is a time honored philanthropic right and allowing a person their anonymity is the very least we can do as a community to show our appreciation. Further, anyone who has raised money knows that unrestricted or discretionary funds are often the hardest to come by as many donors reasonably want to restrict gifts to specific projects. This donor’s generosity to the school is thoughtful and wise.

To read that there is an interest to deny anonymity of the donor and make the name public is disappointing. According to the Sippican Week, there is a minority view on the school board that the process of accepting the donation is not sufficient. I think our teachers and administrators face all the red tape, government mandates and process that they can stand. As citizens we need to have the backs of our educators and push back on distractions so that teachers can concentrate on the important stuff – igniting the love of learning within our kids.

Thanks to School Board Chair Christine Marcolini and others for graciously accepting the donation. Thanks also to the town Selectmen for taking steps to protect the donor’s anonymity. We hope this story does not end with “No good deed goes unpunished” and rather “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

Dan and Kate Cooney
Marion