Our Campaign is growing! As of February 2022:
8.5 million raised
Our goal: $9.5 million

vision · progress · stories · building ·   tell me more 

BHS Campaign – Our Progress

  • Update
    PROGRESS
    To support the current project, from 2018 through January 2022, the Campaign engagement team raised $8.5M in gifts and pledges from 217 families towards the goal of $9.5M.

    To raise the remaining $1M by the end of the school year we still need:

    SEVERAL VERY MAJOR GIFTS/PLEDGES
    $25K+ GIFTS THAT WILL BE MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR
    5-YEAR PLEDGES AT ALL LEVELS
    100% PARTICIPATION. EVERY GIFT COUNTS!
    DOUBLE YOUR GIFT!
    A group of families offered to match dollar for dollar any gift/pledge of $25,000 or more up to $1M. Anyone who adds $25,000 to their original gift is also eligible. To date, $675,000 in new gifts have been matched.
    Our Donors Joined BHS in…
    1960-1969 – 2%
    1970-1979 – 5%
    1980-1989 – 14%
    1990-1999 – 20%
    2000-2009 – 28%
    2010-2019 – 31%
    CURRENT PLEDGES

    Construction Is Full Speed Ahead – Walls Are Down, Steel Is Up – Completion Is Scheduled for Fall 2022!


    Construction that was suspended in May 2020 because of COVID-19 was restarted in January 2021, and we are pleased to report that much progress has been made in a short period of time. Over the summer of 2021, we had construction crews working long days and evenings while both 127 Remsen and 131 Remsen were fully vacant. Our staff moved to temporary quarters, summer preschool activities happened outside, and services were held on Zoom or at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

    With our main building now open, the only constraint on full BHS programming is the pandemic!

    Significant progress has been made in our new building as was seen on two Hard Hat tours this fall. The internal staircase is in, elevator shaft built, openings between the buildings are in, the plumbing, electric, fire safety, and HVAC have been installed, and the rooms have been framed. The expanded outdoor space is triple the size! Isolated work has begun in our main building and will accelerate this summer when we vacate again.

    During the project, all precautions are being taken to protect the safety of our students, members, staff, and visitors. Moreover, this construction work during the school year is not interfering with preschool operations, religious school, important life cycle events, activities, and worship services.

    As of February 2022, the New Heights Campaign has raised $8.5M from 217 member families. To raise the remaining $1M needed to reach our goal of $9.5M, the campaign solicitors have been actively contacting members for pledges and donations. Our aim is 100% participation, and we look forward to talking to members about supporting this exciting venture to benefit our shared community now and into the future. We need you!

  • Construction on Pause due to COVID19

    JUNE 2020

  • HAMMERS OUT!

    FEBRUARY 2020 BHS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE
    With Important “Nuts and Bolts” Information from the Project Management Committee

    To those who have already supported the BHS New Heights Capital Campaign, we thank you. If you have not yet joined us, we hope you will. Together, our community has taken bold steps to transform our two physical buildings into one beautiful, accessible and expanded indoor and outdoor space. This will meet our needs today and into the future. We remain appreciative of this community’s commitment to a brighter future and look forward to sharing more information in the weeks ahead.

    Warmest Regards,
    Susan Chadick, Campaign Co-Chair
    Dave Smetana, Campaign Co-Chair

    THE NUTS & BOLTS

    From March 20, 2020 through August 20, 2021, we will gut renovate 127 Remsen Street, and – to get ready – the three lower level classrooms and upstairs Clergy Suite will move to temporary spaces in the neighborhood. Our construction has been planned to result in the least disruption possible to our BHS community.

    There will be NO impact on any programming or staff WITHIN 131 Remsen throughout the remainder of the academic year. All preschool, parenting center, religious school, adult ed classes, ritual programming and celebration, and access to all staff within 131 will continue without interruption.

    AT THE END OF FEBRUARY: IN AND AROUND 127 REMSEN STREET

    On February 26, the Clergy Suite members – Rabbi Lippe, Cantor Porzecanski, Executive Assistant Liann Herder, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tutor/Rabbinic Intern Healy Slakman – will be MOVING OUT of 127 Remsen Street. The Rabbi, Cantor, and Executive Assistant will relocate to One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, within the Regus Suite of Offices. All emails and phone numbers will travel with them for continuity of operations.

    Students being tutored by Rabbinic Intern Healy Slakman will meet with her in Rabbi Kane’s office on the 3rd floor of 131 Remsen Street.

    Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and members with appointments to meet with Rabbi Lippe and/or Cantor Porzecanski should go to One Pierrepont Plaza. Appointments will be on a security list at the Main Security Desk inside One Pierrepont Plaza, and visitors will be asked for photo identification. Students may present their regular school ID for this purpose. If identification is not available, clergy will be called from the desk to come down and meet their appointments personally.

    The map to the right shows how to get to One Pierrepont Plaza

    Beginning on Feb. 25, the three Religious School classes currently taking place in 127 Remsen Street on Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be relocated to three classrooms in the St. Ann’s School’s Rubin Building (124 Pierrepont Street). Teachers in those affected classrooms and St. Ann’s security staff will be present at the start of the religious school days to direct students to their respective classrooms. Separate communications will be sent from the Religious School staff to all affected student households.

    All questions about our project may be directed to Sue Gold, Executive Director.

    Thank you for your patience and attention to these matters as we work to create a new and exciting space in which our community can thrive!

    Karen Gordon, President
    Sue Gold, Executive Director
    Project Management Committee: Alan Schiffres, Rachel Loeb, Marcia Bellows, Barbara Zimmerman, Justin Elghanayan

  • A New Year Brings Us To New Heights

    JANUARY 2020

    As we start our calendar year, we want to connect with the BHS community with a New Heights Campaign update. Working together, we are getting closer to a shared goal of combining our two Remsen Street buildings into one beautiful, accessible and enlarged indoor and outdoor space for BHS members and friends.

    Thus far, about 140 households have stepped up and we have raised more than 70% of our goal.

    We remain thrilled to see pledges cutting across every BHS demographic – older, younger, single, married, working families, retired, and more. Those new to our community are stepping up to support us, as are long time members. Please know that full participation is our goal, and we look forward to continued outreach to the community to continue the momentum. One household at a time.

    For those who have already supported the New Heights Campaign we cannot thank you enough. For those who will soon be joining us, we cannot do it without you.

    With your help, we will reach our goal.

    The construction work is scheduled to begin in the late spring of 2020 and will be planned in stages to minimize disruptions. We will provide ongoing notices to the community of what to expect, and when.

    While we remain committed to outreaching to you, BHS members and friends … we invite you to reach out to us. Please contact us to discuss your BHS experience for our future, and when ready, your commitment to the campaign by clicking the campaign button below.
    In the meantime, thank you all and, stay tuned for more exciting updates.

    Warmest Regards,
    Susan Chadick, Campaign Co-Chair
    Dave Smetana, Campaign Co-Chair