LFA March Matchness
Last year, our community came together around Hearts for Hoesel. This year, the field is set for Lake Forest Academy’s unique brand of seasonal competitive fever with March Matchness!
In a bracket-like tournament, eight key “teams” integral to student life have begun the battle to see who will be crowned Champion – and receive the grand-prize bonus funds.
The Teams
Academics – Arts – Athletics – Curricular Travel – Faculty Professional Development
Financial Aid – Student Life – Area of Greatest Need
Make your pick by making a gift to any of the Academy Fund teams competing – or give to multiple if you can't choose who to cheer on!
The teams with the most votes in the round (determined by the number of donors) will move on to the next round and secure bonus funds – until we have our Champion!
Round 1 – All 8 Teams: March 5 to 10
The four teams with the most votes will progress to the next round, the Final Four, and receive a
$10,000 bonus* to each of their funds.
Final Four: March 11 to 14
The two teams with the most votes will progress to the next round, the Championship, and receive a $25,000 bonus* to each of their funds.
Championship: March 15 to April 3
The Champion, the team with the most votes, will score the grand-prize $60,000 bonus*.
*Thank you to the Parent’s Association for providing the bonus Matchness funds – totaling $150,000!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I give to more than one area?
Yes! You are welcome to support as many teams as you like per round. - Will multiple gifts in a round be counted?
Each family is counted once per round per team. Making multiple gifts to the same team in the same round does not increase the number – so be sure to encourage your friends to join in! - Is there a minimum gift?
Yes, the minimum gift is $10 to a team.
March Matchness Celebration
To celebrate a successful March Matchness – just like at the end of the actual March Madness – we are going to have a net-cutting!
When you make your gift(s), you can enter your students(s) to be eligible to be randomly drawn as one of the net cutters at our March Matchness Celebration after school on Friday, April 7.
Ways to Increase Your Impact
Grandparent Challenge
David Dunford, grandfather of freshman Colton Dunford ’26, is challenging fellow grandparents to affirm the LFA experience and contribute collectively a total of $25,000 to the school’s Academy Fund. For his part, Mr. Dunford, in turn, plans to establish a new, endowed faculty professional development fund at $50,000.
Your participation in March Matchness counts toward this challenge!
Matching Gifts
In addition to the bonus funds from your team making it to the next round, you can garner more support by seeing if your gift can be matched. Many companies sponsor matching gift programs which can double or triple your contribution. Please obtain your employer’s matching gift form and send it with your donation or complete the process.
