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The thank-you note in front of me is a pen and ink drawing of the earth. Circling the globe are the words "The world is my family." It's from an 11th grade girl to a Dharma Foundation donor, whose timely financial assistance has allowed her to attend Maharishi School. In her note, she highlights the gifts she has gained from attending this special, private institution: "I love the group meditations, learning Sanskrit, and learning Maharishi's Vedic knowledge." She says the teachers and students lovingly support each other, and how fantastic it is to study in such an uplifting environment.
The expression "the world is my family" and the sentiments echoed in the girl's note suitably reflect the Dharma Foundation's philosophy. Local businessman Michael Cuddehe started the Dharma Foundation in 1990 with the sole purpose of reestablishing dharma in all areas of society. Dharma is a Sanskrit word meaning "that which upholds life in an evolutionary direction." Michael wanted to see if he could take this enlightened concept and put it into practical action. Dharma Foundation, the fruit of his labor, is a philanthropic organization designed to support a number of civic areas, ultimately to aid in the restoration of dharma in all areas of society.
So far, Dharma Foundation has helped fund a wide range activities, including the Fairfield Film Festival, various writer's groups, and ladies from a Soviet Block country learning about natural childbirth.
More recently, Dharma Director Brenda Narducci, businesswoman and mother of four Maharishi School students, started the Kindergarten-Ph.D. Scholarship program under the umbrella of Dharma Foundation. Since its inception this summer, it has provided scholarships for children to attend Maharishi School in Fairfield and Heavenly Mountain Ideal Girls School. In the future it will underwrite scholarships for Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment for Boys. It has also funded scholarships for students to become yogic flyers and teachers of the Transcendental Meditation program.
Dharma Foundation's scholarships are essential for modest wage earners who want their children to have a Consciousness-Based education. The cost of sending children to Maharishi School varies slightly depending on the grade, $7,350 for first graders on up to $8,290 for children in grades 10 to 12. Director Ashley Deans says the tuition for Maharishi School is in keeping with a private institution of this kind. According to the Independent Schools Association of Central States, he says, its fees are slightly below average for a Midwest private school.
For the fall 1997 semester, Dharma awarded 23 scholarships amounting to $20,000. Already the number of scholarship applications for the next semester has increased. Narducci says that scholarships are awarded primarily on financial need. "But we look at other factors, too," she says. "We want to see that the students are living a balanced life, that they are doing well in school and that they are involved in extracurricular activities such as sports or drama."
Deans applauds the new scholarship program because it allows talented and deserving children who otherwise could not afford it to attend Maharishi School. His sentiments are more than seconded by parents whose children receive scholarships. Says parent Mary Lou Schuldt, "It's so wonderful that this scholarship program has been founded for children who want to go to Maharishi School. My daughter loves it."
The policy of the Dharma Foundation is to keep the donors and the recipients anonymous. As one might expect, donations come in different sizes and with different viewpoints. Some donors simply make general contributions to the scholarship fund. Most, however, prefer to direct their donations to a student they know by making an adopt-a-child pledge. Attempts are made to fulfill the wishes of donors, but Narducci explains that the awards committee makes the final decisions.
Donors feel strongly about the good that the scholarship fund is doing. "We moved to Fairfield from another country to send our children to a school with Consciousness-Based education," says one donor, "so we want to give the same opportunity to others who want to attend Maharishi School."
A local accountant says what motivated him to give is that "the next generation will have positions of responsibility and it's in our best interest and society's to prepare them." Narducci agrees. "If you want to secure the future, it's important to support the youth," she says. "It's essential that we give youth the tools they need to become leaders and develop solutions."
To plan for the future, the Dharma scholarship program has also established an endowment fund. For every $100 that the K-Ph.D. Scholarship Fund raises, $10 goes into the endowment. Narducci says that Fairfield supporters should be able to meet their immediate financial needs, but more is needed. She wants to fund raise for the endowment across the country.
She's confident people will both listen and give. The facts speak for themselves. Maharishi School's record in every area has been stunning, she says. In 1997 students in grades 9-12 scored in the 99th percentile in the Iowa Tests of Educational Development, both nationally and in Iowa. The school has had a number of National Merit scholars. And every year, students win state and national competitions in sports, art, drama, math, science, spelling, and history. Even more important, the school's Consciousness-Based educational system turns out happy, well-adjusted, goal-oriented young adults.
Says Dr. Bevan Morris, Chairman of the Maharishi School Board, "Maharishi School is the greatest school on earth because it is the most enlightened school on earth. It brings waves of joy to Maharishi, and it is only natural that we would wish that every child in Fairfield and every child in the world should have such a liberating and evolutionary education. So we all fully support the efforts of Brenda and everyone working with her foundation to provide scholarships to all our dear children."
With the need for second semester scholarship funds coming up this month, donations are greatly needed--"large and small are welcome," says Narducci. "Remember, the children are our hope for fulfilling what we have begun. I think they deserve the opportunity to prepare to receive this torch and run fast with it."
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For more information, contact Brenda Narducci, Dharma Foundation, 102 South 23rd Street, Fairfield, Iowa 52556, or call (515) 472-6892.
