The LSMSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to develop and manage resources that enhance the work of Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA). Each year on March 14, the LSMSA Foundation hosts a daylong giving challenge on “Pi Day,” a celebration of the mathematical constant π (or “pi”). Pi Day is observed on March 14 because 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant figures of pi. Early giving is underway now;
visit LSMSA.edu to make a gift before midnight on Friday, March 14.
“Every gift made on Pi Day will go to work immediately to help our Eagles soar,” said Michele Robinson, Executive Director of the LSMSA Foundation. “Just like pi, the collective impact of our alumni and friends is endless. I look forward to seeing our entire campus community – and beyond – come together during this 24-hour period of fun and fundraising.”
This year, the Foundation is introducing the Pi Society which honors donors who give $3,141.59 or more annually. Members of this new society will receive an exclusive gift acknowledging their loyalty through giving. Anyone who makes a one-time donation of $50 or more on Pi Day Giving Day—or makes a new or upgraded monthly recurring gift of $31.41 or more—will receive special Pi Day memorabilia from the LSMSA Foundation.
Fundraising activities planned for Pi Day 2025 include giving challenges for students, including the promise that the SGO President will “pie” LSMSA Executive Director Dr. Steve Horton if at least 50 LSMSA student philanthropists make a gift of any size. Several instructors at LSMSA plan to incorporate the mathematical concept of pi into their lesson plans on March 14. Various types of pie will also be served around campus.
In 2024, the LSMSA Foundation’s Pi Day Giving Day raised a grand total of $77,255 from 319 gifts. Funds raised on Pi Day will support LSMSA students and faculty in pursuing educational and intellectual endeavors that go beyond a typical classroom experience. LSMSA Foundation funds have purchased the laboratory equipment and materials necessary to conduct advanced scientific research; provided direct financial assistance to students; covered licensing costs for theatre productions and the purchase of music, arts supplies, and costumes; purchased volleyball equipment; provided assistance to pay for college campus visits and transportation; and covered the registration fees, travel, and lodging expenses associated with conferences and academic competitions.
ABOUT LSMSALSMSA is a tuition-free, public high school for high-achieving sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a nominal room and board fee to cover housing, meals, and campus activities. The LSMSA Foundation offers assistance for families so that no eligible student is denied the school’s 42-year legacy of a college-level living/learning experience. For more information about LSMSA, or to apply for the upcoming academic school year, visit
www.LSMSA.edu.