Members of the Stoddard Trust: Back row, (l to r): Robert Loring ’82, Justin Fletcher ’89, and Allen Fletcher ’65 Front row, (l to r): Valerie Stoddard Loring ’55, Jennifer King Paradee ’79, Judy Stoddard King ’52, and Warner Fletcher ’63
Established in 1939 by Harry Stoddard, President of the Wyman-Gordon Company, the Stoddard Charitable Trust is one of Worcester’s oldest and most prominent philanthropic groups. Harry’s son Robert W. Stoddard ’23— for whom the Outstanding Community Service award is named—went to Bancroft, as did his wife, Helen Estabrook Stoddard ’22. Their daughters, Judy Stoddard King ’52 and Valerie Stoddard Loring ’55, currently serve on the board of the Trust, and their cousin, Warner Fletcher ’63, is its Chairman. All of their children went to Bancroft, as have several grandchildren; members of the family have also served on Bancroft’s Board of Trustees. The Stoddards’ recent generous donation honors a shared excitement for Bancroft’s current leadership and its plans to improve several aspects of Bancroft’s facilities. Valerie nodded to Head of School Trey Cassidy: “There’s a renewed enthusiasm with our new headmaster and we’re all excited to support Trey. We’re excited about his vision and initiative, and everybody seems to be pleased with the way he’s taking hold,” she said. “We want Bancroft to be the best that it can be.” Valerie’s son Robert Loring ’82, also a current Trustee, agreed, adding that he hopes the gift will “support the vision of the Board and support Trey’s efforts. His energy and leadership are a great gift to the School, and we hope this gift is an inspiration to others to do what they can,” he said. Rob’s own daughters and son have attended Bancroft: Heather ’11, Greg ’13, and current senior Jackie ’16. Rob noted that while his parents and grandparents always led by example in their own philanthropic efforts, he has also noticed that it is a core aspect of his children’s experience at Bancroft. “I think it’s a part of the Bancroft education, to instill the drive and the passion to give back. It was true four generations ago and it’s only strengthened since
then, the way Bancroft teaches students the importance of being good citizens and doing for others,” he said. “At a place like Bancroft, there’s a personal connection between parents, children, faculty, and the administration that is not found as easily in larger institutions,” Warner Fletcher added. Though of course Bancroft has grown and changed since his grandparents’ day, each generation of Stoddards has been keen to give back to the School. “Everybody on the Trust had good experiences at Bancroft, and that certainly factored into the decision to give this grant. That’s the way giving works—if your heart is in the organization that is asking for help, it’s easier to dig a little deeper,” he said. The Stoddard Charitable Trust has a long history of philanthropy across the Worcester community, where many members of the family continue to live. “The focus, by agreement of the Trustees, is very much on the city of Worcester and its surrounding towns. We support cultural and educational organizations and social service agencies,” Warner noted, including the Worcester Art Museum, WPI, Quinsigamond Community College, ArtsWorcester, and the Boys & Girls Club, among many others. Warner estimates that in its 75-year history, the Stoddard Charitable Trust has donated over $5 million to Bancroft; this recent gift is by far the largest. An earlier gift in 1994 was an integral part of the Second Century Campaign, which included major renovations to what is now the Stoddard Center. The building was dedicated in 1995 in recognition of the family’s loyalty to the School. That loyalty, each family member was quick to note, stems from their own fond memories of their time at Bancroft and the ties they formed here. As Valerie said, “I’m always saying to my kids, I sometimes wish I could start over because I just love school! And that started at Bancroft.”
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