TODAY AT BRECK
SUMMER 2013
Today a fourth generation of the family is on its own Breck journey, with their mother Kathy serving on the board of trustees. Kathy and her husband Joel are parents of three Breck lifers, Griffin ’16, Penny ’19 and Gabriella ’22. (Andy, who also served as a Breck trustee, has three children who attended Breck for several years.) “I’m sure they could both write a book about ‘growing up Anderson,’ ” their father smiles, noting that an ongoing relationship with Breck was clearly part of the routine.
An Unparalleled Level of Support Anderson’s success in business—as owner and chairman of 28
the Minnesota-based APi Group, Inc., a holding company with 37 affiliates and some 9,000 employees—has made it possible for him to be generous to causes that move him. “As we get older, we get smarter,” he reflects. “And we learn to make the most of our opportunities to influence the things we care about the most.” Varsity hockey players meet the namesake of their home ice.
He and Penny are particularly passionate about supporting education, children’s health, conservation education, and
Says Anderson, “Dad was the smartest man I ever met
veterans’ service organizations. In addition to being the
without a formal education.”
largest donors to Breck, they have also earned distinction for
Lee Anderson entered Breck in the fall of 1945. He spent eleven and a half years on the Como campus and his last semester on the then newly built school on the River Road. He remembers many of his teachers fondly and often reflects on the way he and his fellow students were treated with
their support of the University of St. Thomas and West Point. Anderson is currently funding the first three years of Hiring Our Heroes, a program launched by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to stage job fairs across the country to help returning veterans find work.
respect. (He also remembers the primary school on the hill,
But Breck continues to hold a special and enduring place in
the tiny gym, and a flowering red oak tree that distracted
his heart, and he is especially committed to providing gifts
him all through the spring of his second-grade year.)
that assist the school with issues of affordability. Maintain-
Anderson says it was important to have his father involved in the school, and so it was even more meaningful to have the
ing inclusivity, and a strong middle class, is crucial to preserving one of the school’s greatest distinctions, he says.
opportunity to repeat the pattern when his and his wife
“Diversity has been important to Breck throughout its
Penny’s children, Andy ’86 and Kathy ’88, enrolled as students.
history,” Anderson observes. “It was never a school just for
Marion Jones Kennon, longtime associate director of admissions and director of financial aid—and Kathy Anderson Groethe’s second-grade teacher—remembers well her own
the affluent but always attracted students from all backgrounds. And financial aid is the single most important way to maintain that distinction.”
introduction to the family: “I met Lee Anderson’s parents and
Says Kennon, “It is obvious that, at his father’s knee, Lee
children before becoming acquainted with him and his wife
learned well the meaning of caring, sharing and using
Penny. It was the River Road campus’ annual Sunday Open
personal resources for the benefit of others. Over my many
House for prospective families. Reuben and his wife accompa-
years at Breck, I have witnessed Lee’s commitment to paving
nied their grandchildren. Within five minutes of introductions,
the way for literally hundreds of academically qualified but
we were having light-hearted conversation about Breck,
economically disadvantaged students. And because of his
education and other varied topics while standing amongst the
selfless nature and amazing generosity they have been
desks. I remember Mr. and Mrs. Anderson as being very
afforded access to options for an enhanced life.”
unassuming and so easy to know. Reuben especially had a wonderful sense of humor and an infectious laugh. Of Andy and Kathy he said, ‘Try them, you’ll like them.’ ”
A Steadfast Vision for Breck Anderson says that this “very caring place” with its emphasis