1994
2006
2008
2013
Mr. Greer’s daughter
Mr. Greer is one of
Mr. Greer is elected
The endowment
graduates from Deerfield
six trustees on the Head of
Board president
reaches an all-time
School Search Committee
David Thiel; Jim Gipe
speak for themselves: Over the past two-and-a half years, the Gap Campaign has raised roughly $4.3 million from parents. Then there is Imagine Deerfield, which Mr. Greer chaired in its first year. So far, the campaign has raised $175 million, and is on track to raise $200 million. It’s worth noting that nearly 20 percent of all the major gifts to Imagine Deerfield have come from Asia. This huge rise in contributions from that part of the world can largely be attributed to Mr. Greer’s vision—with, he is quick to point out, the help of David Pond, Dr. Curtis, Trustees Tay Cho and Stanford Kuo, parents, and alumni in Asia. Mr. Greer has long known the value of a global perspective. He has been raising money in Europe for his firm since the 1970s, and watched Federal Express expand across Asia. When he became president of Deerfield’s Board, he also became the first president to travel to China on behalf of the Academy. Mr. Greer now makes at least one trip annually, along with Mr. Pond and Dr. Curtis. They meet with prospective students and their families, hold fundraising events, and check in with Deerfield’s Asian Council—a group of 14 parents and alumni from five countries— who function as a remote board—another one of Mr. Greer’s initiatives.
high of $472 million
“The schedule is packed,” says Trustee Stanford Kuo, who frequently travels with Mr. Greer, “and it’s all for Deerfield. In Asia, he’s not your typical guy from the US, from Greenwich. He knows the nuances, knows what a Chinese family is looking for.” Dr. Curtis notes that for many families in China, boarding school is a new concept, but Mr. Greer is able to make a compelling case for Deerfield because “he talks about his personal experience. He can talk about his daughter’s experience in ’90s, and then he can give pertinent, current information about what it’s like to be at Deerfield now, because he has a grandson who graduated last spring and one who is a sophomore.” Mr. Greer’s tenure hasn’t been without challenges. “It’s a great thing to lead in good times,” says Jeff Louis, “but it’s difficult when the financial situation gets tough.” Mr. Louis is referring, of course, to the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent endowment troubles. Mr. Greer had led Tulane University through a difficult restructuring post-Hurricane Katrina and knew that Deerfield had to act swiftly. He proposed cuts to the operating budget, placed the Imagine Deerfield campaign on hold, and worked with Dr. Curtis to manage morale.
I admire his integrity and his willingness to do the right thing even when he knows that it’s going to ruffle feathers—Dr. Curtis deerfield.edu
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