Challenge Gift Enabling Fenn to Build Financial Aid Program A very ex citi n g g if t opp or tu n i ty
is enabling Fenn to make significant advances in its vital financial aid
program. The Manton Foundation last summer offered a Challenge to build the School’s endowment for needbased financial aid. The Challenge came with an outright grant of $500,000 and a commitment to contribute an additional $500,000 if Fenn raises the matching funds. The challenge comes “at a fortuitous time,” said Headmaster Jerry Ward. “One of the overarching goals of the School’s current Strategic Plan calls for Fenn to broaden and support the socio-economic diversity of its student body by providing for the necessary need-based financial aid funding to enroll well-matched boys of diverse backgrounds.” The Manton Foundation was founded by the late Sir Edwin and Lady Manton, grandparents of Fenn parent Julia Krapf, a trustee of The Manton Foundation. The Foundation has supported art museums, libraries, education, medical research in the fields of biomedical engineering and genetics, historical preservation, land conservation, and equine causes, mostly in New England. Among those who have benefitted from Manton Foundation gifts are The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, and a number of area public and independent schools and colleges. A long-term believer in Fenn as a parent and a trustee, Julia observes that a key strength of the School is that Fenn faculty work as a team to create a challenging curriculum. “It’s interesting to me how much our teachers understand boys, who can be so wiggly at this stage. Our teachers like teaching boys, and that is important.” Julia said that she’s seen first-hand “what Fenn can do for its students and how they blossom here.” Her
sons Alaric and Conrad are Fenn alumni; Alaric ’12 just completed his freshman year at Yale and Conrad graduated in June and is headed to St. Mark’s School. As steward of this gift for The Manton Foundation, Julia states, “In 2015, we decided to emphasize support for financial aid to a number of our core education partners, including Fenn. Access to high quality education is so important.” Jerry heartily agrees and stated, “I can’t conceive of a purpose more important and central to the advancement of Fenn’s mission and Fenn’s future as a school than endowing for financial aid. The gift from The Manton Foundation and the corresponding support of the Fenn community to meet the $500,000
matching challenge will help Fenn ensure that the School enrolls talented and deserving boys from a range of economic circumstances. The boys receiving funding will have their lives changed by Fenn and all Fenn boys will collectively benefit from their presence as they enrich the composition and talents of the entire student body. Fenn is deeply grateful to The Manton Foundation for its generosity and vision in advancing the School’s mission in this crucial way.” If you would like to participate in this wonderful and important challenge, please contact Director of Advancement Verónica Jorge-Curtis at VjorgeCurtis@fenn.org.
Percentage of Fenn Students on Financial Aid Percentage of Students on Financial Aid 18.0% 16.0% 14.0% 12.0% 10.0% 8.0%
9.0%
10.0% 8.0%
15.5% 14.0% 13.0% 13.0% 12.0% 12.0% 12.0% 11.0% 11.0%
8.0%
6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0%
2004 04 05 2006 06 07 2008 08 09 2010 10 11
2012 12 13
2014 14 15 2016 16
Of 30 Boston area elementary and middle schools reporting, the mean s u mmer
46154.indd 29
2016 29
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