BERIC AND DIANE FARMER Making the world a better place
PC. It was many years where we supported where we could, attending events like the Holiday Home Tour. I did struggle with donating to PC when there are so many important causes. My thinking tied into the philosophy of PC—the sense that Pickering College is sending out a lot of graduates into the world with the mindset of trying to make the world a better place. It is possible that the benefits that the world sees from the donation that you give to Pickering College may be delayed by a few years, but it Beric credits Diane with first becoming immersed in school life is also possible that your giving is multiplied by the fact that all at PC when Chris began Junior School. The positive experience these students are going out into the world with those values and that mindset. One of those students Chris had his first few years at PC meant could go on to help thousands of people Jenna soon followed “without a backward or hundreds of thousands of people. It glance the first day I dropped her off,” “We are collectively seems like a very worthy cause.” chuckles Beric. Diane quickly became drawn to give because involved in the Pickering College Association Beric and Diane have recently made a (PCA) including school activities such as we fundamentally substantial gift that will help initiate the Carnaval, and fundraising events like the Green Fund to support environmental Holiday Home Tour. She points to her time as believe in the mission projects at the school, a Parent Rep, reaching out to other parents and values of the school, sustainability starting with elements of the new and chatting with families during drop-off academic building. Such elements in and pick-up when their kids were young, as are inspired by the the building’s early designs caught the key to building friendships. talented and dedicated attention of both Beric and Diane. As the project progressed, Beric, as a member “The highlight of my time as a volunteer staff, and believe in the of the board, learned how sustainable was really getting to know other parents incredible potential of the elements are often eliminated from and getting to know the staff really well. building projects as costs inevitably need It was so clear how much the teachers students. We do this for to be trimmed. “I was inspired by (fellow really get to know the individual students, understand them, and care about every them, and for the better board member) Patrick Turner and his passion for sustainability. He made the child.” Both Diane and Beric have been world they will build.” point that sustainability should not be involved as volunteers over the years. Beric optional. That truly resonated with me. currently sits on the Board of Directors –Beric Farmer Our children need to see that we live and has been a member of various board according to the values we teach them.” committees. His background in business and technology as the co-founder of XE.com has made him an invaluable resource to the school, including on the Digital The Farmers believe the PC commitment to global citizenship is urgently needed in the world and feel fortunate to be able Transformation Committee and Strategy Committee. to contribute as donors. In coming full circle, Diane points out “The biggest factor in improving educational outcomes is the that contributions to Pickering College come in all forms—and engagement of parents. Perhaps the philosophy of Pickering those who contribute their time and money are all helping to College attracts people who want to be highly engaged. support the school and students. Certainly, everyone we have met has been really easy to like! Beric regards their family’s giving to Pickering College as being There is a strong sense of community that we appreciate.” in support of what they believe is a very good cause. “There are The Farmer family have also become generous donors, so many who give generously and each and every contribution supporting the school increasingly over the years. Beric lifts the school up and sustains and enriches the wonderful PC shares how they gradually made PC an important part of their community. I believe we are collectively drawn to give because we fundamentally believe in the mission and values of the philanthropy. school, are inspired by the talented and dedicated staff, and “I remember getting the welcome letter and finding out that believe in the incredible potential of the students. We do this tuition does not cover the complete cost of students attending for them, and for the better world they will build.” For many Pickering College families, enrolling their children can be the beginning of lifelong friendships, not just for their children, but for the entire family. Such was the case for the Farmer family, who like many, felt a strong sense of community from when their children first started at PC. Now graduates, Chris Farmer ‘17, and Jenna Farmer ‘20 benefited from an excellent education and built lifelong friendships for themselves at PC.
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