CampusNews
Volunteer Profile
Devoted to his School: Alex Millians ’86
Alex Millians, a member of the Class of 1986, and his wife, Mary,
Mary and Alex Millians with daughters Piper (left) and Olivia
Why do you feel it is important to be involved as a volunteer at Lovett? Volunteering is a no-cost way for me to give back to a school that has so profoundly informed the person I am today. It gives me a voice in helping shape the future of Lovett, to ensure that the experience I had is available to others.
How do you find the time to be so involved at Lovett? Quite frankly, you have to make the time. Time is a precious resource, and I try my best to focus my efforts on those things that matter most to me. I learned very quickly that you simply can’t do everything, so focusing on areas where you can make the most impact with your time is key.
What has been your favorite volunteer opportunity? One of my favorite volunteer opportunities was co-chairing the New Parent Campaign with my wife, Mary. It gave me my first “insider” view of how fundraising works at Lovett. It also gave me the opportunity to meet great volunteers who share a common
are the parents of two girls, Olivia, a Lovett first grader, and Piper, age 4. Alex is the chief operating officer for both Excellis Consulting Corporation and his firm SSA Resources, Inc. Mary also serves at SSA Resources, Inc., as the chief people officer. In their first year as Lovett parents, Alex and Mary served as the 2011–12 New Parent Campaign Chairs and on the Major Gifts Committee. Alex and Mary will continue their service to Lovett in 2013 as the vice chairs of the Decade Committee, a volunteer committee in support of Our Defining Decade: A Campaign for Lovett.
goal. It is important to help educate parents new to Lovett and to help new parents understand why financial support above and beyond tuition is key to our continued success.
Why is it important to contribute to Lovett financially? The reality is that tuition alone does not cover the annual operating expenses. Without financial support above and beyond tuition, the school would literally fall apart. So, donating to the Annual Fund helps make up the gap from an operating perspective, and donating to capital campaigns helps ensure that Lovett continues to grow, evolve, and prosper. One of the big “a-ha” moments for me during this current campaign was the importance of participation—you may not be able to move the needle very far yourself, in an absolute sense, but the more people from the Lovett community who donate, in any capacity, the more likely outside funds from foundations will find their way to Lovett, creating a great multiplier effect.
What do you say to other parents to encourage them to invest their time, talent, and treasure? We, as parents, have entrusted Lovett to help nurture our children, and it’s only fitting that we, as parents, do what we can to help that effort. As a parent, investing in Lovett is investing in your children. It’s really that simple.
Describe your Lovett experience and what Lovett has meant to your family. I was a 14-year student at Lovett, and both my brother, Phillip, and sister, Elizabeth, spent the majority of their educational journeys at Lovett. My parents were also very involved with Lovett. I remember Headmaster Allan Strand coming over for dinners in the 1970s, and my mother was very involved with, and ultimately presided over, the Mothers Club (now the LPA). Ultimately, because of the investment my parents made for my siblings and me, I’m happy to make that same investment for my own children today.
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