Waterford Rises: Reaching New Heights 2023

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“Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul”.

– Niccolò Machiavelli

By Todd Winters, Assistant Head of School for Enrollment & Institutional Advancement From my office, I enjoy a view of the construction activity of the Science Center springing up, the first of four priorities of the Waterford Rises Capital Campaign.

Beam-by-beam and brick-by-brick, the Science Center rises. Historically, there were two earlier iterations of the Science Center which were to be constructed in 2007-08 and then again in 2014-15, but economic and other market conditions prevented the school from proceeding as planned.

At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I’m reminded of the Phoenix bird, an enduring mythological symbol. Steeped in ancient lore—the Phoenix bird is a powerful creature with the ability to rise from the ashes—a symbol of hope and renewal. Like the Phoenix rising, Waterford Rises. It rises due to a series of strategic initiatives undertaken by courageous and visionary leaders and the extraordinary generosity of donors who believe deeply in the school’s mission to provide a world-class liberal arts education that stimulates intellect, ignites passion, and shapes character.

Our strategic plan prioritizes an extraordinary student experience, teaching excellence, and financial sustainability. We launched Waterford Rises to build upon decades of excellence and amplify our tradition as a world-class liberal arts school. We set forth boldly to imagine the possibilities, invest in our vision, and inspire an exceptionally bright future for generations of Waterford students to come. To meet these strategic goals, the campaign was launched to secure philanthropic support for these priorities: •

Teaching Excellence - A new state-of-the-art Science Center

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Student Health & Wellness - A new Student Commons

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Enhance the Student Experience - A new Turf Field

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Student Access & Teacher Support - Expand the Endowment

Waterford Rises is the most significant campaign in our 40-year history. The only other capital campaign in the school’s history occurred in 1998-1999 to raise funds for the construction of the Fine Arts and Performing Arts buildings. That campaign raised a total of $4.8 million toward the total project cost of $9.5 million. We honor the leaders and families who helped build the Waterford we know and love today. Each of those leaders and families contributed knowing that generations of Waterford students would benefit from their immense generosity and trusted that families who followed would do the same to ensure Waterford remains a world-class educational institution. We honor and express enormous gratitude to every donor, volunteer, the Core Campaign Committee and Steering Committee, and the Board of Trustees, for embracing and supporting this aspirational effort.

While every gift contributed to Waterford Rises allows the school to execute the four campaign priorities, a new chapter of philanthropy at Waterford School has also been set in motion, and with the campaign’s remarkable momentum and success, the school is poised to execute its aspirational mission. This energized culture of philanthropy and the groundswell of support is evidenced, writ large, through the gifts made to support expanding the endowment—to increase access for deserving students through financial aid and scholarship assistance—making the promise of a Waterford education possible for more students. And teacher support in the form of expanded professional development resources, all while ensuring long-term financial health for our institution.

On behalf of the campaign leadership, I offer my deep appreciation and gratitude to each member of this community who joined Waterford in this most important work. Your commitment supports a truly transformational education and helps to shape our bold vision for the future.

As the sun sets on Waterford Rises and the campaign wraps up in the coming weeks, it is appropriate to highlight the campaign journey (opposite page), the impactful moments, and celebrate the monumental accomplishments that will forever change the lives of Waterford students and “stir the soul” for generations to come.

C ampa I gn T imeline

O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 Public Phase community solicitation begins S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 $26.5 Million has been raised A P R I L 2 0 2 2 Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Science Center along with the launch of the Public Phase of the campaign M A R C H 2 0 2 2 76 gifts donated to the campaign during the “Quiet Phase” W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 Okland Construction was selected as the contractor to construct the Science Center, Turf Field, and Student Commons.

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 EDA Architects selected to design the capital projects associated with Waterford Rises.

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 0 Waterford closes the campus to inperson learning due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Waterford Rises campaign was paused S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 M A R C H 2 0 2 0 Solicitation of Cornerstone and Leadership gifts S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 Waterford Rises officially launches the “Quiet Phase” S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 $20 Million campaign target proposed and approved by the Board of Trustees S P R I N G 2 0 1 9 Core Campaign and Steering Committee composed led by Stephen Miller, Chair and Kristin Stockham, Vice Chair.

E A R L Y 2 0 1 9 Feasibility study completed F A L L 2 0 1 8 The Campus Master Plan was refreshed to support our vision for teaching excellence and enhancing the students experience.

O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 Campaign target lifted from $27 Million to $30 Million S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 The $1 Million Miller Family Challenge announced - every dollar donated from September ‘22 forward will be matched by the Miller Family to double the impact of the gift.

M A Y 2 0 2 2 Science Center construction begins M A R C H 2 0 2 2 $25.5 Million has been raised, meeting the established benchmark to launch the “Public Phase” W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 Campaign target lifted from $24 Million to $27 Million

CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE M A Y 2 0 2 2 Science Center construction begins J U N E 2 0 2 3 Turf Field construction begins A U G U S T 2 0 2 3 Science Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Opening J U L Y 2 0 2 3 Student Commons construction begins N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 Turf Field Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Opening J U L Y 2 0 2 4 Student Commons Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Opening

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 The second $5 Million gift is donated F A L L 2 0 2 0 The Waterford Rises campaign resumes and regains momentum S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 Campaign target lifted from $20 Million to $24 Million S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 20 Cornerstone and Leaderships gifts have been donated to the campaign F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 The largest gift in the school’s history of $5 Million is donated S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 The first gift to the campaign is a Leadership Gift of $250,000 donated by a Waterford grandparent S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 The Case for Support is released identifying the campaign priorities, establishing the “why” of the campaign and highlighting the impact.

J U N E 2 0 1 9 Campaign Plan developed and adopted

by Core Campaign Committee S P R I N G 2 0 1 9 Capital campaign planning begins J U L Y 2 0 1 8 The Board of Trustees ratified and adopted the Strategic Plan (Waterford Rising) with its five major goals and initiatives.

CAMPAIGN SNAPSHOT As of December 2022 Total Gifts and Pledges: $ 2 7, 0 9 4 , 2 8 5 Percent raised toward $30M goal: 90.31 % Cornerstone Gifts ($1 Million and up): 10 Leadership Gifts ($100,000 up to $1 Million): 29 Campaign Champion Gifts: $50,000 up to $99,999

8

$25,000 up to $49,999

12

$10,000 up to $24,999

14

Community Gifts: $1,000 up to $9,999

41

up to $999

46

Total Gifts and Pledges:

160