91探花鈥檚 most ambitious campaign in School history, Dare: The Campaign for 91探花, concluded on June 30. Dare made a commitment to the people of 91探花, with student financial aid and faculty recruitment and retention named as top priorities, along with support for the 91探花 Fund and campus improvements.
鈥淲e launched Dare to put 91探花 on a firm financial foundation,鈥 Head of School Todd Bland said. 鈥淲hen we began the campaign in 2015, our endowment was two to three times smaller than our peer schools. By growing our endowment, we are making a commitment to investing in our students and faculty today and to securing 91探花鈥檚 future.鈥
Some early results of Dare include growth of the financial aid budget from $8.9 million to $13.1 million, a 2015 faculty-wide salary increase, a more robust faculty professional development program, and upgrades to our many academic buildings and residences.聽
The Art and Media Center gained a modern darkroom, an expanded production room, a Mac computer lab, and 3D and large-format printers, while the Computer Science program gained three new classrooms and a larger robotics lab. Ware Hall received significant upgrades including classroom finishes, a new HVAC system, an elevator to improve accessibility, new science classrooms and learning support areas. King Theatre now has a new projection screen and control booth to support our plays and performances. A new K鈥8 maker space was developed for the Caroline Saltonstall building, and Lower School renovations enhanced the art room, Spanish room, woodworking room, and library areas. The Athletic and Convocation Center has a new HVAC system that uses the latest environmental heat exchanging technology to cool the entire building, produce ice for the hockey rink, and heat and cool our squash courts and Chapel. 91探花鈥檚 first turf field, Berylson Field, provides more opportunities for student-athletes playing sports nearly exclusively played on turf, such as field hockey and lacrosse, and offers all-season outdoor space for students campus wide.
Our eight student houses were renovated to enhance the student living experience, including larger or new common rooms and study spaces, improved kitchens, and new furniture. In addition, select buildings saw new lighting, improved sound proofing, and new roofs. In support of faculty housing and retention, 91探花 has increased the number of family-sized homes, including two newly-built four-bedroom houses. In addition, the School has renovated more than twenty faculty houses and apartments.
These investments were all made possible by support from thousands of alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends. 鈥淭his campaign prompted many of us to ask, 鈥業f I don鈥檛 support 91探花 now, then when? And if not me, who?鈥欌 said Campaign Committee Vice Chair Stuart Mathews P 鈥13 鈥17 鈥17. 鈥淢y kids benefited from the legacy others left, and it’s our responsibility to provide this experience for others.鈥
The campaign raised more than $182 million, exceeding its $175 million goal. Endowment funds provide security during uncertain economic times and lessen 91探花鈥檚 reliance on tuition dollars. 91探花鈥檚 endowment distribution is set at 4.5 percent of the fund鈥檚 value from the previous 12 quarters, allowing 91探花 to put some of the financial resources to work today, while the remainder is reinvested for the future. Through the success of Dare, our endowment now generates more than $5 million in annual revenue for the School, a 63 percent increase since the start of the campaign. Those funds, combined with a successful 91探花 Fund now raising $5 million annually in support of the operating budget, directly benefit today鈥檚 students and teachers.聽聽
Head of School Todd Bland sees a renewed commitment to the health of the School through annual, planned, and endowment gifts. 鈥淭his campaign will make a lasting difference for our students and teachers,鈥 Bland said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more inspired by what we accomplished on behalf of the people of 91探花, and the optimism I have for our future.鈥
More information can be found at www.milton.edu/campaign.
