Winter/Spring 2024 Infinite Horizon Campaign Newsletter

INFINITE HORIZON

CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER

Every Gift Matters

An Update from Campaign Co-Chairs

Linda Gill Anderson ’77 and Wendy

S. Graham ’85

Inspired. Proud. Energized. Humbled. Grateful. These are a few of the emotions we’ve experienced while traveling the country (and logging on) to engage alumnae, parents, and friends. We are moved by the outpouring of support for our Infinite Horizon campaign and have experienced such joy in being part of this transformational fundraising effort!

Faculty are energized by new academic programs and opportunities for curricular innovation, and they will soon benefit from new faculty housing. Our students are thriving and proud to be a part of a community where growth is happening before their eyes, seeing the Alice Dodge Wallace ’38 Center for the Performing Arts take shape, both inside the former chapel and in a subterranean annex with dance studios, an orchestra practice room, and a studio theatre.

Gifts to the campaign (including more first-time donations than ever before) have afforded access to an Emma Willard education to more girls from around

CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

CO-CHAIRS

Linda Gill Anderson ’77

Wendy S. Graham ’85

HONORARY CO-CHAIRS

Susie Hunter ’68

Vicky Thompson Winterer ’61

JoAnne Als, MD ’78

Kalisse Anderson, JD ’97

Kathie Berry ’53 P’76 ’81

Julie Massry Knox ’98

Elisabeth "Lisa" Allen LeFort ’72

the country and the world, and philanthropy has facilitated much-needed preservation of the buildings on our breathtaking campus. Our community is being strengthened through expanded student wellness programs and additional counselors; weekly writing workshops and guest poets are being welcomed in the Starzinger Writing Center; and our athletic fields are now adorned with new scoreboards.

At the halfway point of this five-year effort, we see the impact of every gift on our beloved Emma community. Witnessing your philanthropy in action is magnificent! Still, we have big dreams for continued excellence, and our progress is only possible with your continued support. Your gifts will fulfill unmet needs and secure the future of our school and girls’ education. A gift of any amount that is meaningful to you matters and motivates the entire Emma Willard community to continue delivering the exceptional education we experienced and wish for generations of girls to come.

Sally Klingenstein Martell ’85

Diane Wynne Mercer ’61

Betts Howes Murray ’73

Megan Toohey Scremin ’00

Rev. Cyndi Skripak ’78

EMPLOYEES

Ann Dejnozka

Evangeline Delgado

Meg McClellan

Luke Meyers

Jenny Rao

Championing The Emma Fund

As champions of the Emma Willard School’s annual giving program, the co-chairs of The Emma Fund are key strategic partners in connecting donors with the mission of the school. They serve on the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees as advocates for The Emma Fund, placing them in the middle of conversations around support for the priorities of the Infinite Horizon campaign.

JENNY PLANE ’82

Jenny’s life and work have always centered on teaching, learning, and caregiving; she says her career is best represented by a patchwork crazy quilt. She has taught high school French and elementary school art. Jenny has sold college textbooks and ghostwritten a textbook for home health aides. She has substituted and assisted in classrooms at all age levels. As a volunteer, she has coordinated early literacy programs, parent-led art classes, and fundraising efforts. Jenny chose to stay home while her two sons, now aged 26 and 27, were in elementary and middle school. As a student at Emma, Jenny was editor of The Clock and sang in the Choir and Inner Choir with the beloved Mr. Russell Locke. She is still very connected to her classmates, rallying the Class of 1982 to gather often and serving as their Bulletin Reporter.

ARIANA GADD ’00

Ariana Gadd '00 is a human resources professional, having spent the last 12 years working in various industries like film and television, emergency response, and architecture. She has served in HR departments for global companies and has collaborated with teams across the US, UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, China, and Asia Pacific. She took a career break in 2016 to get her MBA from Trinity College, Dublin. Prior to working in human resources, she began her career at Emma Willard in the Advancement Office. She is thrilled to be back supporting her alma mater. Ariana loves to travel and has spent time abroad volunteering in South Africa. She has an AB in human development from the University of Chicago. She and her fiancé, Brandon, split their time between the city life of Los Angeles, California and rural farm life in Watertown, South Dakota.

We are thrilled to announce that, based on the outpouring of support from alumnae, parents, faculty, staff, and friends, our Infinite Horizon campaign total is now

$162,755,839

GOAL: $175,000,000

84%

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

89%

ADVANCE THE ARTS

39%

95%

Goal: $40 million & ACCESS

Goal: $40 million

Goal: $40 million

51%

Goal: $20 million

Goal: $20 million

41%

Goal: $15 million

Beyond Buildings

Betts Howes Murray ’73 and F. Wisner Murray

In recognition of her 50th Reunion, Betts Murray and her husband Wisner have provided a gift of unrestricted support to Infinite Horizon: The Campaign for Emma Willard School. Betts and Wisner have each served in leadership roles at prestigious private high schools, noting the way these experiences have shaped their belief in the importance of unrestricted funds.

“I’ve had the privilege to volunteer for my own alma mater, including as head of the alumni association and as a trustee, and you learn many important things about running an institution that way,” explains Wisner, who attended Brooks School. “Perhaps the most important thing you learn is just how crucial flexibility is when it comes to funding, which may run counter to what most people expect but we’ve learned it to be true.”

Betts currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Emma Willard, following nine years as a trustee at St. George’s School, and reinforces the same point as Wisner: there are always urgent organizational needs without immediate resources to address them.

“I can see the appeal to have one’s name on a building or over a classroom and, let me say, support like that is fantastic and necessary. However, of equal necessity are septic systems—we don’t often have folks lining up to slap their name on one of those!”

With her customary sense of humor on display, Betts goes on to elaborate that being a trustee is a privilege and one that prompted her to weigh the “fiduciary responsibility” of the role.

“For us, this was a real commitment and hopefully reflects the fact that Emma Willard is a top philanthropic interest. What the school stands for and the opportunity it offers young women is so crucial, so my 50th Reunion proved the perfect milestone to mark with our support.”

Since graduating, Betts has supported educational institutions through her professional endeavors as well, working at Brown University after completing her BA in History there. After earning her JD at Boston College Law School, Betts practiced law with two law firms in Boston and later administered rowing and sailing programs at Duxbury Maritime School and Cohasset Maritime Institute.

Betts and Wisner live in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, having renovated a home on Padanaram Harbor that has been in Betts’ family for several generations. They are passionate about preserving the natural world on display around them, supporting conservation efforts and causes that impact environmental sustainability.

“We are so appreciative for everything we have, we really treasure the changing seasons and enjoy the passing of every day; what a gift.”

FROM THE HEART

KAREN BRIFULACY ’04

How has your experience at Emma Willard influenced the person you are today?

I am confident and have an awareness of self that has really been a great part of my success, and I owe that to my experiences at Emma.

What is unchanging about Emma?

Shared traditions are what keeps the students bonded over decades. We all know what they are, how we felt, and the roles we played.

What inspired your unrestricted gift to the Infinite Horizon campaign?

Being on the Board, I have an appreciation of the maintenance and projects that will evolve the Emma campus and continue to keep Emma as a top school, and I want to ensure that my funding can be used where we see the most need.

What inspires your leadership and service to Emma?

I have always sought out opportunities to pave the way forward for my fellow Emma alum or current students since graduating Emma. It started out with mentoring students and playing the role of the Giving Chair for Reunion, then joining the AAC, and now serving on the Board of Trustees. This is how I stay connected to an institution that is important to me.

What is the importance of our school's mission?

Continuing to build the next wave of women leaders that are not afraid to lead from whatever seat they choose in the world.

What do you see on the horizon for Emma Willard?

I am excited that over time students will get to experience an evolved Emma. Giving allows for the school to transform its technology, physical space, educational resources, and so much more; I am humbled that I get to continue to be a part of this evolution along with many others who give.

Left: Betts and her classmates revel in the celebration during their 50th Reunion Parade of Classes.

Above: Betts and Wisner in Alaska while visiting their daughter.

Giving UnrestRIcted

Elizabeth "Betsy" Gifford Gross ’72 and David Gross

Betsy and David Gross have profoundly impacted Emma Willard School with an unrestricted gift to the Infinite Horizon campaign. Their generous philanthropic support reflects an understanding of Emma Willard's operational needs, a deeplyheld belief in the transformative power of girls’ education, and strong confidence in the school’s leadership to direct the funding where it's needed most.

Betsy has served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2017, leveraging her long career in accounting to support the crucial work of the Finance and Audit Committee. Throughout her time on the Board, Betsy has witnessed first-hand the many unmet financial requirements of Emma Willard.

“As finance chair, I’ve seen the school’s operational needs in a way that is, understandably, not apparent to everyone in the day-to-day,” explains Betsy of the inspiration for their gift. “We had significant costs related to COVID; there are pressing campus preservation projects; we need assessments to plan for faculty housing effectively—the list is long, and there isn’t always money on hand not already earmarked for other, high-profile efforts. So, I’m very pleased to have our support go to these areas of equally urgent need.”

David Gross, a former ambassador for the US State Department, is similarly steeped in the importance of educating the next generation of world leaders. He notes that his desire to support Emma

“While each person has a different story or experience from their time at Emma, we share this passion to never stop learning. It really is a lifelong pursuit for all of us!”

FROM THE HEART

ELLEN BRAESTRUP

STRICKLER ’53

Willard in this way has been informed by years of international travel, having observed the state of global educational opportunities for girls and women.

“I am absolutely convinced of the importance of a well-rounded education for young people—and especially young women—in terms of the impact on the global community,” shares David. “However, the gap in opportunity for women in the developing world is, in many ways, still as large as it has ever been. When you consider the kind of international student body that Emma Willard now has, those graduates are like seeds cast across the globe, and they will no doubt germinate into something very important.”

Outside of their busy professional lives, Betsy and David continue to travel extensively in the US and around the world. Much of their travel is planned around their shared passion for scuba diving, which they describe as a “nearly fanatical obsession” with exploring underwater locales.

Betsy notes that her local chapter of Emma Willard alumnae, the “DC Emmies,” has also helped her maintain strong ties with fellow alumnae across many generations. “We have people in our group who are in their 80s right down to recent graduates, and while each person has a different story or experience from their time at Emma, we share this passion to never stop learning. It really is a lifelong pursuit for all of us.”

A board member, committee chair, fundraiser, leader, and recipient of the Service to Emma Willard Award, Ellen Strickler ’53 has shown a lifetime commitment to her school. “I had to persuade my parents that going to boarding school was something I really wanted to do,” Ellen recalls. “At my previous school, I felt I had been labeled as an occasional troublemaker, with my father being called in once by the headmistress to discuss my behavior. My antics were pretty tame in today’s context, but perceptions of students are always hard to change. I somehow knew that a fresh start and the ability to remake my profile were important in aiming for a selective college.”

Ellen was editor of The Clock and remembers her time on Mount Ida fondly. “Emma Willard expanded my horizons with students from different parts of the US and a new familiarity with upstate and western New York,” she shares. “The correlated curriculum presented an educational framework that still makes sense. I enjoyed our trips to the Troy Music Hall, the RPI Saturday ice skating program, and outside speakers.”

From alumnae activities to Board participation, she has been inspired to stay connected. “Adolescence is an important period for a girl to get through successfully, and my Emma Willard experience gave me confidence that helped in the rest of my life’s journey,” she says. “My friendships made at Emma Willard have lasted; even now, a few of my classmates are planning to reconnect in Santa Barbara in April for another mini-reunion.”

A longtime leader and partner in support of the entire Emma Willard community, Ellen has made unrestricted giving her priority. “I think if you believe in an institution, your contributions should go to the practical ways of sustaining its future,” she explains. “Therefore, unrestricted giving is usually my preferred way of supporting this belief.”

Left: Betsy and David Gross, photographed by their son Robbie Gross

ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LEGACY OF THE WALLACE CENTER WITH A GIFT OF $500 per seat

The Willard Family

Elaine And Arthur Kelton, Jr. '61

more than just a place to sit

Class of 1995

Each seat in the Alice Dodge Wallace ’38 Center for the Performing Arts represents a life that is touched by the Emma Willard experience.

To make a gift, scan the QR code, contact the Office of Advancement at 518-833-1831, or visit: infinitehorizon.org/seats

We invite you to be a part of that experience by giving a gift of $500 to the Wallace Center, which will be recognized on nameplates placed on the back of the padded benches that make up the fixed seating in the Klingenstein Concert Hall.

Named seats are limited. Don't miss this opportunity to leave your legacy in this breathtaking space!