Message from the Chair of the Board

With great pleasure, I am writing to report on The Harvey School’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. This year, which began with the theme of gratitude, has taken a series of twists and turns that none of us ever could have imagined was coming.

I have never been more grateful to be part of this community than I have this year. We embraced the challenges and are coming through them stronger and wiser.

I am grateful for Bill Knauer, the senior leadership team, and faculty and staff, who have navigated this year with nimbleness and grace. I am grateful for my fellow board members who have risen to the call by sharing their time, talent, and treasure to ensure that our students have what they need to be successful. And, I am grateful for all of you and the support you have provided the school through this unprecedented year.

Last fall, we asked you to focus on the Annual Fund so that our extraordinary faculty could continue to innovate and bring meaningful programs to our students. Little did we know that the innovation would be about using cameras and Zoom to bring synchronicity to an asynchronous world — teaching remotely. We asked our senior families to help us continue the planning of our new welcome center in the Weil House & Barn Complex, pushing our fundraising over the $2 million mark. We completed the year asking you again to help us not just survive but thrive in the face of COVID-19. And, you did. You brought your passion and energy to our annual Parent Association benefit and raised your paddles in support of our remarkable community.

Every gift is important to Harvey’s success. But, I want to recognize a small but growing group within our community for which I am particularly grateful. Our Chair’s Circle members have generously given $7,500 or more this year. These gifts form the bedrock of our fundraising and provide us the means to continue to support the Harvey way. Donors at this level turn dreams into reality, from cutting-edge technology to strengthening robust programs. These gifts ensure that our community remains growth-oriented, innovative, creative, and always focused on the individual.

This year has been a blur. But, when I look back on this year of gratitude, I am truly grateful to all of you who continue to make dreams come true for all of our students.

With gratitude,

Eileen Walker, Chair of the Board of Trustees