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Class of 1971 Endowment Story
The Class of 1971, although unable to come together on campus to celebrate their 50th reunion, came together in other beautiful ways, through emails, phone calls and Zoom meetings, to re-engage with one another and with the School before, during and after their virtual reunion in 2021. Two of their classmates, Cassandra “Casey” Ward (now deceased) and Donna Williams, were the first two black graduates of Walker’s, and their 50th reunion coincided with the opening of the brand new Ward and Williams Center for Equity and Justice.
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“Over time there will be others who want to contribute to such a fund, but they can’t do that until we all come together to establish it.” —Cynny Smith Evanisko ’71
Eighth graders Zoom with members of the Class of 1971.
The class seized the moment to make a lasting impact on their alma mater by collectively making a gift to support the work of this center in perpetuity. They set — and exceeded — a lofty goal to reach the endowed fund threshold of $100,000. Some donors had never given to Walker’s; others had not given in years. Some made multi-year pledges; some made second reunion year gifts. The conversations with each other and with the School referenced the lifelong impact of their experiences at Walker’s and with their classmates.
“Helping to endow the Center was my way of giving back to Donna for what her presence motivated the School to teach, and how her inclusion of me, the lonely girl next door, made a difference.” —Susan Kinnear Neul ’71
L-R: Assistant Head of School for Student Life and Director of Social Justice and Inclusion Elisa Del Valle, Donna Williams ’71, and Head of School Dr. Meera Viswanathan in the Ward and Williams Center For Equity and Justice.
Established by the Class of 1971 during their 50th Reunion year to provide funds supporting the ongoing work of equity and justice at the School, and in honor of classmates Casey Ward and Donna Williams, the first Black graduates of the Ethel Walker School.
“You honor Casey and me, and I am so very grateful. It saddens me that Casey is not here to witness this auspicious moment, but if you visit the Center in Beaver Brook, you will know she is with us. I feel blessed to have been on this journey with all of you, my classmates at Walker’s.” —Donna Williams ’71
