News

Nation’s first girls’ secondary school surpasses $175 million goal ahead of schedule

Our Fall 2024 campaign newsletter highlights giving toward all six priorities of the Infinite Horizon campaign. We hear from donors on what inspired them to give in each area and get a glimpse into the construction of the Alice Dodge Wallace ’38 Center for the Performing Arts. 

A generous gift has been made to Infinite Horizon: The Campaign for Emma Willard School by the estate of Joyce Wyman Hyde ’42, her daughter Peg Hyde Wachtel ’72 and her granddaughter Sarah Hyde ’05. The Hyde Family’s roots run deep at Emma Willard with three generations of alumnae joining together (one posthumously) to support this most important faculty housing initiative. 

A commitment of $5 million has been made to the Infinite Horizon campaign by Vicky Thompson Winterer, Class of 1961, to reimagine Emma Willard’s faculty and staff housing. The project is anticipated to include two phases and the first will add 10 new dwellings to the northwest corner of campus.

In recognition of her 50th Reunion, Betts Howes Murray ’73 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.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Gifford Gross ’72 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 deeply-held 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.

We caught up with Trustee Karen Brifu-Lacy ’04 to gain insight into what keeps her connected to Emma Willard School, and what inspired her unrestricted giving to the Infinite Horizon campaign.

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.

An Update from Campaign Co-Chairs Linda Gill Anderson ’77 and Wendy S. Graham ’85

Our Winter/Spring 2024 campaign newsletter highlights the impact of unrestricted giving and The Emma Fund. We hear from donors on what inspired them to give unrestricted gifts to sustain Emma Willard School into the future.

Sarah Goodwin Soule ’77 has made a generous contribution to the Infinite Horizon campaign to fund an endowed scholarship for students with demonstrated financial need. A former Alumnae Association Council member, Class Bulletin Reporter, two-time reunion chair, and 2022 recipient of the Service to Emma Willard Award, Sarah credits the inspiration for her philanthropy to her parents and her close friend Linda Gill Anderson ’77, co-chair of the Infinite Horizon campaign.

Kalisse Anderson and the power of participation.

Leigh Dean ’55 endows student opportunity fund with transformational bequest to Emma Willard.

A tireless advocate for all things Emma Willard, Michal Colby Wadsworth ’65 shares her love for her alma mater through her dynamic philanthropy. Active Honorary Trustee, chair emerita of The 1814 Association leadership giving society, and campaign steering committee member, she founded the student philanthropic club—Phila—so generations of students could experience the rewarding art of grantmaking.

A landmark gift of $3 million to the arts at Emma Willard will name the concert and community gathering hall within the Alice Dodge Wallace ’38 Center for the Performing Arts.

With an anticipated opening in the Fall of 2024, construction on the Alice Dodge Wallace '38 Center for the Performing Arts is well underway. Follow along for an inside look at the historic renovation and expansion of the Alumnae Chapel into a state-of-the-art hub for the arts at Emma Willard.

In recognition of her exemplary service to Emma Willard and her role as a builder of bridges and connections for the school, Lisa LeFort will be honored with the naming of the new glass atrium that joins the Alice Dodge Wallace '38 Center for the Performing Arts with Snell-Dietel-Maguire.

There have been many exciting developments at Emma Willard School since authoring our five-year strategic plan Leading with Purpose in October of 2021 and in the wake of the public launch of Infinite Horizon: The Campaign for Emma Willard School in May of 2022. Read on for a Q&A video from our Head of School Jenny Rao.

This fall saw the beginning of a year-long lineup of connection events, bringing alumnae, parents, and friends together to hear stories of student impact and details of the plans for Emma Willard School's future.

Emma Willard School today announced the public launch of a $175 million capital campaign that will support and strengthen the school’s commitment to girls’ education. 

Developing a shared vision for Emma Willard School began the day Head of School Jenny Rao arrived on campus. The work culminates in Leading with Purpose, our newly adopted strategic plan, designed to guide our school for the next five years.