SPARK Campaign Co-chairs Pete and Julia Lloyd Johannsen ’93 and family
In our house, the energy shifts following Spring Break. We feel a renewed sense of optimism, positivity, and fun as the final months of the school year quickly unfold. We look forward to May Day, SpringFest, Alumni Reunion, and the other traditions that bring Parkies together in community. This year, we are particularly excited for this special time for two reasons: COVID has kept us apart for too long and The SPARK Campaign offers us the chance to bring our community closer together while raising the funds that will allow Park’s next generation to thrive.
3… 2… 1… The SPARK Match for Community & Belonging!
We hope you’ve seen the exciting announcement about this year’s Giving Day initiative, The SPARK Match for Community & Belonging. Your gift to the Fund for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and/or the Fund for Educational Testing will help Park unlock $500,000 in matching funds! It’s no accident that the Match was offered for these elements of the campaign. For Park to be the school we want it to be, it is essential that the School’s DEI initiatives are fully resourced and that students who need it have access to educational testing. Remember, the earlier you give, the bigger your impact!
Participating in a capital campaign is an exciting opportunity, no matter what. Campaigns provide us with the inspiring opportunity not only to build the school we want for our children, but also to make a promise to the children and families of the future, just as families of the past have done for our children through their visionary planning and funding. SPARK is particularly meaningful because it’s not just about funding; it’s about creating a community where all community members know they belong. The success of this campaign will be measured not only by the dollars raised, but also by how each of us feels as we work together to reach the goal, and how much a part of the effort we feel at the finish line. We hope you will join us in participating in this campaign in any way that you can.
Click here to learn more about the impact of these endowed funds.
Fireside Chats
Families, please watch Friday Notes and your inboxes for more information about Fireside Chats taking place this spring in the Outdoor Learning Garden. Come together with Head of School Scott Young and fellow current families to learn more about The SPARK Campaign and the plans for Park’s future. We look forward to welcoming alums and other friends of Park for a fireside chat this summer.
Welcoming SPARK Campaign Co-chair Susanna Whitaker Waters ’99
We join fellow co-chairs Lesley and Harold Miller P’26 in enthusiastically welcoming Susanna Whitaker Waters ’99 to the leadership of the campaign. A highly engaged Park alumna and established independent school leader, Susanna is uniquely suited to join us in this work for Park’s future. Susanna currently serves as the Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs at Brooks School, and is pursuing a MEd in Private School Leadership at Columbia University Teachers College. Susanna’s graduate work focuses on reimagining educational spaces in support of student learning – exactly what The SPARK Campaign aspires to achieve!
