 In
February, I had the pleasure of joining alumni in Dallas and Houston
to celebrate the final regional events of Campaign Andover. As you
might suspect, these Texas gatherings were warm and welcoming. They
offered a memorable finale to the 17 events held around the country,
as well as in London and Hong Kong, since we launched the campaign
on campus in April 1999. The Houston event was capped by a visit by
former President George Bush ’42, honorary campaign chair, whose
appearance was a pleasant surprise for the scores of loyal alumni
and parents who attended.
It seemed particularly fitting that these events took place in Texas,
the home state of Phillips Academy Board of Trustees President and
Campaign Andover Chairman David Underwood ’54. David has contributed
more of his time and energy in securing the future of Andover than
any of us can ever truly appreciate or thank him for. Under his leadership,
the campaign with its many volunteers and contributors had received
gifts and pledges of $187 million by the end of March, the largest
campaign total ever raised by an independent school.
Throughout my travels on behalf of the campaign, alumni and parents
tell me they are heartened to know that Andover is doing the important
work it has always done. We do our best to prepare our students to
live good and useful lives—not only by transmitting information
and teaching them skills, but by continuing to explore what it means
to teach them goodness and knowledge. By providing new scholarships
and higher faculty salaries, new and renovated facilities, up-to-date
technology and a bolstered endowment, Campaign Andover has strengthened
every aspect of our program. Not surprisingly, we have been experiencing
a steadily growing student-admission yield, which rose to 74 percent
this fall, higher than any of our peer institutions. But our work
is not finished. If we are to achieve all the campaign objectives
we set out for ourselves, millions more must be raised. It is our
hope to conclude our work by June 30.
Recently an alumnus wrote to me and posed the question, “With
so many compelling causes seeking financial support, why should I
give to Andover?” It is a fair question and one I am pleased
to answer. Certainly, each of us has different motivations for philanthropy,
but I approach it this way: In a universe of need, I support a number
of causes and institutions, but especially those with which I feel
a special bond, to which I feel indebted, and through which I see
the opportunity to make the world a better place. I also believe that,
from a global perspective, it makes sense to try to develop the most
creative, well-led and responsible citizenry in this country. In that
context, Phillips Academy, as small as it is, has always played a
significant role. A private institution with a public purpose, Andover
has educated generations of alumni who have gone on to do great things
in the world, who care about humanity and who give tremendously of
themselves to help others.
This quintessentially American institution, born in the crucible of
the American Revolution, founded on the principal of educating youth
from every quarter and with the motto of non sibi, not for self, exists
today because of the vision and generosity of those whose lives it
has touched. If you have not yet joined us in supporting the work
of Campaign Andover, we invite you to do so. With the collective support
of its alumni and parents, anything is possible for Andover.
—Barbara Landis Chase
Head of School |
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