On Friday, September 22, The Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD) celebrated the school and its future at a community-wide event. More than 2,000 students, parents, alumni, and friends were present for the kickoff of ESD’s comprehensive campaign and the announcement of several leaders who have made significant gifts for top priorities for the independent school.
The announcements included lead gifts in support of the new Lower School facility to be relocated to the Merrell Road Campus, an endowment, and an annual fund challenge gift by an anonymous donor.
“ESD is extremely fortunate to have the support of local families whose leadership will encourage others to give generously,” Meredyth Cole, Head of School, said. “In addition, I am incredibly grateful for the tireless efforts of our campaign co-chairs, Nita Clark and Suzanne McGee, and our board chair, Don Carty. The forward-thinking philanthropy demonstrated by our volunteer leadership and our early donors is inspirational.”
A long-standing goal has been to bring ESD’s Lower School to the Merrell Road Campus. The Perot Family - Margot and Ross Perot, Sr.; Suzanne and Patrick McGee; Nancy and Rod Jones; Carolyn and Karl Rathjen; and Katherine and Eric Reeves, each who contributed $3,000,000, recognized the importance of this goal and together made the lead gift of $15 million.
Mrs. Margot Perot, speaking on behalf of the family, said, “My husband and I have been devoted to ESD since the days my four daughters attended the Lower School (then the St. Michael’s School). Subsequently 14 out of 16 of our grandchildren have attended ESD. They’ve all loved their years there. We have found that ESD has a rigorous curriculum and has prepared our grandchildren very well for college as well as graduate schools. I love the fact that it is an Episcopal school but welcomes children of all religious and ethnic backgrounds. The school emphasizes character building and citizenship, social awareness and responsibility. ESD has had a positive effect on the lives of our children.”
Katherine and Eric Reeves added, “ESD’s emphasis on the ‘whole child’ is particularly powerful to us. Nurturing a real-world collaboration between young men and women and 'igniting lives of purpose’ forms a solid foundation for our children. The joyful, positive environment at ESD launches graduates who enjoy a life-long love for learning and service to their community.”
Another ESD family stepped forward with a leadership endowment gift in support of facilities. Lisa and Kenny Troutt made an endowment gift of $1.5 million, designated for the field they funded several years ago. Upkeep and improvements for Troutt Field will be secured through this fund. Lisa and Kenny Troutt expressed the reason for their support, “Our three children have benefited greatly from all that ESD offers: rigorous academics, strong community, good athletic programs and an important faith element. We are excited to be a small part of ESD's future and their commitment to excellence in developing the whole student--body, mind, spirit, and character."
Recognizing the importance of annual gifts in supporting academic, arts, and athletic programs, an anonymous donor has stepped forward with a $250,000 challenge gift. This donor will match all new or increased annual fund gifts between $25 and $5,000, dollar for dollar, during this fiscal year. It’s a generous contribution to encourage families, alumni, grandparents, and friends to increase their annual fund gifts.
The School looks forward to sharing additional donor and family stories in the coming months.
About The Episcopal School of Dallas
A faith-centered, co-educational, college preparatory day school founded in 1974, The Episcopal School of Dallas prepares young men and women for lives of intellectual discovery, integrity, and purpose. The school educates and inspires approximately 1,150 students in Beginner (age 3) through grade 12. ESD graduates are shaped by the school’s signature programs, gifted faculty, and unwavering commitment to academic rigor and excellence, strong sense of community, understanding of self, and faith-informed foundation of values. For more information, please visit esdallas.org.