Over graduation weekend this May, the parents and grandparents of Woodberry’s class of 2026 announced a gift that pays homage to Woodberry’s most important resource: its people.
Under the leadership of the Sixth-Form Parents’ and Grandparents’ Gift Committee and committee chairs Betsy and Knox Morrison ’94, 100 percent of the families from the class of 2026 contributed to the Endowment in Service of Staff and Faculty. The fund — totaling over $818,000 — will help ensure that the men and women who look after the boys are well cared for themselves.
“While we can all look around and appreciate that this place is second to none,” Knox said, “as a group we have made clear, too, that these people who serve the school are second to none. […] Class of 2026, as you leave this place, I hope you will always remember the words of ‘A Boy’s Prayer’ and what it asks of every Woodberry boy — gratitude, humility, courage, and a life lived in service to others.”
The Sixth-Form Parents’ and Grandparents’ Gift is in its twenty-third year and has raised more than $12 million for capital projects and endowed support since inception. The parent committee works with the school to identify a project that is within the scope of the school’s strategic plan, aligns with the personality of the class, and serves the school’s needs. The campaign presents an opportunity for parents to reflect on the growth of their sons at Woodberry and the bonds formed through the school’s community, and to recognize the generosity of those who preceded them. Each year the current sixth-form parents, in turn, step forward to do their part, honor their sons, and ensure Woodberry’s mission continues unabated.
“A gift focused on our talented and committed employees is tied directly to our identity as a school and our strategic objectives, particularly servant leadership. At the heart of this effort was a humble and heartfelt acknowledgment of the love and support that is poured into every boy’s experience,” says David Hawkins, director of parent engagement.
The gift was commemorated with a plaque installed in the Dunnington Reading Room of the William H. White, Jr. Library and a new sycamore tree planted between St. Andrew’s Chapel and the Walker Building. With a large class size and a higher-than-average gift amount, this fund is the fourth-largest senior parent gift on record.
