From the Assistant Headmaster for External Affairs: The Incredible Support of the Woodberry Community

Every summer, a team of us in Woodberry’s development and communications offices puts together this annual report. The publication aspires to offer a snapshot of the previous school year, to report on revenue and expenses, and to highlight alumni and parents and their inspirational stories of support and exceptional volunteerism. The annual report, however, merely scratches the surface of the deep loyalty of the Woodberry community.

More than 60 percent of solicitable Woodberry alumni give to the school every year, the highest rate of giving for any school or college in the country. More than 95 percent of current parents made a gift, reflecting the quality of the education Woodberry teachers deliver every day. Every time we publish this annual report, we are humbled by the devotion of this special community.

This year was notable because it marked the close of the historic Campaign for the Boys. A noble and exhaustive effort that began in 2016, the campaign far surpassed its goal because of the confidence that all of you have in Woodberry Forest — a school that transforms boys into men and advances the goal we embrace to make the world a little better.

While all of us at Woodberry are deeply committed to the growth and development of the boys in our care, we have the shared responsibility for visualizing the future of the school and doing all we can to ensure its continued success. The Campaign for the Boys was an investment in that vision — an aspiration to secure our financial future for the boys to come. Through the campaign, we have underwritten key initiatives from our strategic plan: renovating the Walker Building, increasing faculty support, and moving closer to fully funding tuition assistance through the Woodberry endowment. The culture of Woodberry thrives when we enroll the very best boys without regard to their financial circumstances. Your support makes that opportunity a reality for boys who will make the most of what we offer.

In addition to benefiting from your steadfast support and generosity, we are fortunate recipients of the commitment of so many volunteers. Our collective achievements result from an extraordinary culture of giving and the dedication of an army of volunteers, and we wouldn’t be the school we are today without all of you. For your time, energy, and generous philanthropy, I offer my abiding admiration and gratitude.