BCD Launches Final Stage of $3 Million Campaign

STOCKBRIDGE, MA (12/15/2015)(readMedia)-- Head of School Paul Lindenmaier announced on Friday, December 11, that Berkshire Country Day School ("BCD"), the independent school for students in preschool through ninth grade, has raised $2,838,548 towards a $3,000,000 goal for its first formal Capital Campaign in almost two decades.

Addressing the standing-room only crowd of 250 guests at the on-campus celebration in Fitzpatrick Hall, Lindenmaier told the largest adult BCD gathering in a decade that the School is just $161,452 away from reaching its goal for Fulfilling the Promise, the capital campaign that is raising funds for new facilities and the School's endowment (and in particular the Endowment for Faculty Salaries and Professional Development for Teachers).

The crowd cheered when Lindenmaier announced that the facilities include the Kim and James Taylor Music and Performance Room, a state-of-the-art instructional music classroom and performance space for students and community members to hold events for up to 100 guests. The Taylors, who are also the Campaign's Honorary Co-Chairs, have been BCD parents for eleven years.

Guests were treated to remarks from James Taylor, who at first took the microphone and joked, "How do you work one of these things?" Taylor then shared heartfelt remarks. "Kim and I are both the products of independent school educations, and finding BCD was the single most important thing that allowed us to move to the Berkshires and to raise our family here," Taylor said. "The faculty, parents and students here form a community with a soul, an ethical, caring, cooperative family that have given our boys the best possible foundation from which to carry on. We've seen some amazing schools. Schools with vast endowments, monumental facilities, top notch faculties, but nowhere will we hope to find the equal of BCD in heart, soul and spirit."

Lindenmaier announced that in June 2016, the School will simultaneously break ground on the Kevin Hirt Library and Learning Commons. Allegrone Construction of Pittsfield won the competitive bidding process and will renovate Furey Hall with plans to open the new facilities in 2017. This represents the most dramatic upgrade the historic campus has seen in nearly two decades. Both facilities will be constructed without taking on debt. The library will be a stunning facility designed by Flansburgh Architects of Boston and named for the late Kevin Hirt '06, whose favorite class was library. Lindenmaier addressed the Hirt family, who were in attendance. "Your presence here is almost beyond words – patient, compelling, profoundly meaningful, your support and engagement to help us realize this vision has been an act of love that honors the memory of your son whose impact on this School is immeasurable," said Lindenmaier.

Kevin suffered from neuroblastoma, an aggressive pediatric cancer. When he knew he would not survive, despite his courageous fight, ten-year-old Kevin asked his parents to donate his college fund money to BCD to support the expansion of the School's library. Kevin's parents, Paul Hirt and Lynn Campana, agreed and promised they would help to raise the balance of the funds needed. Thanks to their shared dream and the generosity of many community members, BCD is poised to "Fulfill the Promise" to Kevin and his family with a facility that will transform BCD's programs and teaching practices. "The best things about Berkshire Country Day School for Kevin were that he could be a normal kid here, go to class, play with friends, and forget about having cancer for the day," said his mother, Lynn Campana. Of the groundbreaking, she added, "I think Kevin would be really happy to know this is happening."

The Endowment component of the Campaign supports the heart and soul of BCD: the Faculty. By growing the Fund for Faculty Salaries and the Fund for Professional Development, BCD is positioned to attract, retain, and support the exemplary professionals that make up the dynamic staff. A fund named for celebrated teachers, the Eugénie and Jim Fawcett Fund for Faculty Salaries, honors two professionals who have taught at BCD for a combined 83 years. The Fawcetts and over a dozen faculty members were in attendance. "When I drove into the parking lot for my job interview 37 years ago, I knew that Berkshire Country Day School was where I belonged," said Gail Heady, a faculty member since 1978.

Lindenmaier shared with the crowd how the School arrived at this moment. "For over seven years, we have held a focus on people, program, and place, and the School has acted with great care to arrive at this moment of stability and innovation. In 2009, a strategic planning process engaged hundreds of stakeholders (including Faculty, students, and current and past community members)," said Lindenmaier. "That collective effort set the tone for intentional stewardship and set a long-term vision for BCD which is distinct in program, adventurous in spirit, and engaged in a changing world. Two years later, a master planning process engaged everyone again and identified important facility upgrades, and it's those top priorities that we are addressing in this Campaign."

The presentation began with a Campaign video featuring Kevin's story and left nary a dry eye in the house. The evening was capped with a surprise musical guest, Lindenmaier jamming on guitar to "Thank you," by Sly & the Family Stone, with lyrics rewritten to fit the event. The Campaign Committee includes Philip '61 and Hilary Deely (Co-Chairs) and Chris and Hilary Ferrone (Co-Chairs), David and Bev Hosokawa, Danny Lipson, Paige Orloff (Board President), Marianna Poutasse, Scott Schiff '74, and Lindenmaier.

Co-Chair Phil Deely said, "The first time I first walked into a BCD classroom in 1958, I was engaged with extraordinary teachers. Then, as now, BCD has always had a strong commitment to academics as well as the development of the whole child. As an alumnus, alum trustee, chair of the board and one of the Campaign's Co-Chairs, I have seen BCD's develop over time. I agreed to help a BCD capital campaign one last time because I was encouraged by the financial stability and steady vision that Paul Lindenmaier and his board of trustees have brought to BCD. As a long-time fundraiser I always stress that 'donors give to excellence' and BCD exemplifies excellence as a learning community."

"This wonderful school has been our community for the past eight years," said Co-Chair Hilary Ferrone. "We are part of a long line of families who have been enriched by the BCD experience and have contributed to the school's growth. By supporting the capital campaign we hope to help provide future generations with the opportunities our children have had."

The Honorary Committee includes the Taylor (Co-Chairs); six former Board Presidents: Earl Albert, Sion Boney, Donna Elmendorf, Jane Ryan, Claire Naylor-Pollart and Jim Maxymillian; former Head of School Peter Buttenheim; Robin McGraw, Nancy Kalodner, Annie Selke '78, and Alli Sheehan (all were in attendance except for Maxymillian and Sheehan).

"What I love about having this Campaign, as we approach the 70th anniversary of a really important community institution, is that we are advancing our endowment, we are providing support for professional development and salaries and support for our beloved teachers and we're taking care of this campus which is historic and beautiful and a key part of every child's experience," said Paige Orloff, Board President.

Guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and dessert by Mezze Catering, the musical stylings of BCD faculty member Jon Suters (guitar) along with Roger Suters (bass), Charlie Tokarz (woodwinds), and Rob Putnam (piano and vocals).

About Berkshire Country Day School

Berkshire Country Day School, established in 1946 is located at 55 Interlaken Road (Route 183) in Stockbridge, MA, is an independent school for students in Preschool through Grade 9. Berkshire Country Day School exists to inspire the individual promise of every student, that each may become an exemplary citizen of the world. For more information about the school, visit berkshirecountryday.org.