Charging Forward Campaign Conclusion
CHARLOTTE, NC – January 9, 2019
PROVIDENCE DAY COMPLETES LARGEST CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IN ITS HISTORY
Charging Forward campaign celebrates exceeding its $27 million goal
Providence Day School’s leadership is celebrating the conclusion of its largest and most comprehensive capital campaign in the school’s nearly 50-year history – and has announced that the five-year campaign exceeded its $27 million goal, tallying $27.8 million. The campaign has also resulted in the first Endowed Chair position at the school.
“The community’s enthusiastic philanthropic response over the past five years of this campaign was overwhelming, gratifying, humbling, and exciting,” said Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw, Head of School.
The campaign’s national chair was Cathy Bessant of Bank of America, whose family made a leadership gift in support of the initiative’s three investment priorities. “Providence Day is a top performing school and a valuable asset to the greater Charlotte community. We have been a family for almost 50 years,” she said. “Being a part of this is really something special, and shows what you can accomplish by working together.”
Added Dr. Chris Mullis ‘90, chair of the Providence Day School Board of Trustees: “Together, we have achieved remarkable and historic milestones that will leave a lasting legacy on our campus, faculty and staff, and most important, our students.”
The campaign has transformed the campus, creating a new “front door” consisting of the 7,200 square-foot DeMayo Gateway Center; a four-story, 80,000 square foot Academic Center that is now the campus’ largest building; and a split-level 188-space parking deck. The new facilities are the capital components of the comprehensive campaign, which also supported the school’s endowment and annual fund. With results tallied as of December 31, the campaign included 730 investors.
The campaign created the Downing/Williams Endowed Chair position, which supports the school’s mission by recognizing teaching excellence. The first Providence Day faculty member to hold the honor will be announced at the school’s Commencement in May, and will be in the post for 12 months.
The campaign was supported by four seven-figure gifts, including a $2 million contribution from Howard and Julie Levine. “This was a transformational effort, and Julie and I are proud to have helped Providence Day successfully reach such a significant achievement in the school’s history,” he said.
The new facilities increased the total campus square footage by one third, marking the first major additions to the school in more than four years. The Academic Center features 32 learning labs, 10 seminar rooms, a 150-seat lecture theater with retractable seating, a modular collaborative learning space, community lounges, global café, spirit store, and school archives display. The DeMayo Gateway Center serves as the official visitor and guest reception area, housing both the Admissions and College Guidance offices, and featuring woodwork sourced from oak trees that originally stood on the site.
