VOLUME 5, NUMBER 1Fall 2013

Spirit Campaign Update • Reach for the Stars • The Benefits of Giving Shout Outs! • Don't Snooze on the OS News • Portrait of PhilanthropyINSIDE

A Call to ActionWelcome to the fall edition of The Lamp, where we will "Shine a Light on Oldfields Philanthropy." We have much to celebrate! You will read about many success stories emerging at OS, but there is still much to do. The shift in the focus of The Lamp was motivated by a desire to share the momentum of The Spirit Campaign and The Oldfields Annual Fund and to keep you informed of the current fundraising efforts. The Lamp will also provide a venue to acknowledge and thank those special people who generously share their time, talent, and treasure.

Significant challenges still lie ahead, and we need each and every one of you. Our School has a long and proud history. It is a great tribute to Taylor Smith that we stand on firmer ground. Five years ago we had 90 girls and a deficit, compared to our present full enrollment and no deficit! We can now consider exciting projects, like digital classrooms, rather than Oldfields' survival as an independent institution. In that simple comparison lies the challenge for Dr. Hagerman – and for all of us.

Like many of you, I have a deep affection for Oldfields. A busy life raising four boys has been my joy and focus for many years. When Taylor first asked me to be involved as Capital Campaign Cabinet Chair, I was concerned over whether I had the time to give the campaign its due. Then I reflected on my years at OS and the enduring gratitude I felt for the values and education that have shaped my life and how they allowed me to guide my children into their successful lives. As I learned more about what the School was trying to accomplish, I began to get excited. So, I said "yes" – partially because it is hard to turn Taylor down, but also because I realized I wanted to be a part of the School's vibrant future.

A few weeks into the 2013-2014 school year my decision was underscored when Parny shared a note with me from a current student:

There is a spirit about this school and no, I don't mean a ghost, I mean a feeling. You feel something when you step into Old House, sit down at morning meeting or play your favorite sport on the fields. It's a peculiar intensity. A kind of faith…it's like suddenly you know that everyone in the whole school supports you, and better yet, they've got your back. They believe in you. I have never ever in my entire life been in a place where I felt a strong need to succeed. Wait, not just a need… a want, a desire. I need to be that woman in leadership. I need my daughters to go to this school, to carry on the legacy… I need to achieve more than I ever thought possible... I need to, no, I want to succeed. – Elyse '17

A desire to provide the next generation with the opportunity to feel the emotions this young woman experiences is why I said "yes." Ask yourself the following questions: How can I be more involved?

Can I encourage others to become active? Should I give more? Is this the point where I do more than just read the newsletter? For me, a window of opportunity has opened, and it is time to get involved in something extremely special – the education of the next generation of leaders.

This is your call to action. Won't you join us?

Sincerely, Susan "Silly" Repko '72, Capital Campaign Cabinet Chair

THE LAMPShining Light on Oldfields Philanthropy

Ashley '14

The Development Team has had a very busy and successful fall traveling around the country sharing information on the Oldfields Capital Campaign, Sustain the Spirit, Support the Future: Oldfields at 150. With eleven gatherings completed and two more in December, we have had the opportunity to share our mission, gain support, and gather feedback from many friends of Oldfields. Some exciting donations are listed here with even more "in the works" for 2013-2014.

The campaign was officially launched in April of 2013 with a goal of raising $12 million dollars by 2017. There are four major initiatives in this effort:

Supporting Our Future will raise $3.5 million to increase the endowment to $10 million to help support scholarships, faculty salaries, special projects, and the general operations of the School.

Burn the Bond is scheduled to raise $1.5 million towards the final debt payment for the Tammis Day Academic Center which is due by 2020.

Capital Projects encompass four projects valued at $3.5 million that will enable the School to expand and grow throughout the next decade and beyond. These four areas include the riding facilities, faculty and student housing, athletic facilities, and technology.

Sustaining What We Have includes $3.5 million to improve and renovate our current buildings, particularly Old House, so they will be here for the next 150 years.

In spring of 2013, Harold Green, P'14 and Daniel Shaw of Chamberlain Contractors, Inc. made a valuable in-kind contribution that allowed for the paving and re-grading of several campus roadways. The first phase of the project was completed last spring. The goal is to improve the safety and appearance of the paved surfaces around campus as well as reduce our contribution to rain water run-off into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Also early in 2013, we received a grant of $250,000 from The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston, TX for the renovation of Old House and renaming the East Wing for Hawley and Wendy Rogers.

And finally, just this past month, we received a challenge grant from the France-Merrick Foundation of Baltimore, MD. We need your help on this one! The grant is a two-to-one match. The grant is $150,000 dedicated to a renovation of

our stables. In order to unlock the grant, Oldfields must raise $300,000 in new contributions for the same project.

We thank Wally Pinkard, P'07 for his help with the proposal.

It is easy to be excited in the beginning of a campaign, but now we need to increase our momentum to go the distance. This campaign will allow us to remain true to our mission for our girls today and for those in the future.

Spirit Campaign

FREE MONEY IS ON THE LINE

FREE FREE

HELP US QUALIFY FOR A MATCHING GRANT FROM THE FRANCE-MERRICK FOUNDATION.Make your donation a part of this matching opportunity by contacting Laurie Hurd at HurdL@OldfieldsSchool.org or 443-662-1016.

By Katie Aiken Ritter, Director of The Oldfields Annual Fund

Every first-year MBA student knows this rule: a successful strategic plan starts with a written, time-limited, measurable goal. That is why in 2012, the Development Team adopted a strategy which we published in The Oldfields Magazine. We determined that a goal of sustainable growth for The Oldfields Annual Fund would be the average of the prior three years plus 5% – and our "stretch"

goal for last year was $500,000. You, our alumnae, current and former parents, grandparents, faculty, and staff pitched in, and we cannot thank you enough. Because of you, we made it!

Given what we accomplished last year and the analysis of our fiscal needs for 2013-2014, together we are reaching for the stars! The goal for this year's Annual Fund is $600,000 (excluding gifts in kind). Another year of "stretching" is ahead of us, and we believe that together we are up to the challenge.

In order to reach this ambitious goal, we need you! Throughout the year, we'll be contacting various groups of our Oldfields family and friends.

We asked our current parents, for the first time ever, to reach 100% participation! Already 33% of our current families have donated. That's twice as many as this time last year! Every gift, regardless of size, helps us reach our goal of qualifying for grants based on parent participation.

We have wonderful international families. With great cultural bridges being built, our international families are contributing with enthusiasm.

We are also asking the same level of participation of our faculty and staff – 100%!

Alumnae, we need you to double your participation in The Annual Fund! Compared to other schools, our alumnae rate is just not where it should be. Let's show them that OS matters to our alumnae by increasing the number of our OS graduates who pitch in, large or small amounts, to help the Annual Fund.

Many of our grandparents and former parents still generously support OS. They know that the OS they know and love, which nurtured their daughter or granddaughter, will always be here for her, and perhaps for her future daughter, niece or granddaughter! If OS made a difference in the life of someone you care about, we hope that you will make a donation this year. There is great power in numbers!

We really are shooting for the stars, we believe in a strong Oldfields… and we know that you believe in that too. Can we do it? Yes, of course we can – with your help!

Thank you for all you have done in the past, and for standing with us today for The Oldfields Annual Fund. We are healthy, we are growing, and we are excited for you to be part of that.

You are Oldfields. Every gift matters…every Oldfields family counts.

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Reach for the Stars Annual Fund

Please Pledge Now to The Oldfields Annual Fundwww.OldfieldsSchool.org/give

RitterK@OldfieldsSchool.org

443-662-1016

Oldfields Annual Fund 1500 Glencoe Road Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152

FREE MONEY IS ON THE LINE

FREE FREE

Benefits of GivingIt comes as no surprise to anyone that in the non-profit arena, none would succeed without the donations of time, talent and treasure from generous souls. The benefits to the organizations are obvious: financial stability, continuing growth, fulfillment of their mission. Oldfields is no different. We rely heavily on the giving hearts of our constituents. Your support of The Spirit Cam-paign and The Annual Fund benefits the School greatly. We cannot thank you enough.

However, there is another angle from which to consider the ben-efits of philanthropy; the rewards reaped by the giver. A wide body of scientific evidence supports the age old adage, "It is better to give than to receive." The collateral effects for you, the donor, can be uplifting, fascinating, and numerous.

Benefit #1: Givers are simply happier people.A few facts to ponder; people who have donated money to charity are 43% more likely to describe themselves as "very happy" as opposed to their less generous counterparts, according to a Benchmark Survey of 30,000 American households conducted by the Social Capital Com-munity (Brooks). A study by the University of Michigan's Panel Study of Income Dy-namics supported this finding by report-ing that the incidence of sadness and depression were also lower in the givers group, and they were 68% less likely to

say that they felt "hopeless" in the past month (Brooks).

It is tempting to discredit the above re-search with the rational observation that people who have "extra" money to give away are obviously happier due to their positive circumstances. The surprising fact is that the "happiness factor" remained significantly higher for givers even when the research controlled for variables such as income, religion, age, politics, gen-der and family circumstances. It is unde-niable, generosity has benefits on both sides of the gift!

Another uplifting fact; the gift does not have to be a monetary donation to pro-vide benefits. Helping to feed the home-less, volunteering at an animal shelter, or

being on the board of a non-profit, ALL are associated with higher levels of life satisfaction. Even giving blood increases your happiness score (Brooks).

The phenomenon of the "Givers High" can be partially ex-plained by brain chemistry. Research has demonstrated that the euphoria people experience when donating is caused by an actual endorphin surge, much like the one you get from running. In 1998 a study at Duke University found that when helping others in a selfless manner, levels of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, otherwise known as the stress hormones, all di-minished (Brooks). Ulrich Mayr, a psychologist at the University

The surprising side effects of generosityby Alicia Bowers, Director of Communications

of Oregon, demonstrated that MRI scans of sub-jects showed that brain areas involved in rewards processing lit up when the participants donated money (Svobda)! In other words, if you are feeling down, try donating!

Benefit #2: Generosity can be good for your career.Did you know that giving to a charity or non-profit may actually help you move up the career lad-der? The combination of ambition and altruism can have stunning results. Simply put, donating to a cause is good for your image, not to men-tion your personal growth. The life lessons, unique skills, and networking benefits of being connected with a non-profit organization can prove invalu-able. So much so, that Cisco created a developmental program for its "high potential" employees to encourage philanthropy and community involvement (Hewlett). So say "yes" to being a board member. Send off that donation to a good cause. Paying it for-ward will pay off in ways you can't even imagine.

Benefit #3: The next generation learns from example.Charity begins at home, cliché, but true. Modeling largeness of heart (one of the core principles of the Oldfields mission), for our own children and for the community is critical to teach the next generation the importance of sharing what we have. Dem-onstrating generosity insures they will grow up understanding the value of giving back and will be an active participant in the causes that matter to them. On a recent visit to the School, Eileen Rockefeller brought home this point by referencing her great grandfather's creed that is inscribed on Rockefeller Center in New York City, "I believe that every right implies a responsibility, every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty." She described how this belief was a cornerstone of her upbringing. She implored the student body to, of course, work hard to be successful, but to also consider how they can change another's life by sharing what they have. She was concerned that in to-day's highly competitive world – we teach our children how to get ahead, but not how to raise others up alongside them. Oldfields' strong commitment to community service is designed to do just that.

Benefit #4: Children who give with joy, accept with joy.And once again, the benefits are destined to exceed the costs of generosity. Not only will the next generation have a higher level of satisfaction in their lives as discussed earlier, but studies show that children who see their role models giving and learn to give themselves are more likely to ask for help when they need it. This is so profound from a psychological point of view – it bears repeating; children who give with joy, accept with joy as well. They are open to mental, physical, spiritual and financial support when necessary. They do not feel shame when asking for help or receiving support (Firestone). Isn't this what we want for all our children? Children who grow up seeing examples of charity understand that we are all in this together, a message we hope every Oldfields girl incorporates into her value system.

Believe us when we say that Oldfields benefits greatly from all the generous contributors to the School and thanks them deeply. Our hope is that our generous constituents are enriched by the relationship they have with Oldfields as well.

Top 5 reasons to donate

5 Givers have higher "happiness" scores and lower depression

4 Endorphins surge when you donate time, treasure or talent

3 Generous people have more successful careers

2 People who give actually live longer

1 The next generation learns from today's donors

Works Cited

Brooks, Arthur. "Why Giving Makes You Happy." New York Sun. 28 Dec. 2007 www.nysun.com/opinion/why-giving-makes-you-happy/68700/

Firestone, Lisa. "Generosity: What's In It for You?" Huffington Post. 21 Oct. 2013 www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-firestone/generosity-benefits_b_2168059.html

Hewlett, Sylvia Ann. "The Benefits of Giving Back." Forbes. 22 Dec. 2009 www.forbes.com/2009/12/22/volunteering-community-service-corporate- responsibility-forbes-woman-leadership-nethope.html

Svobda, Elizabeth. "What Makes a Hero?" Discover. September 2013: p. 26.

Save the Date April 25-27

Alumnae Weekend2014

Don't be left out of the festivitiesKeep us up to date on your contact information

Email Pam at CrowderP@OldfieldsSchool.org

Shout Outs!There are not enough pages in the newsletter to thank everyone who generously gives to Oldfields, but here are a few of the recent highlights. Thanks everyone!

Senior Parent Gift 2013The senior parent gift was organized by, Barbara Chait,

P'13, Brenda Olcott, P'13 and Katie Rodgers, P'13. The Senior Room got a fresh coat of paint, a comfortable sectional sofa, cozy bean bag chairs, and a flat screen TV! The current and future seniors truly appreciate your efforts!

Fall DecorationsWarmest thanks to our volunteers, Rosaleen Bernier, P'16 (Parent Association President), Libbi Yardley-Bruzdzinski '84, P'17, Kelli Davies, P'16 (Parent Association President), and Julie Selby, P'17 (Parent Association Secretary), who led the fall decorating effort. The cheery pumpkins and mums added to the atmosphere of our successful Open House and did double duty for Fall Family Weekend!

Oldfields GatheringsThe OS team has had a busy schedule with fourteen gatherings scheduled this fall. These wonderful events would not be possible without the generosity of our hosts! Beirne Donaldson '64 Debbie Hill '71 Peter & Amy Barry, P'16 Esther McMaster '87 Jenny Waters Reynolds '78 Gary & Mary Machak, P'15 Stephen & Betty Newton, P'09 Susan Young Granville '64 Christine Appleby Martinelli '83 James & Stuart Pitcher, P'14, '15 Edith "Deedie" Clark Bouscaren '71 Susan "Silly" Sillcox Repko '72 Lisa Wood Wright '84 David & Sally Carroll, P'13

Thank you to all involved!

Don't Snooze on the OS NewsAdmissions UpdateTravel season is upon us! Our quest for girls that are the best fit for Oldfields takes us from Connecticut to California, and 11 more states in between. Taylor Smith has taken on the mantle of inter-national recruitment with visits to Vancou-ver, Hamburg, Munich, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. A stop in Miami for a South American recruitment fair followed by a trip to Bra-zil finishes off the season.

Locally, we had one of our most successful Open House events ever. Combining stu-dent led tours with a series

of webinars for those who can't make it to campus

has proven highly ef-fective.

This new approach has enabled the Admission Of-

fice to directly engage more families than ever before.

Fall Family Weekend Follow-upThe excitement began on October 18th when close to 300 family members ar-rived on campus. The weather was per-fect for our fall activities of scarecrow making, square dancing and taking relatives around campus to classes. Ev-eryone was energized and got involved.

Investiture of Dr. Parnell HagermanA full house of friends, col-leagues, students, faculty and staff congregated in the David Niven Theatre to watch the much admired and loved Dr. Parny Hagerman become the 10th Head of School. John Hawks, Chair of the Board of Trustees, recited the responsi-bilities and expectations of the Board, which Dr. Hagerman

gladly accepted. One could tell by Par-ny's remarks, that she was indeed filled with Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart.

More news to come in the upcoming Oldfields Magazine, due in your mailboxes February 2014.

Have an iPhone, iPad, or Android?No matter how busy your schedule, you can now connect with the School and Oldfields alumnae via an App called Oldfields Alumnae Mobile.

Available Free at your App store.

by Alicia Bowers, Director of Communications

Don't Snooze on the OS News

Portrait in PhilanthropyThe Largo Core Society – Sheila Wiley Harrell '90

As a supporter, you can donate your time, you can utilize a unique talent, or you can give a financial gift without which non-profits, like Oldfields School, could not survive. We are fortunate to have friends who contribute in all three ways.

One such friend is Sheila Wiley Harrell '90. Her generosity and leadership have been demonstrated in a variety of roles: White Team Captain, class agent, reunion chair, regional chair, Board of Trustees member, and the list goes on! What motivates someone like Sheila to stay involved beyond her school years? A recent conversation with her shed light on why philanthropy is a priority for her family.

Sheila credits her parents with planting the seeds of giving long before she reached Oldfields. She recalls her parents dis-cussing the causes they cared about and donating time, tal-ent and treasure.

Sheila says people inquired why she was "sent away" to boarding school, but she al-ways saw it for what it truly was – a wonderful gift! From the beginning, she fell in love with all the traditions our cur-rent students love: Green and White Night, the walk down Graduation Hill and the ten year prediction letters. Her fa-vorite was Senior Will Night. The graduating seniors would bequeath prize possessions (teddy bears, clothes, books, tapestries, etc.) and sometimes advice to underclassmen. She re-calls willing a teacher's edition of her algebra book to a favorite Oldfields sister. She wonders if it is, per chance, still circulating? It is interesting that Sheila loved Senior Will Night – a curious foreshadowing of her recent contribution to Oldfields. It just so happens that Sheila has recently become a member of the Largo Core Society – a special legacy group of those who include Oldfields in their estate planning.

It is a bit unusual for someone as young as Sheila and with a young family, Molly (6) and Will (4), to consider this type of do-nation. When asked why she gives back to Oldfields – specifi-cally why Largo Core, Sheila explains, "Including OS in our will was a 'no brainer.' When we had children, we created a will and considered our children's needs as well as the causes that are important to us. Life gets busy, so we wanted our wishes doc-umented now." Going deeper into the question, Sheila clarifies, "The deep connections that I developed with friends and faculty

have enriched me beyond words. I am part of a sisterhood that keeps growing. Beyond the friends I made back at school, I am still making new friends with other OS graduates. The School keeps giving, so I keep giving as well." Like many philanthropists, Sheila prefers to stay out of the spotlight – so we deeply appreciate that she agreed to do this article! For Sheila, it is about the act of giving, not the recognition. She and her husband, Martin, have made a con-scious effort to incorporate the concept of giving back into their children's mindset from an early age. "We want them to realize that helping others needs to be an integral part of their lives." At holiday time her family takes envelopes and hands them out to delivery boys, store clerks – anyone who might need an extra

few dollars. They enjoy the ex-perience of pure giving – no strings attached – no recogni-tion required.

Given our theme this year, "Soaring to the Top: Women in Leadership," we discussed the unique and changing roles of women in philanthropy. Sheila wants to let budding women philanthropists know that the personal rewards of paying it forward are great. They can better the world and better themselves at the same time. Sheila's advice,

"Whether you are single or married, take time to con-sider the legacy you want to

create. Sit down with the entire family and have a discussion about how you want to utilize your assets. Regardless of who earns or manages the money – it is a group decision."

Sheila displays an unabashed willingness to discuss generos-ity, or lack thereof, with family, friends and colleagues. When someone posed the question, "Why should I give to Oldfields when I do not have a daughter that may potentially attend OS?", Sheila was quick to share that a more global minded view is necessary. Whether you have a daughter or not, each girl that we can provide an excellent education for, as well as support in becoming a confident, contributing member of society, benefits us all. Your donation could provide the catalyst for a Nobel Prize winner, a future President of the United States, or an Olym-pic athlete. Sheila and the rest of the Largo Core Society want Oldfields to be around for a long time so that others can benefit from the wonderful traditions, the sense of accomplishment, the undeniable magic, and the feeling of family, that is Oldfields.

Ol d f i e l d s sc h O O l1500 Glencoe Road

Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152

PHONE: (410) 472-4800FAX: (410) 472-3141

E-MAIL: BowersA@OldfieldsSchool.org

FACEBOOK:www.facebook.com/OldfieldsSchool

TWITTER:www.twitter.com/OldfieldsSchool

YOU TUBE:www.youtube.com/OldfieldsSchool

Editor: Alicia Bowers

www.OldfieldsSchool.org

!Access the OS website: Learn more about

our mission, our students, our faculty /staff,

our momentum! www.OldfieldsSchool.org

Connect to OS classmates: Find those with

whom you have lost touch. Check out the

Alumnae Portal or the OS App!

Travel to OS and experience the happenings on

campus. Don't wait for your reunion! Alumnae

Weekend is April 25 – 27, 2014.

Include Oldfields Annual Fund in your yearly

philanthropic plan. Help take us from great to

extraordinary. www.OldfieldsSchool.org/give

Open your heart and checkbook to the "Sustain

the Spirit,Support the Future" Capital Campaign.

Make a pledge over 4 years and help OS thrive.

HurdL@OldfieldsSchool.org

Never forget your OS roots and our School motto:

Fortezza, Umilitade e Largo Core.

A C T I O NOldfields schOOl1500 Glencoe RoadSparks Glencoe, MD 21152

Addie '14

Take the first step today!