The Lives of Great Purpose Campaign grew out of Harley’s latest strategic plan, which prioritized improving compensation for our faculty, increasing engagement of alumni, parents, and the Greater Rochester community, as well as improving the school’s financial sustainability through increased philanthropy.

The Sands Challenge

In 2018, The Sands Family Foundation made a $3 million gift to Harley, the largest in school history, earmarked to fully fund the support and development of the school’s faculty through a perpetual endowment dedicated to compensation. 

     “As a trustee emeritus and Harley alumnus, I value the passion and commitment of the Harley faculty,” Rob Sands ’76, CEO of Constellation Brands, said. “These educators provide students with the necessary academic foundation to face the challenges of a rapidly evolving world. This gift will support them in continuing to inspire and prepare students to become the next generation of leaders.”

     At the November 2019 public announcement of the Campaign, The Sands Family Foundation issued a $1 million challenge offering a dollar-for-dollar match if the Harley community raised another $1 million, making the faculty endowment $5 million total.

     Thanks to many donors across the Harley community, we reached the $1 million goal in mid-December 2020 and secured the matching gift from the Sands Family Foundation! Thank you especially to Eva ’33 and Vaughn ’34 Morgan, in our Lower School, and their parents Kevin Morgan and Stacey Klimtzak who made an incredible, surprise donation of $195,000 to enable us to reach the $1 million mark.

     Donors also made three new spaces possible, as part of the largest campaign in the history of The Harley School. They are the Peckham Wellness Center, the Winslow Natural Playground and Outdoor Learning Center, and the Moore/Brown Center for Creative Media.

     We will provide more Lives of Great Purpose Campaign updates in 2021. Don’t forget, donations to the Harley Fund are included in the Campaign!

     Make sure your support is counted in the Lives of Great Purpose Campaign by making your gift today at  harleyschool.org/becoming2021-giving.

Thank you!