Wednesday, March 12, 2008

St. Alcuin Montessori School gets $5 million capital campaign gift

By Pegasus News wire

DALLAS — The Saada Foundation announced a gift of $5 million to the St. Alcuin Montessori School's "Open the Next Door" capital campaign. This is the largest philanthropic gift received by the school in its history. Together with donations of $3 million from The Hersh Foundation and $2.5 million from the Wyly family, as well as the generosity of many other major donors, the campaign now reaches $14 million of its $20 million goal. St. Alcuin is an independent, non-sectarian day school founded in 1964, and is now one of the largest Montessori schools in North America.

Photo not provided by St. Alcuin Montessori

St Alcuin: responsible for the creation of the Carolingian miniscule hand

"Beth and I believe a Montessori education provides children with a life-long love of learning," said Saada Foundation President and St. Alcuin parent, Jean-Claude Saada. "St. Alcuin is truly a special place and we are delighted to be a part of the expansion." The Saadas specifically designated funds to be used for the Shaun Underhill Library and Community Center, in honor of St. Alcuin's current Head of School.

The master plan for the School's expansion spans an 11.14 acre campus including a new Upper Elementary and Middle School to be named for the Galbraith family, a tribute from Julie and Ken Hersh. Also a new athletic center, sports' field, technology and world language spaces and several new classrooms are part of the creative plan. The vision for the future growth of the school includes art and music studios, a sensory motor development lab, science labs, and an outdoor education lab.

"This is a magical moment," said Shaun Underhill, St. Alcuin Head of School. "The Saada legacy truly 'opens the next door' for many children to enter. I am speechless regarding the generosity of this gift. I cannot begin to express the honor that is mine with the naming designation of the new library/community center. St. Alcuin is the ultimate option for parents in providing an experiential approach to learning for their children."

St. Alcuin serves a diverse community of over 500 students, toddlers through eighth graders.

Source: St. Alcuin Montessori School

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