Miss Porter’s School students and alumnae have understood the importance of giving back since the school’s founding in 1843. In Sarah Porter’s time, students knitted socks for Union troops during the Civil War; sewed clothes for charity; and funded The Lodge, a summer refuge for low-income women and girls from nearby cities. Later efforts included supporting soldiers during World War I and World War II; aiding victims of the Farmington Valley floods in 1955; and tutoring in Hartford and at the Noah Wallace School.
Today’s students are no less active in helping others. They continue the school’s relationship with the Noah Wallace School; raise money for Foodshare and other local and global nonprofits through the annual Art Sale and Bowlathon fundraisers; and participate in fundraising events such as Relay for Life and Play 4 the Cure. This legacy of giving back — an important part of the school’s past, present, and future — was incorporated into the school’s 175th anniversary celebrations in the form of the service projects initiative. Through this call to action, Ancients are joining together to support causes that are meaningful to them. The projects so far have been varied in size and scope, and locations have spanned the country. See page 9 to learn about this initiative, as well as ways you can join the effort.
The Porter’s community — students, Ancients, parents, and friends — also understands the importance of giving back to Miss Porter’s School, knowing that their support enables the school to carry out its mission, and to continue to do so well into the future. Year after year, the senior class reaches 100 percent participation in the school’s Annual Fund, an achievement they meet with enthusiasm. And without the support of our community, the annual 11th grade international InterMission experience would not be possible. See page 22 for a peek at where the Class of 2019 traveled this year — philanthropy in action at its best! Also in this issue, we are introducing a new way to highlight our wonderful donors in “Why I Give” (page 10). In this feature, which you will see in every issue moving forward, donors share the many reasons — and the many ways — they give to Miss Porter’s School.
And we cannot forget that the Ancient network — through which all Miss Porter’s School alumnae are linked — is another way in which our alumnae give back. Ancients offer each other advice, networking opportunities, and support in both personal and professional arenas. In “Notes to My New Girl Self” (page 16), they pay it forward, looking back through the lens of an Old Girl to bring wisdom to the New Girls of today.
As we continue to celebrate our 175th anniversary, we do so with pride in our past, and our eyes on our future. For our future is bright, and the best is yet to come. Our legacy supports our future and keeps the promise of our mission statement which states: we expect our graduates to shape a changing world.