The Oldfields Magazine Fall issues are typically dedicated to covering graduation, opening days, Family Weekend, and other school events. The feature articles vary from year to year, and all issues include news on our alumnae. This issue is usually published in mid-November, and is sent to alumnae, parents, past parents, faculty and staff, past faculty and staff, prospective families, and other friends of the School.

In 2006, Americans gave more than $295 billion to charity and $41 billion of this record amount went to education. Seventy-five percent of this $295 billion came from individuals and 66% from households with incomes under $100,000 – higher than the percentage of people in America who vote, read a Sunday newspaper, or watch the Superbowl.*

Last year, Oldfields School was incredibly fortunate to be the recipient of many gifts, both large and small. These very meaningful gifts ranged from the donation from an alumna who sent $35 with a note that reads: “Sorry that is all that I can give at the time. You know, college students…” to the past parent who gave $1 million to endowment because Oldfields taught her daughters to be “women who know no boundaries….” The supporters of Oldfields School profiled here range from alumnae to past parents to family members of Oldfields’ founder, Anna Austen McCulloch, to supporters with no affiliation to the School. They gave for very different reasons, but they are united by one emotion – a feeling of giving. This feeling cannot be quantified and thus the very act of giving created more value for their lives than the actual amount of their gift.

Former trustee and past parent Carla Simmons gave $1 million to the endowment because she and her husband, Tommy, were struck by the sense of independence Oldfields gave their girls. “We felt the School was totally committed to the achievement of [our] girls (Mary Simmons Evans ’92, and Lee Douglas “Dougie” Simmons ’98).”

Carla also found value in the Oldfields Community that welcomes each girl. She observed her daughters’ schoolmates embracing each other, regardless of their differences. She and Tommy could feel that sense of unconditional acceptance too, and they made life-long friends with the faculty, fellow parents, and students. The value of their daughters being supported by such a loving and nurturing community is what made Oldfields invaluable for the Simmons family. Tangible results could be found in Mary and Dougie increasing their skills and confidence beyond their own expectations. “They left equipped with the appropriate skills of women who knew no boundaries in terms of self-care, self-preservation, and career success.” Reflecting on these priceless attributes inspired Carla to give. “I feel very fortunate to be able to make a gift from my heart. Please don’t think that the OS community has to give me thanks; it is a mutual feeling.”

The value of the sense of empowerment Oldfields gave Mary and Dougie inspired Carla to make a difference on an institutional level. While comparing the endowments of boys’ schools, such as the one Tommy attended, with that of girls’ schools, she noticed the endowments of the latter were lower. “Historically, men were in control of [household] finances and traditionally gave to their own schools instead of the schools that their wives attended. Now I see this trend changing - women are in control of their own finances and they are giving to their schools.” It is Carla’s hope that her gift will encourage other women to give back to their own institutions. “We need to encourage women to give other women opportunities to achieve their goals.”

Ilana Feldberg Adelman ’88 is one example of a woman who has chosen to give back to her institution. Ilana, along with her husband, David, established an endowed scholarship specifically for girls who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend Oldfields. Ilana says Oldfields was the catalyst for finding her way in life. She had felt insecure academically at the school she attended previously. But Oldfields was different. Its small, but welcoming environment, nurtured Ilana. For the first time her work was valued. “Oldfields School made me feel secure enough about myself personally and academically so that when I went off to the University of Wisconsin, a school of 45,000 students, I felt confident I could tackle such a large school. We decided to give to Oldfields in this significant way because going to Oldfields was really pivotal in my life, and I’m not sure how I would have ended up if I had not attended Oldfields.”

To read more, click on the PDF above and go to page 3.