The Country School Announces Capital Campaign Progress with a Bang

Despite being in the silent phase for more than a year, the “It’s Our Time” capital campaign has generated interest within the community for its plans to greatly improve traffic flow and the visual landscape on Goldsborough Street. A state-of-the-art new Upper School building and major renovation of the existing building will add curb appeal and conform to the Town of Easton’s high standard of traditional architecture.

 

A short program leading up to a 10-minute fireworks display included remarks from alumnus Will Chapman, Board Chair Justin Nonemaker, Headmaster Neil Mufson, Upper School Science and STEAM teacher Adele Showalter, and Campaign Chair Christy Gibson. Each discussed the importance of this new endeavor and thanked more than 120 individuals and families who have already invested in the campaign. 

 

Music director Ryan Catterton led the 5th grade class - and a band consisting of Country School faculty, parents, and students - in the performance of a song titled “It’s Our Time,” and a video created for the campaign debuted on a large screen for the crowd. 

 

Immediately preceding the fireworks, Headmaster Neil Mufson shared that the goal at the outset of the campaign was $7 million, but that exceptional generosity proved that a more ambitious goal of $8.5M could be reached if everyone “digs deep” and considers their most generous gift. The 5th graders then revealed the amount raised to date by flipping laminated numbers one at a time until $7,630,416 stretched across the stage. 

 

Such early success and its effect of raising the campaign’s goal by $1.5M was reason to celebrate all of the campaign’s donors and the ambitious vision for The Country School’s future—a perfect segue to fireworks.