EA raises over $500,000 during the Go BIG Giving Days

Daniel Adibi ’26

Throughout February, EA held the Go BIG Giving Days as a part of the broader Shape Tomorrow campaign. In the event, the school raised 500,000 dollars in just three days to encourage the development of teachers and leaders throughout the school. The event took place from February 8th to 10th with 463 donors across the EA community participating.The Go BIG Giving Days serve as one last large-scale community event in the concluding year of the Shape Tomorrow campaign, celebrating ten years of raising money to build EA’s future. Chief Financial Officer Lawrence Capuzzi states, “We want to support the people who make EA so special: [our] students, faculty, and staff.” The funds raised by Shape Tomorrow will primarily help students with financial aid, fund academic projects, and assist teachers with their professional growth. Head of Institutional Advancement Jennifer Fifer explains, “Professional development means that the school invests in teachers to ensure that their growth continues and that they are supported in their journey as educators.” Another main priority of the campaign is making EA and its resources more accessible to all students, with a portion of the funds being directed toward financial aid. Fifer elaborates, “Episcopal awards almost nine million dollars in financial aid [every year] for scholarship funds … and thanks to the generosity of our community and philanthropy, we are still going.” In addition to tuition, EA supplies students with the resources and opportunities to enhance their EA experience through the Student Opportunities Fund, which provides resources like extra sports equipment and books, while also making class trips and events more affordable. Stressing the importance of financial aid, Greville Haslam Head of School Dr. T.J. Locke adds that “when [EA tries] to decide which kids [to admit], we [want to look at who] the smart, hard-working kids of character [are] and not who can afford it.” David Ding ’25 feels that such financial aid funds are essential to making access to an EA education more equitable. He states, “I think that the funds used for financial aid are very important because it makes EA more accessible to people who would otherwise be unable to afford an experience like this.” Riley Thibodeau ’23 agrees with Ding, saying, “I think that financial aid funds, like those raised by the Shape Tomorrow campaign, are so critical [in] ensuring that qualified applicants, regardless of socioeconomic status, are given a more fair chance of acceptance. This is important because it helps to enable diversity in the admissions process, expanding the accessibility of opportunities at EA to a greater breadth of families.”Raising over half a million dollars in just three days for the Go BIG Giving Days required extensive outreach through various media platforms, volunteers, and the spread of word by mouth. Michele Godin, Director of Communication and Strategy, explains, “[EA] used emails, ‘snail mail,’ personal outreach by phone and text, social media, newsletters, and websites to help spread the word about our Go BIG Giving Days. We produced some fun videos, posted signs and banners all over campus, sent home flyers in [lower school students’] backpacks, and visited car lines and school events. SAGE even joined the fun by cooking big menu items each day.” EA also created a strategic communication strategy to raise awareness of the event for parents and alumni. Matt Bailer ’97 (P ’26, ’28, ’31, ’34), an EA alumnus and parent who volunteered at the Go BIG Giving Days, states, “The EA community always jumps in enthusiastically to support the school’s mission. I think the school tries to be mindful of potential fatigue with a constant stream of events and giving campaigns, but again, I feel [that] the community always steps up.” Gaeli Keffer-Scharpf ’23 was involved in one of the Go BIG outreach initiatives. She notes, “I was asked to be in one of the promotional videos for the campaign, so I went down to the Lower School and shot a few clips with some of the preschoolers. It was cool to see how the entire EA community worked together to make the event possible – from little kids to administrators to parents.” Ding also feels that the Go BIG Giving reflects how interconnected the EA community is, stating, “I think it is amazing that EA was able to raise 500,000 dollars in just three days – it shows the close relationship of the school, its alumni, and its community.” Several EA students are hopeful that the campaign will have positive implications for EA. Brian Lee ’26 states, “I am grateful for the Shape Tomorrow campaign and for all the donors who participated. Their generous gift will help improve academics, athletics, and other activities at EA. I think that the EA community did a great job of coming together to support EA and the student body.” Like Lee, Thibodeau is optimistic about the potential impact of the Shape Tomorrow campaign’s funds. She shares, “Whether it be by making resources at EA more accessible, enriching teacher development, or expanding academic opportunities, I believe that the Shape Tomorrow campaign will empower students to pursue their passions and enhance the EA experience. The EA community’s shared goals and philanthropy make it the school it is today, and will shape its future.”