“THANK YOU. Unless you have experienced EHS for yourself, you truly don’t know the life-changing experience that it is, yet YOU are the reason it is possible,” wrote Will Snead ’23 this last spring when given the opportunity to express gratitude to those for whom Episcopal is a philanthropic priority. How could I possibly top that as an opening sentence for this message?

For Will and all of us here on The Holy Hill, the 2021-22 school year felt amazing, as we emerged from the challenges of the pandemic, lived fully into the Episcopal experience, and realized that “back to normal” at Episcopal is actually “back to extraordinary.”

Sharing in the day-to-day events that unfold throughout the year in this 100% boarding community is a powerful thing. We are together and “all in” as students fret over the results of a physics exam, get fired up when they ace their Shakespeare paper, breathlessly recount the oral arguments they heard at the Supreme Court, get emotional when we pray for a deceased alumnus in Chapel, and agonize over a missed opportunity to score that winning goal. We see our students start new traditions like the “senior sunrise” and “the unsung hero” award, we hear them deliver inspiring citations as students are inducted into the Cum Laude Society, and we feel the excitement and pride as graduating seniors grasp their diplomas and look ahead to life beyond the gates. The list is endless, it is indeed your generosity that makes it possible, and we could not be more grateful.

With your participation, giving to the Roll Call reached a new high of $3.389 million – over $7,200 per student, exceeding our goal by 6% and providing 9.4% of the School’s operating revenue. We are thankful for each of the 2,576 gifts received this year and the tremendous efforts of our volunteers, all of which enabled our students to avail themselves of incredible opportunities to achieve and excel in all realms.

While the Roll Call’s success made the 2021-22 school year possible, generosity to the School’s strategic priorities continues to bring the School’s ambitious initiatives closer to reality. With early and extraordinary campaign support, the School will bring three new buildings online this fall, while offering increased access to financial aid and planning for exciting McCain-Ravenel Center, Residential Life, and Wellness programming that make the most of our fully residential community just minutes from Washington, D.C.

What a joy and privilege it is to be part of the EHS family, to share a commitment to this most special school, and to bear witness as our alumni live out Episcopal’s mission and values in their families, workplaces, and communities around the world. Thank you for your generosity, and I look forward to our continued work together.