Students Celebrate Campaign Launch - News & Photos - McDonogh School

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McDonogh Announces $75 Million Capital Campaign

McDonogh School Headmaster Charlie Britton and Board of Trustees President Michael Falcone ’79 have announced the launch of a $75 million capital campaign named McDonogh Forever, the largest undertaken by an independent school in Maryland.

The campaign will fund priority construction projects in McDonogh’s campus master plan, including a student life center for students K-12, with a lead gift from local businessman Edward St. John; a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) building for grades 9-12, with a lead gift from alumnus Irvin S. Naylor '54; an efficient energy plant to serve the entire campus; and new campus green space, parking areas, and traffic access. In addition, the school will be raising money for the annual fund and endowment. The new campaign will run through 2015.

To date, the school has received commitments of $58 million, including a stunning $30 million challenge grant from the Rollins-Luetkemeyer Foundation. This new gift increases the Foundation's $20 million matching challenge grant made to McDonogh in 2004 to $50 million.

R-L Foundation President John A. Luetkemeyer said, "I am impressed with McDonogh's lasting commitment to provide the best possible learning environment. It is an honor to support an institution that understands what students and faculty need to be successful. It is our hope that this matching gift will ensure that the tradition of excellence at McDonogh continues far into the future."

Alumnus and longtime McDonogh trustee Henry A. Rosenberg Jr. '48, chairman of the board of Rosemore, Inc., will lead the campaign and is one of the major donors. He committed $3.5 million for The Henry A. Rosenberg Jr. Campus Green, which will connect legacy buildings from Rosenberg’s student days to the new student center and STEM building.

"When you know a school is going to make responsible use of your gift in a way that will impact thousands of kids and teachers for many years to come, it feels good," said Rosenberg.

The exciting news was shared with students in all three division at special assemblies on Monday, November 15. To celebrate the occasion, everyone received a winter cap embroidered with the words "McDonogh Forever."

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