Havergal College & The Havergal College Foundation Impact Report 2020-21

Campaign Donor Story: Rajeev & Tanuja Gupta With three daughters enrolled at Havergal, the Gupta family has been deeply involved with both the Junior and Upper Schools for more than eight years now. Maya (Grade 11), Nisha (Grade 9) and Sara (Grade 6) are all active in sports and various co-curriculars, while their parents have taken time to volunteer in many different capacities at the school. “The passion and attachment that our girls have toward the school is very striking,” says Dr. Rajeev Gupta, a pediatrician with a practice based in Brampton, Ont., who served on the Havergal Board of Governors’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion subcommittee in 2020 – 21. “They can’t imagine their lives without Havergal and they have really thrived in the school environment.” The Guptas are proud to support Havergal as volunteers and donors. When they learned about the Limitless Campaign , they decided to generously contribute by lending their family name to the Upper School Seminar Room. The Seminar Room is a multi-purpose learning and meeting space with the flexibility to function as one large room or two individual spaces, thanks to a sliding divider system that allows the school to customize the space based on its needs. “We felt Havergal had become such an important part of our children’s lives that we wanted to leave a legacy that would

The Gupta family

reflect their formidable experience here,” says Tanuja Gupta, who studied computer engineering when she was in school. “When we learned that girls’ schools receive only a fraction of the donations that boys’ schools do, we were moved to make a financial commitment.” Tanuja’s many hours of volunteering at the school over the years have been an invaluable contribution to the Havergal community. She has served as a Grade Rep, Secretary of the Havergal College Parent Association (HCPA) and Admissions volunteer with the Junior School Welcome Committee. Organizing events, liaising with other parents, giving tours of the school, answering families’ questions and acting as an ambassador to the wider community are just a few of the roles she has taken on. Currently, Tanuja is the Junior School Grade Rep Co-Convener and takes pride in organizing monthly meetings, which provide important information to the parent community. “I have really enjoyed giving back to the community, and the kids like seeing their parents volunteering,” Tanuja says. “Being involved with the HCPA has connected me with different aspects of the school, given us a voice with the administration and kept us in touch with everything that is happening.” The Guptas, who also have a son in Grade 4 at Upper Canada College (UCC), have watched their daughters grow and flourish, discovering new talents and exploring different interests during their time at Havergal. While Maya, Nisha and Sara are all strong in math, science and English, they have also developed well-rounded interests, especially in the arts. “The music program is astounding, and we were amazed at how the whole school came together for concerts,” says Rajeev. “Maya was in band, and the girls made it to the finals when she was in Grade 9. She is also very artistic and has gained a lot of exposure to different mediums and techniques.” “Their confidence has grown and they’re willing to take risks, try new things, speak up in class and voice their opinions,” says Tanuja. “They have forged strong bonds with their friends, and, as parents, we have also made a lot of connections with other families in various grades.” “The community is very diverse but also tight knit,” she says. “That’s the most impressive aspect for us. We’ve never considered another school for our daughters.” While the Gupta family also supports the William Osler Health System Foundation, the Scott Mission and charities devoted to veterans’ mental health, their primary contributions have been to Havergal and UCC. “We believe in supporting our childrens’ schools first and foremost, because of the love they have for their community,” says Rajeev.