Torch - Fall 2017

Grad Gift Fund

Green is the New Gold

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For the Class of 2017

Amazing is a good word to describe Havergal College’s Class of 2017. Thanks to the outstanding financial support of their Grad Gift fund, they have made both themselves and Havergal proud. The Grad Gift is a long-standing tradition at Havergal. Each year, graduating students and their families donate to a newly established fund as a way of honouring their class. It’s a unique way to say thank you to Havergal for the superior education provided. It is also a constructive way for each class to say farewell and leave a meaningful and lasting legacy. No question, the Class of 2017 has done just that. Over the years, this group of students had become critically aware of the increasing impact of climate change on the world and that supporting the environment was important. Because of this, the Class of 2017 voted to have their Grad Gift directed

to support environmentally sustainable projects at Havergal. The fund was affectionately known as “Green is the New Gold.” During the 2016-17 school year, the Grad Presidents encouraged their peers to support the fund through bake sales and personal solicitations. A group of parents also volunteered to contact fellow parents to encourage financial support. When results were tallied, 100 per cent of the year’s 107 graduates had donated personally and 79 per cent of their parents had made gifts, which is the highest participation from parents in more than a decade. Together, students and parents raised more than $117,000 to establish the Green is the New Gold Endowment for the school. This amazingly generous achievement speaks volumes about the esprit de corps of this class and demonstrates their gratitude to Havergal.

Green is the New Gold will benefit not only current and future generations of Gators. It will also nurture a culture of young women making a difference…beyond the ivy walls.

— Sophia Matthews 2017

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TABLE OF CONTENTS | ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 53