It was with tremendous gratitude that Chris Nikoloff, head of school, announced on Oct. 13 the exciting news that the Harker community contributed just over $10 million in gifts and pledges, meeting the deadline for the historic Rothschild matching gift challenge.

The entire Harker community is enormously grateful to Harker parents Jeff and Marieke Rothschild, who matched $10 million in gifts, essentially doubling every contribution made between April 21 and Oct. 12. The $30 million capital campaign rose from just under $5 million on April 21 to just over $25 million on Oct. 12. This intensive, six-month challenge inspired many in the Harker community to act.   

The challenge was met with outright gifts to the capital campaign combined with funds from a second matching gift fund established by Harker’s Board of Trustees and Board of Fellows. Trustees and fellows, who already contribute their time and unmatchable expertise, were key to preserving the much-needed annual support of our programs while inspiring the community to contribute to the events center.    

There currently remains approximately $1.3 million in the trustees and fellows gift fund to be matched, and while the capital giving challenge has been met, families and alumni who have not yet had a chance to participate in the campaign can still have their annual giving gifts matched to double the impact of their contributions.  

“The entire Harker community is especially indebted to Joe Rosenthal, executive director of advancement, and his advancement team, whose commitment to the children was evident in their work,” said Nikoloff in an email following the school’s annual Harvest Festival, where several hundred donations were logged in just a few short hours, putting the fund over its goal.