Our Wildwood, Volume 48

Inspired by Equity

Ashley and David Kramer, too, realized that they wanted to make a statement of gratitude to a school community that had so effectively partnered with them as they raised their two daughters, Katie Kramer ‘19 and Ella Kramer ‘22. As Ella neared the end of her time at Wildwood, the Kramers approached the school and asked how they might direct a gift of gratitude. After discussing a range of potential options that would benefit from funding, the Kramers landed on Equity and Inclusion—long-standing priorities of Wildwood School that had inspired them throughout their Wildwood experience. “Our family feels so fortunate to have benefitted from Wildwood in many ways that extend far beyond Katie’s and Ella’s wonderful educations,” Ashley said. “One of these ways is by providing impactful lessons on the values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Our gratitude for our rich experience at Wildwood inspired us to think more specifically about ensuring that every Wildwood family has the ability to appreciate the school’s resources at their fullest, and on their own terms.” Wildwood School has long had a thriving Flexible Tuition Program, which sets tuition according to an individual family’s ability to pay, based on information gathered through the school’s Flexible Tuition application process. The Kramer Family Fund for Experiential Equity , a newly established endowment, builds upon this

A School Built on Generosity

Major gifts such as those by the Kramers and Costen-Rosenbaums benefit current and future Wildwood students, while also imparting a special message that students will carry with them even in their years after Wildwood, according to Landis Green, Head of School. “Our students know that they benefit from being educated in a well-funded school, with resources that make for excellent programming. I think it’s up to us, the adults in their lives, to help them understand that it’s from a place of care—of belief in their future and the future of the students who follow them—that people make investments like these,” Landis said. “Children and young adults benefit from the transparency of understanding that special places like Wildwood don’t just happen. It takes a community of people coming together around a big idea, people who are willing to commit— and even sacrifice—to make it happen,” Landis continued. “It’s important for our community to know that families can make transformative gifts that will enhance our school for their own students and generations of students to come.”

“” IT’S BEEN SAID THAT GIFTS LIKE THESE ARE NOT ONLY GENEROUS— THEY’RE GENERATIVE.

program by providing funding to supplement non-tuition expenses for students whose families participate significantly in the Flexible Tuition Program. Because of the Kramer’s gift, that same application process will be

used to calculate, assign, and underwrite discounts for some outside-of-tuition expenses such as equipment and technology, experiences like International Community Involvement trips, school lunches, and more. “Ensuring true experiential equity for all Wildwood students involves looking beyond just the expense of tuition to consider all of the potential challenges that might limit a student’s ability to take full advantage of all that Wildwood has to offer,” David said. “Wildwood would not be the same place without its incredibly diverse socioeconomic community, and it is our hope that this endowment supports the very ideals and initiatives that not only drew us to Wildwood in the first place, but were so thoughtfully instilled in our daughters’ education.”

*”Major Gifts and Naming Opportunities: When Giving Becomes Leading,” Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Roadmap

OWW WINTER 2023

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