2019年:威廉·“比尔”·H. 周

What do real estate, horses, insurance, cranberries, and Foxcroft have in common? William Howard 周, or Bill, as he is known to all of us. For the past 18 years, Foxcroft has been blessed to have Bill on its team. From that fortuitous day when his daughter Alexa came to visit the School — 和比尔, rightly thinking the focus would be on her, yet came away feeling that he was actually the one being interviewed — to the successful completion of Foxcroft’s Centennial Campaign, 比尔的工作, 智慧, and leadership have had a powerful impact on this School and its future.

In truth, Bill’s Foxcroft journey did not begin 智慧h his daughter Alexa. While attending Lake Forest College, Bill met and later married Olivia Fry, Foxcroft Class of 1976. Although many from Olivia’s family attended Foxcroft, 他一点也没有, 或奥利维亚, 知道在那个时候没有一个, but all three of their daughters — Alexa ’02, 惠99499威尼斯信誉尼06年, and Olivia ’08 — would end up proud Foxes at their mother’s alma mater. In 2001, Bill himself followed his wife and daughter by ‘matriculating’ to Foxcroft when he was asked to join the Board of Trustees.

当时, the School was in the middle of its Gateways to Excellence Campaign to raise $30 million for Foxcroft’s endowment, 和比尔, who had served on the Boards of Green Farms Academy (his daughters’ school) and of Tabor Academy (his own alma mater) brought an 专业知识 in development and in buildings and grounds that was invaluable. In his onboarding questionnaire, when asked what goals he had for the School, 他回答说, “To make Foxcroft as great as it can be!” Bill has worked to do just that. He and Olivia generously and quietly covered the cost of graduation the year his last daughter graduated as well as supported many vital projects through the years ranging from Sally’s Service Center and the stables and rings to the Residential Initiative and endowment. 最近, he and his family acknowledged one of Foxcroft’s signature programs and the impact it had on Alexa, 惠99499威尼斯信誉尼, and Olivia by endowing the 周 Family Award for 非凡的能力.

As a member of Foxcroft’s Board, Bill chaired the Advancement Committee and served on several other committees, including Investment and Finance. His understanding of financial sustainability helped lay Foxcroft’s strong financial foundation. Perhaps his most significant contribution came about through his stewardship of Ruth Bedford ’32, which resulted in the largest bequest ever given to an all-girls’ secondary school. As Bill later said, “Who would have thought all those afternoons of tea would result in this!”

In 2010, when his third term on the Board was ending, Bill was asked to serve a fourth term. This he gladly did which provided continuity and a ballast as Foxcroft headed into its Centennial and a time of transition. Although he thought he could retire from service when this term was completed, Foxcroft was not ready to let him go and asked him to co-chair the Centennial Campaign 智慧h an original goal of $50 million which became $75 million after Ruth Bedford’s gift. This campaign exceeded all expectations closing two years early and $4.超过目标900万! Only then, did the School let Bill take a breath!

今天, as an ex officio member of the Advancement Committee of the Board, 比尔的笑声, 智慧, 专业知识, guidance and leadership are still felt. He has always put Foxcroft to the front, exploring ways to make the School its very best. As he is fond of saying, “I love what the School did for my daughters.” Bill, we love what you and Olivia have done for Foxcroft.

感谢他的领导, 忠诚, and outstanding service to Foxcroft, the Board of Trustees and Cathy McGehee, 校长, honor Bill 周 by presenting Foxcroft’s highest award, the Anne Kane McGuire 杰出的服务 Award.

2019年4月

回来