Meet Our Donors

We thank all our Lamp of Learning donors for their generous support. Here are some of their stories.

Anne Keiser '66

"I have searched for ways to financially support the people and institutions that have helped me become who I am today. It was only natural that Holton be a beneficiary of my support. I want to ensure today's girls have the same type of experiences that I had as a girl.

Holton was my life for fourteen years. I can actually recall specific moments from each of those years and know how each experience was pivotal in shaping my adult life. Whether it was finding a particular passion or simply guiding me through life's complex challenges, Holton taught me how to persevere with grace. Looking back on my life's journey, I am grateful for my Holton education now more than I ever was as a student. "

Timothy and Elizabeth McTaggart, Parents of Caroline, '15

"From the moment our daughter, Caroline, entered Holton – we were sold! The faculty and administration are so obviously dedicated to the school's mission of educating young women inside the classroom and in the world beyond. By making this planned gift, we want to help Holton stay strong now and for years to come."

Beryl Powers Robinson '57

"All my life, I have been blazing trails for women, and I'm proud of that. Through my professional experience, I have found education is the most effective way to affect change. I am amazed that the foundation I received at Holton continues to serve me daily, even more so than the other colleges and universities that I have attended.

For years, I did my own estate planning. Recently, a financial professional confirmed that I was on the right path and gave me new avenues to pursue that would further benefit my philanthropies and my heirs. Now more than ever, I know that estate planning can simplify your life."

Elizabeth Graybill '91

"By contributing to Holton, I aim to help the school continue to provide the same educational and professional opportunities for future classes that were provided to and instilled in me as a student. I spent seven years at Holton, starting in third grade through ninth grade when my family moved to Connecticut. It was a very formative educational experience for me. Now twenty years later, as an attorney, I have decided to pursue a personal and professional interest in international women's rights. I hope that my work will allow opportunities for equal educational, social, economic, and political rights to expand for girls and women in other communities. In that way, I believe that my connection to Holton has come full circle."

Susan Gortner and Catherine Gortner '79

Susan Reichert Gortner, a professor and associate dean at the University of California San Francisco who brought pioneering contributions to nursing and public health, left a legacy to Holton-Arms School where her daughter attended from 1974-1978.

"What do you say when you have the world's best mom?" said her daughter, Catherine Gortner '79. "She was brilliant and noble and loving and graceful. She expected the best of us, she wanted us to excel. To us, she was Supermom. She was not only an immensely loving mother, but also my closest friend and confidante."

Susan was just 16 when she enrolled at Stanford, where she earned a degree in anthropology in 1953. She earned a master's degree in nursing from Case Western Reserve University in 1957 and a doctorate from UC Berkeley in 1964.

Education was a top priority for Susan. Sally Rankin, chairwoman of the Department of Family Health Care Nursing at UCSF said, "As a teacher, she set a very high standard… she opened doors for many students." As for her children, Susan credited Holton-Arms for contributing greatly to her daughter's personal development and career achievements. In her will, Susan provided a bequest intention to Holton-Arms. She made her gift in recognition of the excellent secondary school preparation Catherine received at Holton-Arms.

"She really believed in giving back," says Catherine.

The Catherine Willis Gortner '79 Endowed Scholarship Fund will provide scholarship opportunities to young women at Holton who demonstrate financial need.