bright bold next campaign
Diversity—in all forms—enriches education. Financial aid allows us to promote socioeconomic diversity in all grades. When students bring different backgrounds and perspectives to campus, our education becomes more expansive and open to bright ideas and bold solutions. We live our values. Inquiry, integrity, belonging, kindness: BB&N is built on these values. Financial aid helps us bring them to life. We represent the brilliance of our region. We’re located in a global capital of culture, innovation, and education. Our campuses should reflect the vitality and variety of our surroundings.
“Financial aid removes economic barriers so young people from all backgrounds can access a BB&N education,” said Julie Wadland, Director of Enrollment Management. “This commitment enriches our B-12 community by bringing together students with varied perspectives and experiences, fostering an environment where innovative ideas and creative solutions are forged.”
A robust financial aid program is critical to BB&N’s mission and is only made possible through the incredible generosity of our dedicated community of alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends. As we look to the years ahead, we hope to continue to build upon the progress of the last five years, toward a future where a family’s resources will no longer be an obstacle to receiving all that a BB&N education can offer.
“Thank you again for your support and for opening so many doors for me,” said Ryan L, Class of ’20. “I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the BB&N community, and I look forward to staying connected.”
In March 2022, the BB&N community was heartbroken to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of seventh grader Cassidy Murray ’27 while vacationing with her family in Aruba. Cassidy’s warm smile, energy, spirit, and kindness touched the lives of all who knew her, from her teachers and classmates to her hockey teammates.
As Head of School Jen Price noted at the time of her passing, “Cassidy’s ever-present smile, infectious laugh, and upbeat personality knit together any group of which she was a part.”
In 2024, several members of the BB&N community came together to establish the Cassidy Murray ’27 Financial Aid Endowment Fund, which will support BB&N’s general financial aid program.
Barbie Butler, Buckingham Class of 1972, and her husband Reg Foster made a generous gift of $250,000 last spring to expand BB&N’s Lower School financial aid program.
The Fosters’ gift, made in memory of their late son, will help BB&N meet the financial needs of students and families from low-income, underrepresented, and underserved communities in Cambridge and beyond. This includes, without limitation, the children of tenants of Cambridge Housing Authority Public Housing. After graduating from Buckingham, Barbie matriculated to Tufts University and earned a degree in Biology and German. The Fosters continue to prioritize education in their private philanthropy.
The Bright Bold Next Campaign is a transformative investment that will elevate the student experience from pre-K through grade 12. This campaign will ensure our students are equipped with the skills and experiences necessary to thrive in a changing world.
Our commitment to innovation ensures that educational practices stay cutting edge. Our funding supports initiatives like the Class of 2023 Visiting Innovator Program, the BB&N Leadership Institute, the Action Research Program, and Innovation Grants.
The Lower School renovation is ensuring students have the learning environment they need to reach their potential. Every design decision has been made through the lens of pedagogy and biophilia.
The BB&N Fund meets pressing needs and keeps us agile and flexible. It stands as a testament to our institutional strength and the commitment of our community.
Thanks to generous support from early donors, BB&N opened its newest athletic campus during the 2022 Homecoming Weekend. The Grove Street Athletic Campus is located in Watertown, MA.
The Bright Bold Next campaign is designed to propel BB&N into the future with an emphasis on community, sustainability, and innovation. We continue to move forward in the soft launch phase of our fundraising.