Dear Members of the Hamden Hall Community:
Several months ago an alumnus from 1972 returned to Hamden Hall to talk about his role in our recently launched
Capital Campaign to build a new indoor athletic center at our Skiff Street Athletic Complex. It didn't take Jordan
Hadelman '72 long to be energized about what he saw and heard about our campaign, Taking on Tomorrow. The former
Hornet baseball player was excited to learn that we have already secured $8 million of the $11 million needed to break
ground. By the time Jordan was on his way back to Chicago, he had pledged not only his financial support to the
endeavor, but, more importantly, his time and talent to head the alumni division of the fundraising effort. To further
demonstrate his commitment to Hamden Hall’s future, Jordan successfully recruited Lynn Fusco Hughes ’71 to co-chair
the alumni drive.
Jordan's spirit and enthusiasm in helping us provide our students with a state-of-the-art athletic center is shared by
other members of our Hamden Hall family. I am pleased and honored to announce that our legendary basketball coach,
David Beckerman, has stepped forward with a $1.5 million challenge gift, which we believe paves the way for our
success in raising the additional funds needed to ensure that we break ground by early 2008. There are a number of
other past and present trustees, past and present parents, and alumni who have stepped forward and generously given
leadership level gifts. We are very fortunate to have received initial major gifts from Chairman of the Board John
Edwards and the McCune Foundation and Trustee Spencer O. Taylor ‘76 and the Olin Foundation. Their examples of
giving will help us reach our $3 million goal needed to break ground, as well as our $6 million challenge goal needed to
break ground and endow the facility’s operating costs. Three other campaign co-chairs, Andrew Acquarulo, parent and
trustee; Terrence Swain, past parent and trustee; and John Bierne, past parent and trustee, are eager to spread the
word about giving opportunities.
Although we are close to reaching our overall goal of $11 million, we still have more work to do. We need the support of
all members of our community, and if there was ever a time in the school’s history where your involvement is needed, it
is here and now.
Over the last two years I have been asked, why an athletic center of this magnitude? Does the facility really need to be
67,000 square feet? Why a swimming pool? These are valid questions with solid answers that are clearly articulated in
this brochure. However, the driving force is a simple truth. As our student enrollment approaches 600, we have
outgrown our existing gymnasium. We have already successfully addressed our "growing pains" in several academic
areas, technology, and in the fine arts. Now, as we look to tomorrow, it is time to turn our attention to athletics and
provide our students with a first-class athletic center they need, and frankly, deserve.
Whether you are a parent, past parent, alum, trustee, faculty member, or friend, we all share a common bond. We share
roots in Hamden Hall. Your participation in helping us look to our future and take on tomorrow demonstrates your
commitment to those roots. Our students, who are digging in now, planting their own seeds, establishing their own
roots, are worth it.
In closing, I feel very fortunate to live and work in this community and to be part of the school’s future. It is wonderful
to share Hamden Hall with my wife, Janet, and our three children. Janet and I have made a financial commitment to the
campaign and I ask you to consider making one, as well. This is our home. It is your home, too, and always will be. I
look forward to hearing from you and discussing our Capital Campaign in more depth with you. Please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Sincerely,
Bob Izzo
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