Tom Caputo '65 Wins National Award
Tom’s volunteer leadership dates to 1986 when he was named a Director of the Hackley Alumni Association. He was appointed to Hackley's Board of Trustees in 1989 and served as Chair of the Development Committee from 1995 to 2000, as Vice President from 1997 to 2000 and succeeded Jack Ferraro H ’63 as President in 2000. This past June, Tom stepped down as President after ten years and received Hackley’s Medal of Honor, the School’s highest award. Tom remains a member of the Board and this year marks his 25th year as either a Trustee or Alumni Board Director.
Tom has led an extraordinary shift in philanthropic culture and volunteerism at Hackley. From 1999 to 2004 he co-chaired Hackley’s Centennial Campaign with Dan Celentano P ’04, ’06, ’10, ’10. The Campaign raised more than $50 million and Hackley received a CASE Circle of Excellence Award in 2001 for improvement in its development program. The school's previous campaign, which closed in the early '90s, raised $5 million. Tom dedicated countless hours to personally meeting with alumni to enlist their support as Leadership ($100,000+) and Major ($20,000+) donors and as campaign volunteers. The Centennial Campaign spanned a broad base of support including 79 Leadership donors (including ten gifts of $1,000,000+) and 104 Major donors.
Hackley's Annual Fund has been similarly transformed increasing from $612,223 in 1995-96 (the year Tom took over as Chair of the Development Committee) to a high of $2,561,831 in 2009-2010, an extraordinary increase of more than 300%. During this same time period, alumni participation increased from 14% to 30% and parent participation increased from 39% to 94%, a rate made more remarkable by the fact that 15% of families receive financial aid.
The new spirit of volunteerism and the extraordinary shift in philanthropy over which Tom has presided have made so much possible at Hackley. Faculty compensation has more than doubled, enabling the School to attract and retain outstanding teachers and coaches. The School offers financial aid to 15% of all families (not including faculty tuition remission) and the financial aid budget now stands at more than $3.3 million. In addition, Hackley purchased 172 acres contiguous to our 113 acre campus and added more than 100,000 square feet of new construction including Kathleen Allen Lower School, the Middle School, the science building, Allen Memorial Hall, a new Goodhue Memorial Hall, Pickert Field, a track, and squash courts.
Tom commented, “I’m truly honored by this award but it has really been a team effort. The success that the School has achieved is directly related to Walter Johnson’s leadership and the team he has put in place. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, countless other volunteers and the Alumni and Development Office, we have together achieved extraordinary things for Hackley. I’m proud of this achievement but in the end it is an award we, as a community, have earned by working together. I am especially grateful to all who have so generously directed so much of their time and philanthropy to our school.” Aside from his family and his career, Hackley is Tom's highest priority. His commitment and leadership in developing voluntary support for Hackley have been exceptional and have transformed his alma mater.
Hackley School
