Gifts & Giving
A Tradition of Voluntary Support
Through the years, Breck families and friends have made voluntary financial support of the school a priority and an important tradition. Tuition and fees alone do not cover the full expense of a Breck education, nor do they provide the substantial funds needed for strategic new projects and goals identified by the Board of Trustees.
Therefore, the Breck community — parents, present and past, alumni, faculty, staff, grandparents and friends — generously make financial gifts to the school each year. Voluntary giving or philanthropy creates a partnership between the school and the Breck community to provide the best educational opportunities for our students today and tomorrow.
The four main components of philanthropy at Breck School are the Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Applause and Planned Gifts.
All gifts to Breck School are tax-deductible as allowable by law.
Mike and Susan Seeland
The Seelands: Collecting
Memories to Treasure
Maren Seeland will be wearing the cap and gown with the other members of the Class of 2010, but her parents Susan and Mike will be graduating as well. They say they’ll always treasure the memories gained while their three children were Breck students, and the family approaches the impending transition with a mix of emotions.
"We're very grateful to Breck and feel privileged to have been a part of this community," Susan says. "But Maren is absolutely ready to fly." And while they're a little saddened to be in their final months as Breck parents, both Susan and Mike expect to stay in touch. "We look forward to maintaining our connection to Breck," they say. "Who knows? Maybe we'll have grandchildren here some day."
As parents of Anders '98, Kirsten '08 (a Breck student through eighth grade) and Maren '10 and parents-in-law of Anders' wife Liz Sund '98, the Seelands have a long-range view of the school. "I know that we're part of a continuum," Mike observes. "We're trying to enjoy and savor this school year," adds Susan, "and we'll leave with so many treasured memories."
Favorite experiences have included Lower School publishing, last year's trip to China with students and group leader Margaret Wong, and countless hours spent cheering and talking with other parents at Breck tennis matches. But mostly, they say, they'll miss the people.
Active volunteers — Mike is a former president of the Board of Trustees — the Seelands will always appreciate the friendships they made at Breck. "The board had incredible camaraderie," he reflects. "Every one of those board members is a true friend."
Through his service on the board, Mike also learned more about the way Breck works financially, which intensified the family's commitment to philanthropic support. "Good financial footing is so important to Breck's ability to deliver its mission," he observes. And gifts to Breck’s endowment, which the Seelands have included in their estate plan, will help provide long-term stability.
While there have been changes at Breck during the Seelands' time here, both say that the school remains true to its fundamental mission-driven promise. "Like any successful organization, Breck has changed and grown over the years," they say. "But it's unquestionably a better place now than it was when we started."
And as they look forward to their soon-to-be empty nest, Mike and Susan often find themselves reflecting on Breck's influence on their children and their hopes for future generations. Says Mike, "We’ve been part of Breck for 17 years, but the school has been here so much longer and it will go on for longer still."
