In excess of one hundred Boston-area friends of Proctor gathered at the Algonquin Club last night for a truly successful event hosted by Mark and Karen Cangiano P'07 and John and Jan Fitzpatrick P'03, 07.

The number of happy attendees was impressive, proving--once again--that eastern Massachusetts is our greatest source of support. Entertainment was provided by the jazz/rock band, which played seven tunes with spirit and polish.

In addition to alumni young and old, and current parents and trustees, the party attracted a critical mass of past parents. To those of us who are dedicating our entire careers to this school, the support and love of past parents means more than you can know. These are people who really know what we do here, and their emotional support sustains us. Thank you! And speaking of love, our hosts demonstrated plenty last night. In his address, Mark noted that his father served as a member of the Board of Trustees for forty-one years; Mark has served for thirty-five. Below, he is pictured with Karen and L.J., who will graduate in June.

Last night's party provided an opportunity for Mike Henriques to share his vision for the enhancement of residential life at Proctor, as well as some exciting news. An anonymous trustee has pledged $1,000,000 toward the construction of new dormitory spaces, provided the pledge is matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the members of the Board of Trustees. This act of generosity has immediately stimulated momentum for a focused campaign to replace Morton House and Thoreau House. Below, Mike poses with some of the young alumni/ae in attendance:

Today, we are working (fast) to identify the architects and construction firm that will make this dream a reality, if the match is met in the months ahead. Small groups of students and faculty are brainstorming ideal housing configurations, as well as the environmental standards we wish to honor. The site for a new residence may be immediately above Morton House, a central site with views of the campus, the Blackwater River Valley and Mount Kearsarge.

This is an exciting time to be a part of Proctor; you can feel forces growing for advancement. None of this would be true without the support of our many friends. We thank the Cangianos and Fitzpatricks for their leadership!