A capacity circle of 325 friends gathered last Friday evening (May 17) to honor Dick Whitcomb, Headmaster Emeritus, St. Luke’s School, at Carver’s 75th Anniversary Gala. Guests gave a record $750,000 to benefit nearly 1,000 students participating in Carver’s intensive college-prep after school programs and summer learning programs. The gala was held at Wee Burn Country Club in Darien. New Canaan resident Janine Smith chaired the annual event. Congressman Jim Himes greeted Carver’s guests during the cocktail hour on the veranda that overlooked the picturesque Wee Burn Country Club golf course and showcased the evening’s stellar live auction experiences. The evening program began in the dining room with Executive Director Novelette Peterkin giving an update on Carver’s progress, which continues apace, a tripling of the annual budget in as many years primarily by extending Carver’s after school programming into Norwalk’s four middle and two high schools. Auctioneer David Smith made the live auction as exciting as the priceless experiences being auctioned. Pitched bidding wars ensued for a chance to stay in private palatial residences in Vermont, Naples and St. Thomas. Box seats at The Metropolitan Opera, all manner of sporting events and elite golf experiences, and even a NYC extravaganza weekend including hotel, restaurants, spas, and the choice of any Broadway show, including bask stage passes for six! A “paddle raise” for summer learning programs raised more in freely given gifts than the auction. An anonymous donor matched the entire sum of the auction and the paddle raise. GE this year made a significant commitment to the advancement of Carver’s STEM education programming. More than 40 GE employees were in attendance. Jack Ryan, Senior Vice President, GE Capital, a member of Carver’s Strategic Planning Committee, introduced his longtime friend and colleague Deborah A. Elam, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, GE, who gave the Keynote address. Ms. Elam challenged the evening’s guests to “not accept the things we can change,” extolling Carver’s successes as an example of what works brilliantly for the benefit of all children. The gala featured Dick Whitcomb receiving the Carver Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest Carver honor. Bobby King who received the annual Community Builder Award on behalf of King Industries, Inc., a graduate of St. Luke’s School, used his acceptance speech to speak to his great admiration for Dick Whitcomb. Mr. Whitcomb’s son Jonathan and his daughter Andrea introduced their father with moving recollections and expressions of love. Mr. Whitcomb began his acceptance talk with humor: “My name is Dick Whitcomb and I approve these messages.” And then every guest remained in rapt attention as Mr. Whitcomb spoke briefly of his life and mostly of what is possible for the lives of the youth being reached by Carver where he is dedicating his retirement years. Guests stayed long after the official close of the evening’s program, not willing to permit the evening’s inspiration and good tidings to end.
