Stories

Four generations of my family have walked through these doors. It is wonderful to me to see my two grandchildren getting the benefit of this terrific institution. For me, giving back has been one of the most satisfying things I’ve done in life.

If the school is important to you, if the city is important to you, you should give back. I want people to see that there are individuals who went to Gilman, who don't live in Baltimore, who won't ever live in Baltimore, who are going to give back to the school and dedicate their time and resources to the school.

Though he'll argue his physical distance from Gilman—lives in Atlanta, works in New York City—may have hampered his efficacy as a former class secretary (he recently turned his pen over to Will Lanahan), R. Davis Noell '97's strong friendships with his classmates, the men he considers his closest friends, are what keep him tied to Gilman.

Other than Danny Mooney and John O. Schmick, most of the classmates with whom he is most close live around the country—Ben Lucas in Los Angeles, John Comly in Charlotte, Jay Sullivan in New York, Chuck Baker in D.C. Davis sees their decisions to live places other than Baltimore as a positive example of Gilman's ability to foster and build successful leaders who can thrive in any city in the country or in the world. He also recognizes the challenges of keeping these alumni engaged with a school hundreds or thousands of miles away.

"Though Ben may live the rest of his life in L.A. and never send his son to Gilman, and John is probably going to be in Charlotte and not send his son to Gilman, and I'm going to be in Atlanta and won't send my boys to Gilman, you've got to keep those people engaged." he says. "You want those people to give back and have ties to the school."

A relatively new Gilman trustee, Davis chooses to support Gilman with his volunteer efforts and his charitable giving to reestablish ties to Baltimore, to try to give back to Gilman for all it has done for him, and to set an example for others who live beyond Charm City.

Though he chose to make an unrestricted capital gift to endowment, allowing the School to use his funds where most needed, he is passionate about recruiting and retaining great teachers and ensuring that financial aid is able to help keep the School diverse and accessible to all.

He recognizes that people have other charitable commitments, whether to children's schools, university alma maters or other organizations, but he hopes they will honor their own Gilman experience and the role the School played in their lives.

"If the school is important to you, if the city is important to you, you should give back," he says. "I want people to see that there are individuals who went to Gilman, who don't live in Baltimore, who won't ever live in Baltimore, who are going to give back to the school and dedicate their time and resources to the school. I know there are a lot of other guys like me."

Gilman taught me that the value was not in the score, the value was in the striving. And in the striving comes success. I carry that lesson with me even today.

Even thought I don't still live in Baltimore, my heart is still here. This community gave me so much.

The value of my having gone to Gilman has to lie precisely with my beginning to learn that the pursuit of narrow self-interest is meaningless. This is a place where we were held to account. That feels unbelievably rare, and for that I am unbelievably grateful.

My Gilman experience ultimately proved to be a life altering one. The Gilman education I received helped convert a life and a future, that in all probability might have been quite bleak, to one filled with hope and opportunities.

Gilman is in this wonderful place in Baltimore City, to me, a very sacred place to be. I’ll come here, sit in the stands, looking out on the field with the boys practicing, hearing music coming out of the classrooms—this is a very special spot. Gilman needs our help to keep it that way.

I love the fact that at Gilman my boys can come in and be the people that they are. They are encouraged to try different things; they are inspired to be the best that they can, and I see that in my boys. They are confident, and they are excelling.

My desire to support the faculty at Gilman is driven by the fact that I truly believe they are the lifeblood of the School. They give so much to the School, and to the students and to their families, that it's imperative they get back just a fraction of what they give.

We support The Gilman Fund because Gilman must remain accessible to all the strivers-the boys and the families who have the desire to do more with their lives.

Four generations of my family have walked through these doors. It is wonderful to me to see my two grandchildren getting the benefit of this terrific institution. For me, giving back has been one of the most satisfying things I’ve done in life.

Teachers make a difference in the lives of talented young men, and we believe it’s our job to make sure that Gilman is able to attract and support the very best educators.

Gilman School has been an integral part of our family's lives across several generations. Anchored to this long term institutional connection is the belief that boys and young men benefit from formal, experiential, and innovative learning. Gilman has a unique way of blending the traditional with the contemporary, all wrapped in a moral fiber that stands the test of time.

I was fortunate to benefit from incredible alumni support and guidance as a student, and I want to pay it forward to future Greyhounds.

I was a scholarship student that benefited from prior generations’ philanthropy. I wouldn’t be here; I couldn’t do what I do, without someone else’s help and support.

One of the great joys we have personally experienced is seeing how Gilman boys benefit from endowed faculty travel and study programs. The invaluable opportunity allows faculty to bring real-world experiences directly into the classroom.

For me, giving back is about providing access and opportunity to deserving boys. As a beneficiary of such generosity, it is my obligation to enable talented young men to explore their potential in an institution that will challenge them and, ultimately, change their lives.

Among many lifelong lessons and skills, Gilman taught us to always set the bar high. This rings true in our personal, professional, and philanthropic lives. Our annual support of The Gilman Fund, along with our sponsorship of networking opportunities for young alumni, is our way of inspiring and encouraging others​ to set the bar even higher.

I give every year as a way to ensure the School’s tenets of mind, body, and spirit—as well as the Gilman Five—are carried out in every facet of a Gilman student’s education. Resources from The Gilman Fund are what make it possible.

Among many lifelong lessons and skills, Gilman taught us to always set the bar high. This rings true in our personal, professional, and philanthropic lives. Our annual support of The Gilman Fund, along with our sponsorship of networking opportunities for young alumni, is our way of inspiring and encouraging others​ to set the bar even higher.

For us, giving back is an obligation. I am who I am because of my experience at Gilman both as a student and as teacher. Gilman’s played a formative part in the education of my son and the man he’s becoming.

I believe strongly in the power of example. When I came to Gilman, there were so many instances of people taking time out to talk to me, to come and speak at the School, to give their dollars so I could actually have financial aid, so one of the ways that I want to give back is to be a visible example to kids who come through these halls.

Our lives have taken us in so many different directions, yet Gilman still brings us back. As a formative part of our young lives, Gilman continues to hold a special place in our hearts. I know we will continue to stay involved with Gilman and with each other.

Among many lifelong lessons and skills, Gilman taught us to always set the bar high. This rings true in our personal, professional, and philanthropic lives. Our annual support of The Gilman Fund, along with our sponsorship of networking opportunities for young alumni, is our way of inspiring and encouraging others​ to set the bar even higher.

Among many lifelong lessons and skills, Gilman taught us to always set the bar high. This rings true in our personal, professional, and philanthropic lives. Our annual support of The Gilman Fund, along with our sponsorship of networking opportunities for young alumni, is our way of inspiring and encouraging others​ to set the bar even higher.

Giving back is all about seeding the future.

​Though Gilman has been an integral part of our family for many years, it really is the role that Gilman plays in our extended community that motivates us to support the School. The opportunity to prepare boys to make meaningful contributions to our local, national, and international communities defines a Gilman education. We wholeheartedly support this mission.

Gilman is a place where boys can thrive and grow into young men with passion and substance, and we see financial aid as a means to open the opportunity to all students who could benefit.

So many things in my life have resulted from the opportunities I had at Gilman. It seems only natural to give back.

If the school is important to you, if the city is important to you, you should give back. I want people to see that there are individuals who went to Gilman, who don't live in Baltimore, who won't ever live in Baltimore, who are going to give back to the school and dedicate their time and resources to the school.

Though he'll argue his physical distance from Gilman—lives in Atlanta, works in New York City—may have hampered his efficacy as a former class secretary (he recently turned his pen over to Will Lanahan), R. Davis Noell '97's strong friendships with his classmates, the men he considers his closest friends, are what keep him tied to Gilman.

Other than Danny Mooney and John O. Schmick, most of the classmates with whom he is most close live around the country—Ben Lucas in Los Angeles, John Comly in Charlotte, Jay Sullivan in New York, Chuck Baker in D.C. Davis sees their decisions to live places other than Baltimore as a positive example of Gilman's ability to foster and build successful leaders who can thrive in any city in the country or in the world. He also recognizes the challenges of keeping these alumni engaged with a school hundreds or thousands of miles away.

"Though Ben may live the rest of his life in L.A. and never send his son to Gilman, and John is probably going to be in Charlotte and not send his son to Gilman, and I'm going to be in Atlanta and won't send my boys to Gilman, you've got to keep those people engaged." he says. "You want those people to give back and have ties to the school."

A relatively new Gilman trustee, Davis chooses to support Gilman with his volunteer efforts and his charitable giving to reestablish ties to Baltimore, to try to give back to Gilman for all it has done for him, and to set an example for others who live beyond Charm City.

Though he chose to make an unrestricted capital gift to endowment, allowing the School to use his funds where most needed, he is passionate about recruiting and retaining great teachers and ensuring that financial aid is able to help keep the School diverse and accessible to all.

He recognizes that people have other charitable commitments, whether to children's schools, university alma maters or other organizations, but he hopes they will honor their own Gilman experience and the role the School played in their lives.

"If the school is important to you, if the city is important to you, you should give back," he says. "I want people to see that there are individuals who went to Gilman, who don't live in Baltimore, who won't ever live in Baltimore, who are going to give back to the school and dedicate their time and resources to the school. I know there are a lot of other guys like me."