Symes Family Foundation Pledge $150,000 to Bridgton Academy Capital Campaign

Bridgton Academy is pleased to announce a $150,000 dollar pledge to its Third Century Fund Capital Campaign made by the Symes Family Foundation. Al Symes, President of the Symes Family Foundation and B.A. alumnus of 1957, was instrumental in this significant gift. The Symes Family Foundation pledge will support the Humanities Center's new Reading Center, a vital space for a critical program at Bridgton Academy.

North Bridgton, ME (PRWeb) February 15, 2007 -- Bridgton Academy is pleased to announce a $150,000 dollar pledge to its Third Century Fund Capital Campaign made by the Symes Family Foundation. Al Symes, President of the Symes Family Foundation and B.A. alumnus of 1957, was instrumental in this significant gift. The Symes Family Foundation pledge will support the Humanities Center's new Reading Center, a vital space for a critical program at Bridgton Academy.

Bridgton Academy recently dedicated its new 17,000 square-foot Humanities Center, an important step for the school's three and a half million dollar Third Century Fund campaign. With this building dedication, the Academy officially kicked off the public phase of this fundraising effort. To date, Bridgton Academy has raised two and a half million dollars, seventy-one percent of its overall goal. The Third Century Fund Campaign began in the summer of 2004 by the Board of Trustees with the mission of improving campus facilities, creating a new Humanities Center, and increasing the Academy's modest endowment which provides scholarships and financial aid to students. The Symes Family Foundation pledge enables the Academy to move one step closer to meeting its goal, and further strengthening the mission and capabilities of the school.

Al Symes formerly served on the Academy's Board of Trustees from 1994-2000. In 2006, he was awarded with the McDonald Award at Commencement, a prize given to an Academy trustee, past or present, who has been instrumental in his good works for the school. Now retired, Mr. Symes was the past President of Symes Associates, a leader in residential and commercial development, construction, and property management out of Beverly, Massachusetts.

The Symes Family Foundation was also a driving force in the revitalization of the historic Stoneham Theatre in Stoneham, Massachusetts. The artistic director of the theatre, Weylin Symes, is one of Al's sons. Al and his wife Barbara spend much of their time in Florida, but Al finds way to add adventure, including recently completing a through hike of the of the Appalachian Trail.

The Symes Family Foundation will name the new Reading Center in the Humanities Center, an integral component to Bridgton Academy's Program for Academic Support. According to Program for Academic Support Director Dr. Eden Dunckel, "The new Symes Family Foundation Reading Center is a wonderful improvement for our program. This space will help us not only to work more effectively with students, but continue to provide the individualized attention they need to improve their academic confidence."

"We are grateful for the commitment made by the Symes Family Foundation. Through the success of The Third Century Fund, Bridgton Academy will be an even stronger institution dedicated to changing the lives of young men," said Headmaster David Hursty. "We are honored to have Al Symes as an alumnus and former trustee. His steadfast dedication to this Academy and its mission are wonderful examples of the life-long impact that a year at Bridgton Academy can truly have."

For further information on Bridgton Academy's Third Century Fund, naming opportunities available, and the new Humanities Center, please contact Patrick J. Tevlin, Director of Development, at (207) 647-3322, ext.229. Founded in 1808, Bridgton Academy is the only college preparatory school in the country exclusively offering a true transition year between high school and college for young men.

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