Greenwich Country Day School (GCDS) announced that GCDS alumni Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss (Class of 1997) have made a donation of $10 million, the largest philanthropic alumni donation in the history of the school.
The gift is also the largest philanthropic donation made by the Winklevoss brothers—internet entrepreneurs and Olympic athletes—to date, with each donating $5 million.
The gift is in honor of their beloved sister, Amanda Winklevoss (GCDS Class of 1994), and her passion for the performing arts.
The donation will support GCDS FIRST: The Campaign for Tradition and Innovation, contributing to the next phase of the new GCDS Upper School (Grades 9-12) building project, among other organizational investments.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the building project took place on Friday during the GCDS Homecoming football game’s half-time ceremony.
“We are so thankful to Cameron and Tyler for their
generous donation to GCDS,” said GCDS Headmaster Adam Rohdie in a release, saying the twins have maintained a close relationship with the school over the years. Rohdie said that in 2009, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss returned to campus to speak about their 2008 Olympic experience in Beijing, China.
“As keynote speakers for the Class of 2015 commencement ceremony, Tyler shared stories of perseverance in the start-up technology world and Cameron encouraged students to take command of their own lives and to use their time wisely,” Rohdie added. “This gift highlights their belief that a great education is the bedrock for success and we have been proud to follow all of their successes over the years.”
“Our years at GCDS were transformative and ones we attribute most to the people we are today,” The Winklevosses said in the release.
To both honor their sister, Amanda Winklevoss, and help build the future of GCDS, the GCDS Upper School performance facility will be named the ‘Amanda Gesine Winklevoss Performing Arts Center.’