Alumni Families Make Five-Year Commitment to The Campaign for Landon

As alumni, members of the Alumni Board, and committee members for The Campaign for Landon, Steve and Ali wanted to support the ongoing campus transformation with stretch gifts in hopes that other alumni would consider the power of making a larger gift over time. Steve explained, “I encourage alumni to think about what they got out of Landon and how the School is exponentially enhancing that experience, creating new programs, and improving the campus. Supporting the next generation of Landon men is a very worthwhile commitment. They become contributing alumni and important members of their communities.” His wife, Sharlene, who chaired the Azalea Festival Committee in 2016, added: “As past parents, we are excited to continue our connection to Landon in this way and create a link to the future. Alumni, like Steve and our sons, will always have that connection.”

To Ali and his wife, Andrea, alumni support is essential to the success of the School’s Campus Master Plan. “Landon is revitalizing the physical structure of its campus. As our founder Paul Banfield used to say, it is all about the boys,” Ali noted. “We want to offer students the finest facilities — the best labs, studios, and classrooms. We also need to portray an image that matches the excellence of the School. This endeavor is expensive. A multiyear pledge gives the administration the security to plan the phases of development and focus on what’s best for the School.”

Steve went on to Columbia University and currently works in government affairs. Ali earned his medical degree from Georgetown University and is now a plastic surgeon. Both wanted their children to experience Landon as they did. Steve and Sharlene’s two children, Matt ’20 and Kyle ’18, graduated from Landon and went on to Columbia and Tufts, respectively. “The School offers so much more than when I was there, but the values are the same,” Steve said. “I see it in my sons. People notice Landon boys’ work ethic and the way they engage in the real world. The social and interpersonal skills they develop are an essential part of the experience.”

Ali and Andrea recently enrolled their son Adam ’32 in third grade. “When we went through the admissions process, my wife was impressed with the attention and effort they dedicated to getting to know the prospective boys and their families,” Ali noted. “The reality is that in each facet of Landon, they strive to give their highest effort. This attitude surrounds the boys. It’s a culture of hard work, honesty, and perseverance.”

To explore the impact of making a five-year commitment to The Campaign for Landon, please contact Director of Development Peter J. Gallo, Ph.D., at peter_gallo@landon.net or 301-320-1004.