Wylys Give Donation to School

The Dallas Morning News
Belo Corporation

January 31, 2007

Dallas business leaders Sam and Charles Wyly and other members of the Wyly family have given $2.5 million to St. Alcuin Montessori School.

The unrestricted gift will go toward the school's current capital campaign, said Laurie Wyly Matthews, a board member.

St. Alcuin, an independent, nondenominational day school founded in 1964, is one of the largest Montessori schools in North America.

The capital campaign will help implement a master plan for land purchased next to the school in recent years. Plans call for a new middle school, gymnasium and athletic field along with other campus renovations.

"My heart is bursting with gratitude for this most generous gift," said Shaun Underhill, St. Alcuin's headmistress.

"From our very beginning, the Wylys have been part of the foundation of St. Alcuin; we have educated 25 Wyly children and grandchildren. This gift will now allow us to make definite plans for the expansion of our campus."

Over the years, family members Charles Wyly, Evan Wyly and Ms. Matthews have served on the board, and Lisa and John Graham are currently leading committees for the school's annual auction.

"The education method created by Maria Montessori 100 years ago provides children with a life-long love of learning," Sam Wyly said. "This gift honors the contributions of loving teachers – past, present and future – as exemplified by the work of [former faculty members] Sally and the late Barry Dorn."

"We are delighted to participate in St. Alcuin's growth, from which many children of Dallas will ultimately benefit," said Charles Wyly.

St. Alcuin serves a diverse community of more than 500 students from toddlers through eighth graders. The Middle School is guided by the core values of the Montessori approach and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, Ms. Underhill said.