Princeton Day School Head of School Paul Stellato (left) and Founder and CEO of Heartland Payment Services Robert O. Carr. Mr. Carr, a former PDS parent and trustee, visited campus and signed copies of his new book, “Through the Fires: An American Business Story of Turbulence, Triump and Giving Back.”
On Dec. 8, Robert (Bob) O. Carr, founder and CEO of Heartland Payment Services, visited Princeton Day School to talk about his scholarship program at the school, “Give Something Back,” and sign copies of his new book, “Through the Fires: An American Business Story of Turbulence, Triumph and Giving Back.”
Mr. Carr, former Princeton Day School parent and trustee, recalled how an early scholarship of $250 from the Lockport Woman’s Club in Illinois changed the course of his life and inspired his interest in education causes. He spoke about how meaningful the Princeton Day School education and community was to his children, and how his scholarship at PDS helps to increase access to the school, regardless of socioeconomic forces.
Mr. Carr made a gift of $11 million to Princeton Day School through the Give Something Back Foundation in 2005. The Give Something Back Scholarships fund 100 percent of the recipients’ demonstrated financial need, including books, fees, lunch programs, transportation, school trips and other related needs.
Since the Give Something Back Scholarship program was launched, Princeton Day School has been able to offer need-based financial aid to nearly 50 students. Some of the initial Give Something Back Scholars who began as students in the Lower School are now in the Upper School. Give Something Back Scholars are in every division of the school, and to date, fourteen Give Something Back Scholars have graduated from Princeton Day School and continued on to college.
Head of School Paul Stellato noted that the Give Something Back Scholarship program has been “nothing short of transformational for Princeton Day School.” Dennis Cannon ’10, a Give Something Back Scholar and graduate of University of Miami notes, “The biggest thing Princeton Day did for me, by far, was inspire me to step out of my boundaries. It created this motivation in me that I can do anything.”
“I got a break,” Mr. Carr tells the Give Something Back scholarship winners, “and now you’ve gotten a break, too.” He always urges these young scholarship recipients to follow their dreams and give back themselves one day.
