DONOR
PROFILES
Jeff Barton ’91 is a Crescent alumnus, teacher, and, together with his wife Erin, a proud parent of Paddy ’25 and Finn ’27. A recipient of Student Financial Assistance during his own time at Crescent, Barton has given back every year since joining the faculty in 2002 through the Faculty and Staff Giving Appeal. Most recently, the Barton family supported both the Alumni Community Hall project and the Class of ’25 Fund. In 2022, he and four fellow alumni faculty members were honoured with the Alumni Community Leadership Award, which recognizes Crescent graduates whose enduring commitment has enriched the school experience for students and fellow alumni alike.
“The incredible teachers who mentored me during my time at Crescent taught me how to show up for my students and showed me that relationships build confidence, and confidence can lead to success. At my graduation in 1991, I stated that I would be back. I was lucky enough to have those who believed in me allow that.
From my first day at Crescent in the early 1980s, through seeing my eldest son graduate in 2025, and all the years in between, the school’s core values have been essential to our family and routinely shown up in our daily lives.
I feel tremendously grateful for the support and genuine interest our teachers, staff, and administrators have for the boys at Crescent, including my own. There is a deep love and care for the entire boy, both his strengths and challenges, on display that is unique and special to this place.
As a family, we support Student Financial Assistance not only to provide these opportunities to other boys but also in the hopes of increasing the diversity of the student population.”
In 2024, the Class of 2006 raised $220,000 to become the third-largest class fund in the school’s history. What was the galvanizing factor behind this significant feat? Class reps Scott McGregor ’06 and Nick Warwick ’06. Both had been giving back to Crescent since they graduated through speaking engagements, mentorships, and committee involvement, before turning their attention to fundraising. After making leadership gifts themselves, they contacted every member of their class to join in their effort, setting a high bar for what a young alumni class can achieve.
“We are beyond proud of our class for stepping up to support financial assistance based on our shared Crescent bond and commitment to making the school accessible to future generations. There was a widespread feeling amongst our class that rising tuition made Crescent increasingly inaccessible, and a high level of resolve to try and do something to help. We want other boys, regardless of background or means, to have the same life-changing opportunities and experiences we were fortunate to have.
Donating towards this cause resonated very well with our class, and we hope to inspire additional alumni groups to run their own campaigns to really accelerate the school’s endowment and availability of financial aid.
It’s a powerful way to honour your shared experience, leave a legacy, and open Crescent’s doors to boys who will truly benefit. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s a great way to catch up with classmates that you might not have spoken to for several years!”
Nick Warwick and Scott McGregor, on behalf of the Class of 2006
Fabrizio, Nicole and Cristiano ’29
In recognition of the Cortellucci Family’s remarkable $2 million pledge towards Crescent’s Master Campus Plan in the fall of 2022, the theatre in Crescent’s Centre for Creative Learning was named the Cortellucci Family Theatre. This gift places the Cortellucci Family amongst the most generous benefactors in Crescent’s history.
“Crescent will have a lifelong impact on the man our son will become, and the sons of so many other families, so it is crucial that the school is given the resources to thrive and do its best.
Our values strongly align with those of Crescent and we are grateful that the school focuses effort into instilling the Crescent core values on a daily basis. We feel that this is what sets Crescent apart from other schools – its focus on character. Whenever I am in the school I see examples of camaraderie, good sportsmanship, and empathy. It is genuinely heartwarming and is what galvanizes our confidence in the school.”
— Nicole Cortellucci
Jamie Coulter has been Board Chair since 2019 and formerly served as Chair of the Alumni Executive and co-chair of the Alumni Internship Program. His class fund is the first in Crescent’s history to exceed $1 million, an endowment which covers a year’s tuition in perpetuity. Jamie and his wife Yuri, herself a long-serving Crescent volunteer who spent two years on the Facilities Committee, are proud parents of Owen ’21 and daughter, Alex and major donors to the Pat Mills Family Class of ’87 Fund and the Master Campus Plan.
“The school has played an important role in my life — from my formative days in Grade 5 in 1978 and still today more than 35 years since graduation. Giving back, both in time and dollars, was an easy choice.
Ensuring the accessibility of a Crescent education to any boy of promise inspired our class fund roughly two decades ago. Today, 6% of the student body benefits from financial assistance, a figure that will continue to grow. The School’s commitment to advancing its curriculum to ensure the ongoing relevance of a Crescent education also necessitates investments in bricks and mortar. Both are worthy causes that my family feels very fortunate to be able to support.
By investing in Crescent’s future, we are laying the groundwork for generations, ensuring that the institution can thrive and inspire excellence for another hundred years and beyond.”
In 2021, the Crescent Parent Association (CPA) pledged $1 million to Crescent School, with half going towards the School’s Master Campus Plan, with the remainder going towards the CPA Centennial Scholarship that provides financial assistance to Upper School students. In October 2023, the CPA was recognized officially with a commemorative plaque in the Formal Garden for a significant refurbishment which included land stabilization and a grass-like turf.
With the 2021 pledge fulfilled ahead of schedule, the CPA has recently pledged another $1 million toward the Master Campus Plan. To recognize their commitment, the Coyote’s Den will be renamed the CPA Coyote’s Den once it moves to its new retail location inside the Lower and Upper School Entryway.
“Thanks to the CPA leaders before me and our incredible team of volunteers, we are close to completing our fundraising goal in advance of our pledge deadline,” said CPA President Jacintha Doner P’23, P’25 in Fall 2023. “Our vibrant parent community gives so much of their time, generosity and spirit, making us unique. We couldn’t be more proud to exceed our goal.”
Tony DeGasperis with grandsons Liam DeGasperis ’26, Max DeGasperis ’27 and Wolfe Colavecchia ‘24.
Each of Tony and Helga DeGasperis’ three children sent their sons to Crescent School, which explains why the grand matriarch and patriarch of the family have such a vested interest in the school. Tony and Helga’s gift in the name of the DeGasperis Family supports the capital projects of the Our Way Forward campaign.
“The teachers, student experiences, and sense of community are just some of the things that have made Crescent special to our family. Crescent has provided a wonderful environment for our son and his cousins to flourish.
As a family of builders, we recognize the importance and cost of capital projects. Great institutions require maintenance, expansion, and technological upgrades to sustain a level of service for their communities. Our boys have benefitted from the robust facilities thanks to the generosity of previous campaign donors. Now, it is our turn to pay it forward.
Wolfe is graduating this June after ten fulfilling years, and we are grateful that he will always be part of the Crescent brotherhood as an alumnus. I hope future generations of Crescent students will have similar experiences. Our family is proud to do our part to pass on this privilege and we hope this inspires others to give what they can.”
— Christene DeGasperis P’24
Tom Dobson ’98 has remained engaged with Crescent School since his graduation in 1998. He has served on the Alumni Executive and, since 2003, has donated annually and with increasing generosity to the Class of ’98 Fund in support of student financial assistance.
“Being inspired by the entire community of people in and around Crescent while I was a student makes me want to donate. I believe education is one of the most important things we can give one another in life. I hope my gift helps deserving boys benefit from the experience I received — an experience that otherwise may not be possible due to their family circumstances. When I see some of my favourite people — and former classmates — become teachers at the very place we went to school and grew up together, I want to be a small part of it. I encourage everyone in our community to help Crescent continue to positively impact boys’ lives like it did on mine.”
Mark Graham ’92 is a tech entrepreneur, brand and positioning expert, and community builder. He is the co-founder and president of commonsku, a workflow collaboration platform designed to help the promotional products industry operate more efficiently, and a board member of Don’t Mess with the Don, an environmental charity committed to stewardship and litter cleanup in Toronto’s Don Valley. Mark occasionally returns to campus to speak with students about his experiences as an entrepreneur and supports the Our Way Forward Alumni Community Hall project.
“Crescent pushed me out of my comfort zone (clubs, sports, academics, student council, etc), and this gave me the confidence to experiment in the world of entrepreneurship, where the rules are not prescribed, and you are required to figure things out along the way. I think it’s important to support institutions that—through entrepreneurship, the arts and environmental awareness—make our city and country more successful, creative and beautiful.
It’s been an honour to be welcomed back to the school over the years to speak to the students. I remember being a student myself, listening to alumni share their career experiences, and how impactful that was on my career decisions. I have also gained so much by learning from today’s students. Many of them are very impressive and are already working on fascinating projects. I always leave the school feeling very positive and enthusiastic about the next generation of leaders.
I was at Crescent during an exciting period of expansion, when new libraries, gyms, and upgraded classrooms were built. These spaces made the school more dynamic for students, all of which positively impacted my experience at Crescent. Similarly, I see the Alumni Hall as benefiting current and future students with an exciting gathering space.”
Jessica, Lucas ’27, Brendan ’96, Patrick, Lily, and Lee
Brendan ’96 and Jessica Howe are proud parents to Lucas ’27 and their daughter Lily. Both are deeply committed to Crescent; Brendan is an engaged alumnus, and Jessica is an active volunteer, serving with the Crescent Parent Association and now on the Development Committee. In 2024, Brendan and Jessica pledged a major gift to the Alumni Community Hall project and invited Brendan’s father, Patrick, and his wife, Lee, to join them, making it a true family commitment. The Howe family’s generosity reflects their shared belief in Crescent’s mission and their dedication to strengthening the School for generations to come.
“Crescent School has given so much to our family—not only through the education and experiences it has provided Brendan and our son Lucas, but also through the strong sense of community it has extended to us all. We are thrilled to support the Alumni Community Hall project, which will serve as a central gathering place for students, parents, faculty, and staff. The Hall will truly do what its name promises—build community—and we can’t wait to see it come to life.
When we look around campus, we see the legacy left by alumni and families who came before us, and we feel grateful for the ways our family continues to benefit from their generosity. We want to have that same impact for the next generation of Boys of Promise.
Making a multi-generational Howe family gift felt both natural and essential. With Crescent shaping two generations of Howe boys, coming together as a family to give back was the clear choice.”
Brendan and Jessica Howe
In 2021, Ming Wai Lau ’97 pledged a transformational $12 million gift to Crescent, the largest in the School’s history. His gift enabled the purchase of the Bob Rumball Centre, a seven-acre property adjacent to the north end of Crescent’s campus. This is Lau’s second gift to Crescent. In 2010, the Lau Family made a $5 million donation to Crescent’s Great Boys campaign to build the Lau Family Wing, which is home to Crescent’s Middle School.
Ming Wai Lau ’97 came to Canada from Hong Kong to attend Crescent School for Grade 12. He says the experience changed his life forever.
“I arrived in Canada with only a moderate interest in academics,”and left with an honours average, a fond appreciation of my wonderful teachers, firm friendships and a newfound drive that has followed me throughout my life as a business professional and a father.”
“The Rumball Centre property unleashes the enormous potential for Crescent School. It opens unimagined opportunities for future generations of students who I hope will benefit from the school in similar ways that I have.”
Anson Liang and Sisi Chen are the proud parents of three Crescent sons: Michael ’27, Marco ’31, and Mason ’32. The Liang Family have pledged a major gift to the Our Way Forward capital campaign, inspired by having a student in each of Crescent’s Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. Their support for the Alumni Community Hall, student commons, and new front entrance reflects their belief that these spaces will enrich every Crescent boy’s experience.
“Crescent is a place where our boys are truly known and cared for, not just as students, but as individuals. It gives us great comfort to know that our children feel safe, supported, and encouraged every day at school.
Crescent has helped our boys develop resilience, integrity, and confidence. They are learning how to work through challenges, treat others with respect, and take responsibility for their actions. Just as importantly, they know there are adults at school who believe in them and are there to support them; we hope the sense of support becomes a foundation they can always draw on.
Our decision to give comes from genuine appreciation. As parents, that sense of partnership with the school means a great deal to us, and giving back felt like a meaningful way to support a community that gives so much to our family.
We chose to support the Master Campus Plan because we believe the physical environment plays an important role in how children learn and feel at school. Thoughtful, well-designed spaces can support collaboration, well-being, and connection for our boys and those who will come after them.
We encourage other families to see giving as a way of supporting the community that supports their children. Crescent has been a place where our boys feel seen and cared for, and contributing to its future feels both meaningful and rewarding. Even small contributions, when combined, can have a powerful impact.”
Bob ’85, Vicky, Charlie ’17 and Thomas ’29 (not shown, Jacob ’13 and daughters, Sofia and Natalia)
Crescent connections—and generosity—run deep on both sides of Bob and Vicky Macdonald’s family. Vicky’s parents established the Maria and Alberto Bacardi Family Bursary in support of student financial assistance in 2015. Bob and Vicky recently donated $565K to top up the fund to $1M, an endowment that now funds a year’s tuition for a Crescent student in perpetuity.
“The school has played a significant role in our lives. Three of Vicky’s brothers attended the school, as did I. When I reflect on my years at Crescent, I can see its significant impact on my desire for lifelong learning. As parents, we know the school provides an extraordinary educational foundation coupled with a nurturing and caring environment.
I believe strongly in paying it back and paying it forward. Crescent played a role in my professional success, and setting other young men up for a similar experience or opportunity is the right thing to do.
The school provides a special type of education and experience for young men. It needs the support of the Crescent community to ensure this influence continues long into the future.”
George, Matilda, Andy ’18 and Gregory ’26
George and Matilda set a strong example for their sons with respect to service and commitment to Crescent School. Matilda is a long-serving parent volunteer and served on the CPA from 2017 to 2020, holding the position of president in 2019-20. George is currently a Board Governor and Governance Committee Chair and was formerly Chair of the Development Committee. The family is a major gift donor to both capital projects and endowed student financial assistance at the school
“We feel fortunate that our boys were able to benefit from such a great institution made possible by the families who gave generously to the school before we ever arrived. We hope that our philanthropy will play a small part in continuing this tradition for many more generations of families just like it was for us.
A gift to the school is an investment in the long-term standing of the school’s reputation, which we trust will remain amongst the highest for boys’ education. This ultimately is a legacy gift for all of our boys who can proudly refer to their Crescent association throughout their lifetime.”
Jeremy Millard ‘95 graduated from Crescent and went on to earn degrees from Yale, Oxford, and the University of Toronto’s Law School. Before taking on his present role as Senior Legal Director at Uber Canada, Jeremy had a successful career as a commercial and civil litigator. A former recipient of financial assistance while at Crescent, today Jeremy is a proud donor to the program.
“I was at Crescent for eight of the most formative years of my life. The School was always welcoming and nurturing, and many of the friendships I formed there have lasted my entire life. Who would have thought that someone I met in the Manor Courtyard on our first day of Grade 5 would be the best man at my wedding?
As a recipient of financial aid for many years, I felt a duty to give back once I had the means to do so. I’m proud to continue the tradition of those who were so generous to me.
Donors have to take a leap of faith because the payoff isn’t immediate. Society mostly benefits down the line, from the adults those children will become. But it does come, with tremendous returns. And I know the Crescent community has the foresight to understand that.”
Paul, Angela, Aidan ’26, Nathan ’28, and Emerson ’34
Paul and Angela Simcox have witnessed the power of Crescent’s education firsthand on their three boys who attend the school: Aidan ’26, Nathan ’28, and Emerson ’34. Seeing the impact the school has had on their children, the family chose to support the Our Way Forward campaign, making a pledge in 2021 and an additional commitment in 2024. Paul also gives back to Crescent through his involvement on the Board of Governors and Facilities Committee.
“We believe it is rare to find an educational institution that has chosen a ‘way forward’ based on character and integrity. We are grateful that our children are educated on this foundation, and grateful to contribute to this mission. Crescent’s character approach has created sincere friendships for our children and ourselves and means a lot to our family.
The school relies on the support of our parents and alumni to grow its economic stability and standards deserving of its mission. Taking steps forward to protect and enhance Crescent’s ability to deliver for both current families and future generations is an important responsibility.
We are confident our donations and donations given by others, will inspire more parents and alumni to participate with conviction. Finally, most personally and simply, we hope our contributions inspire our own children to do the same for their children in the future.”
Scott ’98, Mia, William ’25 and Teddy ’29
Community is an integral part of the Crescent experience and something that the Singer family knows very well. Scott Singer ’98 and Mia Singer, President of the CPA, are parents to William ’25 and Teddy ’29. With their generous contribution, further strides were made toward the Alumni naming rights for the community hall, a place for boys present and future to nourish their bodies and souls, and form bonds that will last a lifetime.
“The announcement of the Alumni Community Hall Project brought us forward; as a former student, I recognized that the dining facilities had not changed since my time at the school. We believe there is a tremendous benefit to creating a new space where students can retreat midday while developing important social skills over a meal.
Our children enjoy many areas of the school my generation never had. If it were not for those families who chose to continue to invest in the school after I left, my children and your children wouldn’t benefit from the facilities they enjoy today.
Every generation of Crescent students has a duty to invest in the next, as did those who preceded us. This is how we can ensure a prospering student experience for generations to come. Our family’s gift to those who come after our boys is the Alumni Community Hall.”
Claire, Kevin, Jason ’24, and Ryan ’23
Claire and Kevin Teng have been steadfast champions of Crescent School, generously sharing their time, leadership, and resources to support a community that shaped their sons, Jason ’24 and Ryan ’23. Claire has served on the Crescent Parent Association and Development Committee, while Kevin has contributed as a Development Committee member and Board Governor. Their philanthropy has been equally impactful: after pledging to the Our Way Forward campaign in 2020, they deepened their commitment in 2025 with an additional gift. As a result, the Teng Family Courtyard now bears their family name as a lasting tribute to their generosity.
“Crescent became our family’s second home during our sons’ most formative years. It’s where they discovered their passions, built their confidence, and developed the character that will guide them through life. Through volunteering, friendships forged in the stands and at school events, and countless moments of watching our children grow alongside their classmates, we discovered that Crescent wasn’t just where our sons went to school—it’s a community that has shaped all of us.
As a not-for-profit school, we understand that every contribution flows directly back to enriching the student experience. The beautiful campus and exceptional programs that Crescent students enjoy today exist because previous families believed in investing in the future. We’re honoured to continue that tradition.
Witnessing the tangible impact of the first phase showed us the power of collective investment in Crescent’s future. We believe wholeheartedly in the school’s vision and wanted to remain active partners in bringing that vision to life. We hope we’ve helped demonstrate what becomes possible when families and the school unite around a shared vision for excellence.”
Tim ’90, Shannon, Coulson ’19 and Sean ’21
The Wiggans have given generously to Crescent over the years. Shannon was a dedicated volunteer at community events when their boys were at Crescent. Tim served on the Foundation Board from 2006–2012 and was a Board Governor from 2016–2020. The Wiggans are past donors to the Great Boys Campaign and have supported both the capital and endowment priorities in the Our Way Forward campaign.
“Tim, our boys, and their two cousins have incredibly fond memories from their time at the school and their Crescent friendships are deep and enduring. Attending Crescent changed Tim’s path in life and our boys share what a positive change it made for them. We want to see the school thrive and remain competitive.
I hope the next generation of alumni will be inspired to give back to the school that molded them, and position Crescent to thrive long into the future. The world needs young men of character now more than ever. Crescent nurtures boys with a broad spectrum of talents, gifts and abilities. Investing in these young people is investing in tomorrow.”
