Inspired by Joy, Committed to Gulliver’s Future: Scarsini Family Makes $1 Million Gift to Name Lecture Hall in Arts + Innovation Center
Each morning, Primary School students Alexey and Cristina eagerly head to school with genuine joy. For their parents, Maria and Alex, seeing their young children so engaged and happy at Gulliver has been incredibly meaningful. As they began a new chapter in Miami and at Gulliver, they quickly recognized a school investing boldly in its students and understood that realizing that vision would require every family to play a part.
For the Scarsinis, the question became how they could make the greatest difference. Their answer was a $1 million leadership gift to The Next 100: The Centennial Campaign for Gulliver, a commitment reflecting both their gratitude for their children’s experience and their sense of responsibility for the school’s future. In recognition of their generosity, the Scarsini Family Lecture Hall will be named within the new Arts + Innovation Center on the Upper School Campus.
“Alexey and Cristina go to school each day with excitement and come home with huge smiles,” said the Scarsinis, adding that Gulliver lives up to its reputation for fostering community, innovation, excellence, and character. “Our children have felt welcomed and inspired by their teachers and peers, and we’ve seen them grow not only academically, but also in their independence, confidence, and enthusiasm for learning.”
That experience gave the Scarsinis an early window into both what makes Gulliver special today and the next-level vision taking shape. Their investment in Next-Level Teaching & Learning and Thriving Students reflects their strong belief in Gulliver’s mission and an education that authentically nurtures intellectual challenge, creativity, confidence, and character in every student.
“We believe the arts play a vital role in developing imagination, discipline, and independent thinking,” they said. “We hope the Arts + Innovation Center becomes a place where students feel empowered to create, collaborate, and push boundaries.”
Construction on the Arts + Innovation Center broke ground this summer, one of two signature spaces within Gulliver’s new STEAM Complex. Spanning more than 58,000 square feet, the facility will bring together visual and performing arts, innovation, technology, and design through purpose-built studios, classrooms and exhibition spaces, and hands-on creative environments. This investment is creating more opportunities for students to learn, collaborate, and share their work.
Thanks to the generosity and conviction of families like the Scarsinis, we are able to elevate Gulliver’s world-class programs for generations of students.
There are opportunities to make a lasting impact available at every level. To learn more about making a gift to Gulliver and The Next 100, please contact Shivani Joshi P ‘35, Chief Advancement Officer, at [email protected].
