‘We care’: John Marshall High Alumni help fund beautification project

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The class of 1968 at John Marshall High School is coming together to give the school a facelift just weeks after a new report cited the need for millions of dollars in repairs.

It’s been over 40 years since Fred Bruner graduated from John Marshall High School. Since then, he’s continued to call Richmond home for the majority of his life and said every time he turns down Brook Road he’s reminded of his time in high school.

While his passion for his alma mater hasn’t faded, over the years, Bruner said he’s seen the building itself do just that.

“It’s been a little depressing to see that it’s not been kept up the way it was,” said Bruner. “Like I said, it was a new school when we got here.”

His concern surrounding the upkeep of the building is shared alongside current and former John Marshall students and staff.

Recently, a report cited over 2 million dollars in immediate repairs were needed. Key findings include exterior bricks falling off, a poor HVAC system and cracked sidewalks.

According to the district’s 2024-2025 budget, more than 17 million dollars were allocated for certain repairs.

Michael Bor, CEO of the Endowment Project says his team has found that raising funds for projects outside of this budget is needed.

“It’s a long held secret that private schools, colleges and universities have alumni development offices that seek to take advantage of the passion that people have for where they went to school to create additional funds to do amazing things for teachers and students,” said Bor. “But public high schools, public schools in general just haven’t had this ever.”

Bor’s team recently learned that current faculty and staff made plans to give the campus a facelift by beautifying the site but ran into issues with funding the project. That’s when the Endowment Project connected with alumni in the area to assist. Starting with a goal of $1,500 the class of 1968 surpassed that goal in less than 24 hours eliminating the project from any financial restraints.

“There’s so many alumni of John Marshall, all of whom loved the school when we were here, and we wanted to have the same sort of community spirit that it had when we were here,” said Bruner.

He went on to say, “it is much easier to have an affection for your school when it looks like people really care about it and show the care that they have for the students who are here. That’s what I think not just our class, but the entire alumni community could do to show them that we care.”

Bor says you don’t have to be an alumni to share your support. You are encouraged to visit the Endowment Project’s website for ways to help.

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