Notre Dame prep launches $6.5M ‘Common Ground’ campaign

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Notre Dame Preparatory School, an all-girls private independent school in Towson, launched a $6.5 million campaign to replace the campus’s dining hall with a Student Commons and kitchen along with growing the school’s annual fund. 

Titled Common Ground: Building NDP’s Future, the campaign spanned one year, marking the shortest campaign in the school’s history, according to Notre Dame Prep. The effort has garnered considerable community support, school officials said, which included two $1 million leadership commitments.

Entering its public phase on Feb. 4, the school’s campaign garnered “unprecedented” leadership support. One of the $1 million commitments came from the Huffman Family Foundation. To honor the generosity of Richard and Dawn Huffman, the new space will be known as the Huffman Commons, NDP said in a release.

“The future we envision for Notre Dame Preparatory School requires thoughtful investment today, and we believe deeply that there is no greater gift we can offer than a learning environment where young women are empowered to grow in intellect, faith, leadership and service,” NDP head of school Angela Allen said.

“This accelerated campaign unites two essential goals: renewing the central gathering space of our campus and sustaining the vibrant daily life of our school through increased philanthropic support to The Fund for Notre Dame Prep.”

The other monetary commitment is from the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the entity that founded and sponsors the school. SSND’s commitment would mark the largest single contribution the order has ever made to the school, according to an NDP release.

The Common Ground campaign seeks to modernize the NDP campus as the school’s kitchen and dining area maintain the original 1960 design in its current Towson location. 

In addition, utility systems are outdated, and the servery configuration and gathering spaces do not meet current student needs, according to NDP. 

Construction of the Huffman Commons reflect a $10 million investment as NDP announced it is raising $1.5 million to enhance The Fund for Notre Dame Prep, the school’s annual fund.