Michael Greenebaum said it was a day that his late parents, philanthropists and community leaders Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum, would have cherished.
“My parents would be soproud of all the donors who followed our gift with their own generous gifts,”he said at the groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 6 for a state-of the-art middleschool building at McDonogh School in Owings Mills. “Together, we are buildinga stronger McDonogh.”
Current and futureMcDonogh students, donors and school leaders gathered for the ceremony for the middleschool facility, which is expected to open in approximately 18 months. Duringthe ceremony, school leaders announced that the building will be named theMarlene and Stewart Greenebaum Middle School.
“The Greenebaum familyname stands for loyalty, commitment, hard work and service,” said Head of SchoolDavid J. Farace. “These are traits that we aim to teach our students each andevery day. It is both fitting and appropriate that our new middle school willbear this special name.”
Established in 1873, McDonogh is an independent, co-educational,pre-kindergarten-12 school with a five-day boarding option and bus service toBaltimore City and Baltimore, Howard, Carroll and Anne Arundel counties.
A longtime McDonoghparent and trustee, Michael Greenebaum pledged $8 million to the middle school projecton behalf of the Stewart and Marlene Greenebaum Family Foundation last February.In making the lead gift, the Greenebaum family challenged the greater McDonogh community to raise the remaining funds forthe facility.
“When I look at all of your faces, I amoverwhelmed with emotion because it is for you and future generations that thisnew middle school is being built,” Greenebaum said to the students in theaudience. “I am not addressing you as kids or students, I see future doctors,cancer researchers, engineers, and yes, maybe even a World Series MVP for theBaltimore Orioles.”
The Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum MiddleSchool will feature flexible classrooms to accommodate teacher interactionswith students, ranging from one-on-one meetings to hands-on group lessons.
In addition, the facility will house a 21st-century library, a learning center, visual and performing arts spaces, and a makerspace, all of which will greatly enhance cross-curricular experiences as well as interactions among students and faculty. The cutting-edge space will be infused with premier contemporary technology.
Designed by BowieGridley Architects of Washington D.C., the $25 million, 67,000-square-footbuilding is being constructed by the Reisterstown-based Chesapeake ContractingGroup.
The Marlene andStewart Greenebaum Middle School replaces the Finney Building, a structurebuilt in 1937. Head of Middle School Darren Ford announced that the Finney name will be preserved on campus.
“The Senior Quad infront of the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Middle School will be refurbishedand named the Finney Senior Quad as a tribute to Dr. John M. T. Finney, alongtime member and president of our board of trustees,” Ford said.
Participating in theprogram’s ceremonial first dig were Greenebaum and his wife, Adele; Farace and Ford;Robert L. Young III, president of McDonogh’s board of trustees; JenniferBowders, associate head of middle school; and seventh grade students Langston Riding and Mark Cherches.
Following the ceremony, Michael Greenebaum, an accomplished guitarist, joined the Middle School Rock Shop band in playing Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s 1974 timeless classic, “Takin’ Care of Business.” In addition, McDonogh’s fourth grade drum corps entertained guests at the ceremony.
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