TOGETHER WE CAN

Elevate Highlanders is a bold, comprehensive campaign to expand excellence at Lake Highland by building financial resources through the Highlander Fund and Endowment and by constructing three exceptional facilities for academics, athletics, and arts: the Porter Family Center for Innovation & Academics, the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Athletic Center, and The Arts District.

The vision for the Elevate Highlanders Campaign began in 2018 with collaborative discussions to develop the school’s new Strategic Plan and update our Campus Master Plan. More than 750 teachers, staff, parents, and alumni participated in discussions and provided feedback that resulted in a bold new vision to improve teaching and curriculum, build financial resources, and create outstanding facilities for academics, athletics, and arts.

PHASE I: Porter Family Center for Innovation & Academics | Opened August 2023!

PHASE II: Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Athletic Center

PHASE III: The Arts District

The cost of the Porter Center was approximately $29 million.

Architectural drawings for the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Athletic Center and The Arts District are still in development, but early projected costs are estimated at $22 million for the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Athletic Center and $9 million for The Arts District renovation.

Construction timing for Phases II and III depends on fundraising success. The sooner we receive gifts and pledges for the facilities, the sooner we can break ground and build them.

No. Tuition funds operations, not capital projects. LHP does not plan to raise tuition to fund construction costs for the projects. The school plans to rely on donations, pledges, and appropriate levels of debt to build the facilities.

In addition to Lake Highland’s Board of Trustees, our Elevate Campaign Cabinet and Highlander Ambassadors provide dedicated volunteer leadership and support for the Campaign.

Learn more about our Campaign Leadership here.

Your gift to the Highlander Fund is put to work immediately supporting the school’s highest priorities in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in our arts programs – including technology, innovative curriculum, teacher professional development, character and leadership programs, safety & security, and more.

Your gift to the three Elevate capital projects or LHP’s Endowment goes to work tomorrow and always. The facilities included in the Elevate vision will support and inspire our students for the next 50 years and beyond. Endowment gifts are equally long-term in effect, establishing permanent financial resources for LHP through the annual distribution of earnings back to the school, while maintaining the endowment’s principal in perpetuity.

Capital gifts and Endowment gifts have the power to transform our school and our campus for generations.

When planning your family’s philanthropic support of LHP, we ask you to first support the Highlander Fund, the foundational fundraising initiative of the school.

After making your annual gift to the Highlander Fund, we hope that you will make an additional investment in the Elevate capital projects or Endowment.

We invite and encourage families to consider making a multi-year pledge to the Elevate Campaign to meet your philanthropic goals and help us achieve this great vision. Your pledge can be spread over 2-5 years along a payment schedule that best suits your financial and tax planning.

Gifts of cash and appreciated securities are the most common ways to give. Some donors have other assets they wish to give to the school; we are happy to discuss the variety of giving options being considered by any donor.

Making a planned gift is another way to support this bold, transformational campaign. Planned gifts include bequests through a will, gifts of life insurance, gifts through an IRA or other qualified retirement account, or other assets. Learn more about planned gifts here and contact a member of our Advancement Team if you would like to discuss making a planned gift to Lake Highland.

We welcome your questions! Please contact any member of our Advancement Team and we will gratefully assist.