Giving News

Honoring Family, Empowering Futures: The Picarelli Gift to College Counseling

Thanks to the generosity of Denise Picarelli and Paul van der Wey, parents of Carter ’27, the College Counseling Program is increasingly well-positioned to support students in pursuing and preparing for post-secondary options.

The Picarelli Family Memorial Gift of $100K supports additional resources and skill-building when it comes to readiness for college and other higher-ed pathways.

“For us, it was about giving in a way that will impact McLean students of today and tomorrow. We were looking for a way to honor my parents and sister after they passed away. Education has always been important to our family, and they would be so pleased to know how much McLean has given Carter and other children like him who receive the support they need to do well academically and otherwise to set them up for success.

“However a child chooses to further their education, they need to be able to build the independence necessary for that next step. There’s a lot a school can do to help students prepare, and McLean is already doing a lot of it in terms of helping them build organizational skills and study habits, self-advocacy skills, and other things that will serve them well when they go into the world.”

“One thing we are excited about is developing McLean as a “reach-back” resource for graduates who might need some insight or input or advice from someone other than their parents. McLean is already set up for this given their focus on relationship building and connection and we are thrilled that our support can help make this program happen. Another area we support is leveling the playing field for students when it comes to the academic testing that is still required by a lot of colleges and universities, even though it’s not necessarily the best measure of what
students are capable of. We appreciate McLean’s work in this area to help children have as many options as possible.”

“McLean is a school that prioritizes getting to know each kid and what they need to succeed. They know when and how to push appropriately and what each child is capable of. We’re so happy to be able to support the School and honor my family members—Al, Judy, and Janice—in this way.”

The Power of Showing Up: Fran Brown’s Journey at McLean

McLean parent Fran Brown is a familiar face around McLean; she might be subbing in the first grade, or volunteering time on events like Cecily’s Conference or as a buddy to a parent whose family is new to the school.

Hard to believe that only three years ago she was that new parent, when son Benjamin ’31 came to McLean as a fifth grader. “I have ADHD inattentive like my son, but unlike him, I was undiagnosed as a child,” says Fran. “After he was tested and we met to review the findings, I started bawling, it was all so familiar to me from my own experience. It became my mission to make sure my son didn’t ever feel the way I did growing up.”

Fran’s desire to get involved as a volunteer and substitute teacher was less about her own child and more about all children. “It was about pouring energy and attention into kids and their learning experience in ways that would have helped me when I was that age,” she says. “What better way to do that than by being part of a whole school Community?”

Just as McLean meets students where they are and moves them forward, says Fran,
the school has welcomed her into the fold and encouraged her involvement. Instead of shying away from opportunities to contribute, which she attributes to her ADHD, she has embraced them wholeheartedly. “The way they accept their students, McLean has also accepted what I have to offer,” she says.

And she offers a lot: empathy and perspective, enthusiasm for life and learning, and a desire to connect and help others feel as welcome as she does. Fran’s valuable skill set also includes work as a certified etiquette coach, working with individuals and organizations on social skill building, communication, and collaboration. All of these qualities serve the McLean community very well, whether on committees or in the classroom.

“Supporting the School that supports your child is a feeling like no other,” adds Fran. “I get to see my kid, but more importantly, I get to see his world first-hand and how that world gives back to him. And that’s priceless.”

Put another way: “I may be the one giving my time, but it’s really McLean’s gift to me.”

Where Passion for Soccer Meets Purposeful Giving: The Wellenstein Sotoodehnia Family

Following their son Nico’s diagnosis of dyslexia in elementary school, Anna Wellenstein and Arash Sotoodehnia enrolled him in McLean School with the hope that it would be a better fit moving forward. It turned out to be that and then some: “We chose McLean for the potential support it could provide, and Nico has really thrived here, academically and socially,” says Arash.

Now a senior, Nico has not only had success as a student but also an athlete. “Sports are super important to him, and soccer in particular,” says Anna. “It’s a valuable outlet for physical energy and building skills, as well as a tremendous source of community, discipline, and joy.”

For these reasons and more, the family made a generous gift to McLean in support of the school, and the soccer program specifically. “We thought we could provide a boost to an area that doesn’t get boosted by everyone,” says Anna. “And we really see athletics as contributing to the overall school experience, inspiring success across the board.” It’s an approach very much in keeping with McLean’s Abilities Model®, where a child’s strengths are celebrated and used to build confidence in other areas.

One of the many things Anna and Arash appreciate about the school is its warm and supportive community, noting that even though not all Nico’s friends play on his soccer team, they come to the games, and he goes to theirs, cheering each other on.

“At a school this size, the community plays a significant role in the experience,” says Anna. “It also means that your giving can have a big impact.”