Alex Kleiner '04

Deerfield students, faculty, staff, and family members were able to raise over $30,000 for the Tiger Kloof School in South Africa by attending a benefit concert given by Dave Matthews. Held on Monday, May 5, at the Mullins Center at UMASS Amherst and originally the idea of Dave Matthews himself, the concert put aside over 90% of the proceeds for the Tiger Kloof School. A rough estimate predicts that, in total, Tiger Kloof will receive anywhere from $200,000-$250,000. Dave Matthews introduced Tiger Kloof at the beginning of the concert, giving tribute to the school and to his uncle, David Matthews, Deerfield's Wilson Visiting Fellow. In 1995, Mr. Matthews played a huge role in reopening and revitalizing the Tiger Kloof School after it had originally closed in 1962. Proceeds from the concert may be used to eliminate Tiger Kloof's fiscal deficit, fund a permanent post for an arts teacher, hire a qualified librarian, contribute to the growth of music, promote Round Square ideals, establish a program for environmental awareness, or create an endowment fund so that the school always had something on which to fall back.

In total, Deerfield sold 657 tickets to the concert, providing the backbone of the fundraiser. Hilary Matthews, Dave Matthews' aunt and Deerfield's second Wilson Visiting Fellow, stressed the importance of Deerfield's role, "There was a time when Deerfield was financially imperiled and a whole lot of local schools rallied around Deerfield to save it. Now, in the same way, Deerfield is able to, as history repeats itself, reach out to a member of its family, the round square family, in a symbol and gesture of generosity." This successful concert marks the beginning of the relationship between Deerfield and its Round Square sister schools.