The Webb School is pleased to announce that Evan ’94 and Beth Cope of Murfreesboro, Tenn., have agreed to serve as chairs of the 2022-2023 Webb Fund.

The Webb Fund is a voluntary giving program that helps underwrite the core functions of the school and enables the enrichment and advancement of academics, arts, and athletics as well as financial aid, co-curriculars such as WILD, the Emerging Voices program, and more. Essentially the Webb Fund provides resources beyond tuition that support all areas of the school and benefit all students in the academic year the funds are donated. With more than 20% of Webb’s yearly budget derived from annual donations and income from the endowment, gifts to the Webb Fund make a difference for the Feet.

Since his graduation from Webb, Cope has remained an active member of the Webb community currently serving as a member of the school’s Board of Trust. He has practiced law in Murfreesboro since 2001, primarily in the field of civil litigation in both state and federal courts. In addition, he serves as chairman of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), a position to which he was elected by his fellow commissioners in 2015 following his appointment to the commission by Gov. Bill Haslam in 2012. Mrs. Cope is a member of the Murfreesboro Charity Circle and serves as a room mother at the Homer Pittard Campus School in Murfreesboro. The Copes are parents of twin eight-year-old sons, Edward and Andrew, who are in the third grade. The boys are avid fans of Webb Feet athletics and Webb Summer Program campers.

The Webb School’s Head of School Ken Cheeseman said, “Webb is fortunate to have Evan and Beth continuing the hard work of last year’s Webb Fund Chairs Lee ’78 and Jessica ’82 Woosley. They will be working closely with our Alumni and Development team, the school’s volunteer boards, and me in exceeding this year’s Webb Fund goal for the sixth year in a row. We are so grateful for their investment in our students and faculty and for their leadership and support.” 

When asked why they are willing to serve as Webb Fund Chairs this year, Mr. Cope said “the Webb Fund allows tuition to remain competitive with our peer institutions and supports the excellent academic and extracurricular programs that make The Webb School the special place that it is. Beth and I are willing to serve as chairs of the Webb Fund at this time for many reasons, not least of which is the inspiring vision and leadership of our head of school, Ken Cheeseman, and his staff.”

In addition to the Copes, two couples are serving in special roles to assist in fundraising for the Webb Fund. Webb Study Center Co-Directors James and Mallory Garcia are serving as this year’s Faculty and Staff Webb Fund Co-Chairs, and Ben ’96 and Anne Hunter Myers, parents of seventh grader Mary, are serving as the Parents and Families Webb Fund Co-Chairs.

The first big push for alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends is set for the week of Sept. 18 as Webb kicks off its annual Five-Week Webb Fund Campaign.

Visit https://www.thewebbschool.com/support-webb/the-webb-fund to learn more.

Photo: Evan, Beth, Edward and Andrew Cope