The Sacks’ Vision for Leadership Through Service at Brunswick

Wendy and Ian Sacks P ’20, ’27 have always believed in leadership through service — that we learn so much about leading not by telling people what to do, but instead by serving others. When they joined the Brunswick community in 2018, the guiding principles of Courage, Honor, Truth resonated deeply with them as foundational values of strong leadership. 

“Good leadership entails humility, accountability, and a sense of gratitude,” Wendy said. “We were brought up in a community where respect and serving others were foundational values of sound leadership. And we have sought to bring up our children this way.”

“One learns humility and patience when helping someone else,” she noted. “One learns to build community and to lead by caring for others.”

As their boys grew in the Brunswick community, Wendy and Ian saw an opportunity to invest in the programmatic connection of leadership and service. They wanted to help Brunswick be even more intentional as it sets the foundation for the next generation of public and private sector leaders. To that end, their generous gift to Brunswick has helped establish the Directorship of Service Leadership and Sustainability.

Courtney Spada M.D., a pediatrician and community organizer, was named the inaugural director of the Service Leadership and Sustainability program. Her leadership focuses on empowering Brunswick students to become “a force for good” through age-appropriate service initiatives across all school divisions.

“Our goal is to instill a humble appreciation of community and an ‘Others Before Me’ mindset,” Spada explained. Her comprehensive program spans from Pre School to Upper School, creating meaningful service opportunities that help students understand their potential to positively impact those around them.