The Episcopal School of Dallas Announces Transformative Gift to ESD Endowment, Supporting Teacher Excellence
March 24, 2025
ESD is thrilled to announce a significant gift from former ESD Board Chair Giffen Weinmann and his wife CiCi to establish the Weinmann Family Endowment demonstrating a profound commitment to the school's strategic plan and the future of its students.
As the proud parents of three ESD graduates, CiCi and Giffen articulated their appreciation for their daughters’ educational experiences at ESD and the solid foundation it provided. Their investment underscores a shared feeling that exceptional education is the cornerstone of a thriving community. “We have a strong belief in the strategic plan, ESD 2030, which is designed to maintain the existing strengths of the school while improving the quality and scope of the program delivered to students, and wanted to support its implementation,” noted Giffen.
A key focus of this generous gift is to bolster teacher compensation, recognizing the pivotal role educators play in shaping the lives of students. "Dave Baad always says, 'great teachers make great schools.' By helping fund teacher compensation, ESD will be positioned to hire and retain great teachers," said Giffen.
To further validate this belief, the Weinmann Family Endowment will endow a distinguished teaching award in the Upper School.
The award will recognize a faculty member who consistently demonstrates exceptional commitment to the highest standards of teaching. It celebrates an educator who not only imparts knowledge but also inspires a lifelong love of learning, fosters a supportive and inclusive classroom environment, and empowers students to reach their full potential. The initial Weinmann Distinguished Teaching Award will be presented in May 2026.
CiCi and Giffen also expressed their deep confidence in ESD's leadership. "Excellent schools have great leadership. We have great confidence in both the ESD board and Dave Baad and his leadership team," they affirmed.
An endowment is a gift that keeps on giving, year after year, and helps give the school the financial stability to make effective long-term plans. It will have a lasting impact on ESD, empowering the school to attract and retain outstanding educators and ensuring the delivery of an exceptional educational experience for generations to come.
For more information about Our Time to Soar - a Campaign for The Episcopal School of Dallas, including a complete listing of campaign leadership and the video announcing the campaign, visit www.esdallas.org/our-time-to-soar
