The Right Place Changes Everything
For Mollie Smith, Rundle Academy was the place that changed everything.
Before she walked through its doors, she was struggling academically and socially. But as soon as she stepped into Rundle Academy, something was different.
“It felt like a place where people actually cared,” Mollie recalls. She remembers then-Academy principal Jason Rogers touring her and echoing a sentiment that her own dad had shared with her many times: “Having a learning disability just means you learn differently. It’s no different than a pair of glasses for someone who needs help with their eyesight ”
For Mollie’s parents, Laurie Smith and Katie McCunn, that shared perspective also solidified for them that Rundle Academy would be the right place for her. And they were right.
Katie remembers Mollie’s first day at Rundle. She arrived home and declared, “Mom, Dad, I have friends! That was our experience with Rundle on day one. And it was magic the whole time she was there!” Mollie made friends immediately. She felt seen, heard, and most importantly, accepted.
A Space for Connection
This sense of belonging was not just about finding an academic fit—it was about finding a community that understood and supported her. It’s why the Smith-McCunn family wanted to give back to Rundle Academy with a transformative $1 million donation to support the Building Futures campaign.
The gift will sponsor the new Great Hall, a central gathering space where students will continue to build the kinds of connections that were pivotal in Mollie’s own experience. The donation will help create a space for students, teachers, and families to come together, socialize, and create lasting relationships. It’s a vision that aligns with Rundle Academy’s core mission: to foster a supportive and inclusive environment.
“A school isn’t just about classrooms and learning. It’s also about the social side: the people you meet and the community you build,” says Laurie.
Building a Lasting Legacy
The family’s gift is about expanding the opportunity that Rundle Academy represents—a place where an ever-increasing number of students with learning disabilities can continue to pave their own path to success.
“Laurie and I believe that education is one of the main keys to success,” says Katie,” so when the opportunity came up to virtually double the physical infrastructure and double the number of students accessing the Academy, we saw it as a significant opportunity.”
The Smith-McCunn family say they initially intended to bequeath a gift to the Academy in their will, but realized their gift could have an even greater impact immediately.
“The Academy needs it now. We can improve the lives of more kids and more families and help our community. You can start right now,” says Laurie. “Having experienced and benefited from the Academy ourselves, we hope others see that the opportunity exists for everyone to greatly expand the ability to meet this need in our community. That’s what you will do by contributing to the Building Futures campaign.”
A Vision for the Future
As we look ahead to the next chapter of Rundle Academy, this donation will serve as a reminder of the profound impact this type of inclusive and supportive education has on students with learning disabilities and their families.
The new Rundle Academy building will continue to be a place where more students can find their way, feel supported, and thrive.
“We can't describe what the feeling is like, knowing your child has access to Rundle Academy. All you want for your kids is for them to be happy, and to reach their full potential. Once Mollie started there, all of a sudden that was a possibility again,” says Laurie. “The right place for your child changes everything. Mollie was happy. Rundle Academy was the right place for her.”
