Construction continues on the Richard and John Woodruff Dining Hall at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School recently announced it’s naming its new dining facility the Richard and John Woodruff Dining Hall.
The Richard and John Woodruff Dining Hall represents the fourth generation in the Woodruff family who have supported the mission and work of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
Richard “Buck” and John Woodruff are sons of the dining hall’s cornerstone donor Jane Woodruff. Woodruff is the granddaughter of the late Emily and Ernest Woodruff and daughter of the late Irene and George Woodruff. She is the namesake of Jane Woodruff Hall, the senior residence hall on campus, and a philanthropist whose thoughtful and generous gifts have helped to extend and enhance services in the areas of healthcare, education, and community living.
“Ms. Jane’s affection and support for Rabun Gap, combined with her strategic vision for the school, have been transformational gifts that have helped make Rabun Gap the school it is today,” says Head of School Anthony Sgro.
A fateful knock on the door
The Woodruff family has been a longtime supporter of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School since the school’s earliest days. The family’s legacy at Rabun Gap is one of philanthropy and leadership. School founder Andrew Jackson Ritchie told of going door-to-door in the Atlanta neighborhood of Inman Park, when he knocked on the door of the Woodruff home. After hearing about the amazing work the school was doing, Emily Woodruff began supporting Rabun Gap with her household money. Her husband, Ernest Woodruff, the Atlanta financier most known for the purchase of the Coca-Cola Company, soon followed, helping the School rebuild from a devastating fire in 1927 and spearheading the establishment of the school’s endowment.
Ernest and Emily’s two sons followed in their parents’ footsteps with their philanthropic care for Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. Robert W. Woodruff, head of the Coca-Cola Company, galvanized a group of Atlanta friends to meet the goal of a $400,000 endowment in 1938. Youngest son George Woodruff served as board chair of the school for three decades and led the campus through some of its most trying times.
“The Woodruff family continues to make a lasting impact on Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School,” said Sgro. “We’re excited to commemorate this legacy with the naming of our most focal building on campus – the Richard and John Woodruff Dining Hall.”
The Richard and John Woodruff Dining Hall joins buildings across campus bearing the Woodruff name, including the Emily and Ernest Woodruff Chapel, Irene Woodruff Hall, George Woodruff Hall, Ernest Woodruff Hall, and Jane Woodruff Hall.
Brothers Buck and John are active philanthropist and leaders for various Atlanta organizations, and Buck has served as a member of the school’s Board of Trustees for nine years.
Construction began on the Richard and John Woodruff Dining Hall this summer after the successful $7 million campaign which exceeded its goal thanks in part to our lead philanthropic family, foundations, and the many parents, friends, and alumni who have supported the project.
The 15,500 square-foot brick building will seat 475, providing a much larger dining space to accommodate Rabun Gap’s record enrollment. It will open in spring 2019. Upon its opening, the school’s historic Addie Corn Ritchie Dining Hall will be repurposed to serve as a student center complete with a cafe, recreational area, campus store, and other convenient amenities for on-campus living.
