FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2026
The Wellington School Receives $1.5 Million Gift for Campus Transformation
A lead commitment from Ryan and Katarina Robinson launches the Fishinger Road project to include a new home for the Wellington Upper School
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Wellington School, a preschool–grade 12 independent school in Upper Arlington, Ohio, is pleased to announce a $1.5 million lead gift from Ryan and Katarina Robinson to advance the School’s ambitious strategic vision.
The gift, one of the most significant philanthropic commitments in Wellington’s history, comes alongside several other leadership-level commitments and accelerates plans for a nearly 70,000-square-foot transformation of the Fishinger Road side of campus. The project includes the demolition of the original 1918 school building purchased by Wellington’s founders and will create a dynamic new home for Wellington’s Upper School, including enhanced visual and performing arts spaces, inviting outdoor gathering spaces, and new opportunities for connection, creativity, and learning.
The Robinsons joined the school community during the 2025–26 school year with children in the Early Childhood and Lower School. They had a clear vision for their children’s education: a school that would challenge them academically while encouraging independent thought, creativity, kindness, character, and a genuine love of learning. Early in their time at the School, Head of School Eliza McLaren's description of Wellington's philosophy resonated.
"Eliza said, 'We teach our students how to think and not what to think,' and that was the first moment we knew it was the right school for our children," said the Robinsons.
That connection grew into a desire to invest in Wellington's future, including spaces their own children may not use for years. "We believe great schools are built by generations of families who choose to invest not only in their own children, but in the students who will come after them," they said. "We hope our children grow up to understand that when you have the ability to make a positive impact, there is value in helping create something that will last well beyond your own family."
The Robinsons’ decision reflects the kind of long-term investment that has shaped Wellington since its founding in 1982.
“Wellington has always been built by families willing to invest in what this school can become,” said McLaren. “For Ryan and Katarina to make this extraordinary commitment in their first year at Wellington speaks powerfully to their belief in our School and its future. Their generosity will shape the experience of students and teachers for decades, and I am deeply grateful for the trust they have placed in us.”
Construction and renovations are expected to be complete in late 2027. The Robinsons' gift arrives amid a season of momentum for Wellington, joining several other significant leadership commitments secured in recent months to support the campus transformation and endowment goals in the Bold Leap Strategic Plan.
Interested in learning more about supporting Wellington’s campus transformation? Contact Rachel Yantis, Chief Advancement Officer, at ryantis@wellington.org.
About The Wellington School
The Wellington School stands apart in Columbus for its commitment to student engagement and intellectual curiosity. Founded in 1982 by a group of Columbus entrepreneurs, Wellington is an independent, coeducational college preparatory day school in Upper Arlington, Ohio, serving 738 students from preschool through grade 12. The School has built a reputation for academic excellence, robust opportunities, and an innovative approach grounded in active thinking — where students engage deeply with ideas, use evidence to support their thinking, and communicate with clarity. At Wellington, students take ownership of their learning through meaningful questions and challenging work that asks them to apply what they know in new and complex contexts. Wellington prepares students not only for college, but to think independently, exercise sound judgment, and contribute meaningfully in the world.