Q&A with New President and CEO, LtCol Ted Probert USMC (Ret.)
Having served in the Marine Corps for over twenty years, you have a personal connection to the Marine Corps and the families we support. Can you tell us about your service?
I participated in the Naval ROTC program at Duke University and commissioned as a 2ndLt after graduation in 1984. My first duty station was as a combat engineer with 1st CEB at Camp Pendleton. The highlight of this assignment was as the engineer officer for the 13th Marines Amphibious Unit (MAU) in support of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. After three years of active duty, I served in the Reserves for over eighteen years, which included a deployment to Iraq as the engineer company commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron – 472. I concluded my career as part of Marine Corps Recruiting Command where I was instrumental in the creation of the Summer Leadership and Character Development Academy (SLCDA) program. I retired from the Marine Corps in 2014.
Before coming to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, what was the focus of your professional career?
I have close to thirty years of experience in educational fundraising mostly at the secondary school level. I started my career at the Lawrenceville School in 1992 where I worked for seven years. While there, I participated in the largest fundraising campaign ever for a secondary school, which raised more than $134 million. I also worked at Phillips Exeter Academy for thirteen years and helped launch a seven-year $352 million campaign. After that historic campaign, I was chosen to run the institutional advancement department and build out the Academy’s international fundraising efforts.
What is your vision for the future of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation?
It is my desire to heighten visibility and increase awareness about MCSF so we can have a greater impact and serve more Marine Corps and Navy families. We need to increase our connections with global corporate leaders and leading philanthropists who can facilitate an increase in revenue for the Scholarship Foundation. Their support can have an enormous impact on the lives of our students and help educate future generations and global citizens of tomorrow. The Scholarship Foundation’s strategic plan is an ambitious initiative to increase the number and size of scholarships we award and I’m passionate about ensuring we meet these goals for our Marine Corps families.
Why is our mission of Honoring Marines by Educating Their Children meaningful to you?
I didn’t fully appreciate how meaningful it would be for me to be a part of the Marine Corps family again after my retirement from service. Marines serve and protect this Nation, and by supporting them and their families we are leveling the playing field for their children. An investment in the Scholarship Foundation is a meaningful way to know you’re supporting deserving families who sacrifice so much for our freedoms and this great country.
Is there anything else you would like investors to know as you lead the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation forward?
There is a tremendous opportunity for everyone to be an ambassador for MCSF, whether they are an investor, scholar, or Marine Corps family. The more we share our great work with pride and illuminate why an investment in the Scholarship Foundation is so important, the more we will serve Marine Corps and Navy families. As the Scholarship Foundation begins our 60th year, our incredible team is poised to take MCSF to the next level and support more families with an increasing average scholarship award. Please join us on this journey.