Giving
Impact of Giving
Your generosity today shapes the success of tomorrow
Every gift, every story, every moment of connection helps RNS students thrive.
At Rothesay Netherwood School generosity takes many forms—and each one makes a difference. Whether it’s through a donation, joining us at events on the Hill, engaging with fellow members of the RNS community, or sharing stories of our students’ successes and the RNS experience, your involvement helps create something bigger than any one of us. Together, we are building a culture of philanthropy that celebrates connection, supports opportunity, and ensures that our students continue to flourish both today and in the years ahead.
At Rothesay Netherwood School generosity takes many forms—and each one makes a difference. Whether it’s through a donation, joining us at events on the Hill, engaging with fellow members of the RNS community, or sharing stories of our students’ successes and the RNS experience, your involvement helps create something bigger than any one of us. Together, we are building a culture of philanthropy that celebrates connection, supports opportunity, and ensures that our students continue to flourish both today and in the years ahead.
Our goal is to communicate effectively with you, our donors, and be transparent in our handling of your donations. We are grateful for the support and trust you place in RNS and we endeavour to provide you with regular information detailing the progress of your gifts.
The Owens Family
Bob and Jeff Owens ’98 know that in order to make something better, it takes action and commitment. Thirty years ago, Bob and his business partner, Dave MacFadyen, decided that good was not good enough for clients of their boutique financial services firm, Owens MacFadyen Group. They disrupted their industry by providing products and services with a new approach. That mindset—the transformation from good to great—motivates Bob and Jeff to do the same for RNS.
Since 2019, the Owens family has funded the RNS OMG Changemakers Speaker Series, which brings together Senior School students and business leaders three times a year to listen to a keynote speaker, ask thoughtful questions, and gain valuable networking skills. A new program is currently under development, also sponsored by OMG, tailored to students interested in the investment sector. Both of these programs teach business acumen, financial literacy, communication and negotiation skills, and open new avenues for our students to explore.
Though they do not seek recognition, we would be remiss in not offering the Owens family as an example of dedicated community builders. Staying connected to RNS is important to their family. Bob was an RNS Director from 1993 to 2006 and Board Chair from 1997 to 2001. Jeff is a graduate of the Class of 1998; his brother, Jonathan Owens, graduated in 2002, and his sister, Natalie Owens, is part of the Class of 2005. An RNS Governor since 2023, Jeff explains why his family shares the RNS school value of community:
“RNS gave me a foundation and friend group that has stood the test of time. It’s also where I met my wife, Holly McMackin ’97, and our son, Heath ’32, will attend RNS this fall, followed by Nathan ’34 and Tessa ’36. The campus has changed over the years, but the RNS culture and values remain unchanged. Retaining that culture isn’t an easy task, and that’s the biggest factor for me when it comes to how we can enhance the RNS community – helping to preserve it. Many educational institutions are one-size-fits-all, but RNS is the complete inverse of that. Just like a parent has to adjust to the different needs of each child, RNS has a similar principle embedded in its culture, which makes the school so special.
I believe in giving back some of what we’ve gained over the years, and supporting the school is important to honour the relationships I built when I was there. Whether it’s your time, a financial donation, sharing knowledge or talent, this community is worthy of your gifts and becomes stronger because of it. My advice is to get involved and pay it forward.”
The McKenzie Family
When Jon and Debbie McKenzie moved their five children from Alberta to New Brunswick, they were looking for a school to help ease that transition. It was apparent from their first visit to RNS that their children would be warmly welcomed into the tight-knit RNS community and encouraged to learn in an academically challenging environment with exceptional support.
"We appreciated the caring culture RNS provides each student through dedicated, empathetic teachers, small Advisor groups and diverse co-curriculars. Like our own children, each student is different and the RNS experience nurtured individual growth in a very supportive way. Our kids graduated with a strong sense of values, compassion, a drive for personal achievement, and the ability to work hard. And the traditional events at RNS helped us form lifelong friendships as parents alongside our children.
We continue to be engaged because we have a passion for the school. We believe RNS is important to the community of the Kennebecasis Valley, the City of Saint John, and the province of New Brunswick. We hope we can help RNS remain a leader of independent schools with a unique focus on its students and the community at large. Any amount of time, talent, or financial gifts from parents, grandparents, and alumni can allow RNS to give more to its students and sustain its special place in the Maritimes and internationally.”
Stefanie Mortimer '00
Attending RNS has had a large impact on shaping who I am and choose to be in society and to my children. It provided several fundamental influences: the importance of a community that supports and shapes you to be the best version of yourself so you can serve society in positive ways; a commitment to education, knowledge, and always striving to learn and understand more; and the balance of academics with arts, culture and sports.
I choose to give back to RNS because it gave me so much and set me up for a fulfilling career and life. I strongly believe in paying it forward. RNS is continually investing in the generations of tomorrow - future leaders, educators, and changemakers.
We need to embrace change and support it and supporting RNS is one way to do that.”
40 College Hill Road
Rothesay, NB
E2E 5H1
Canada
+1-506-847-8224
+1-866-768-4372
info@rns.cc
Rothesay, NB
E2E 5H1
Canada
+1-506-847-8224
+1-866-768-4372
info@rns.cc
Translate this page:
Rothesay Netherwood School is located on the traditional territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples. We are honoured to share this place, and as a school community, we are committed to being responsible stewards of the land on which we live, teach, and learn, both today and for future generations.
.