Chris Carney '75
Giving back is a core practice at Holderness. Alumni, current and past parents, grandparents, and friends offer their time and knowledge—planning events, hosting students, supporting the Holderness Fund, cheering on athletic teams, serving as Senior Thesis mentors, and speaking on campus. No one exemplifies this practice better than Chris Carney '75.
Chris made his first gift to Holderness in November 1975. That $10 gift was just the first step in paying back an experience that he describes as, "part of my foundation—the solid base on which I have built a successful and rewarding life."
After graduating from Holderness, Chris received his BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and went on to work for the Ritz Carlton Hotel Boston, Sheraton Corporation, AEW Capital Management, and Fidelity Investments, where he served as Director of Asset Management for the Real Estate Group from 1995–2008.
Despite a long and distinguished career, Chris never really left Holderness and has been a tireless supporter for more than 40 years. He has served as a reunion volunteer, as the president of the Alumni Association, and as a member of the Holderness Board of Trustees since 2007. As a trustee, he has lent his energy and wisdom to the Finance, Investment, Board Governance and Nominating, Advancement, and Strategic Planning Committees. For two years he even led an Out Back group.
Chris is also a Holderness parent—father of Annie '08—and since 2008, Chris and his wife Karen have made generous challenge gifts to support the senior class gift, inspiring philanthropy in a whole new generation of Holderness alumni. Thanks to the Carneys' challenge, support from parents, and proceeds from student-organized initiatives like hat and donut sales, the Class of 2017 raised more than $10,000 to renovate and revitalize the student space in lower Weld. "Both Karen and I take great pleasure from our involvement as part of the Holderness family and want to perpetuate the strong core values that Holderness instills," says Chris.
"The Holderness experience was transformational for me, and I saw the same impact on Annie," Chris adds. "As treasurer of the board, I have a strong understanding of the need for gifts to sustain and advance the school." With this in mind, Chris and Karen recently made a planned gift that offers long-term benefits both to their family and to the school.
Chris transferred the title of a condominium he owned in Maine to a charitable remainder unitrust. When the trust terminates, the assets remaining will be distributed to Holderness.
"This planned gift allowed us to make a much larger gift to Holderness than we ever thought possible," explains Chris. "The structure allowed us to donate the condominium and sell it within the trust without paying capital gains taxes on the appreciated value. The trust provides an income stream to us for our lifetime, and we received a charitable deduction upon creation of the trust."
Today, Chris and Karen live in Falmouth, ME. Chris recently retired from the Sunday River Ski Patrol, but he still races Etchells sailboats and plays golf. The couple spends part of the year in Florida, where he enjoys golf and fishing, and Karen plays golf, tennis and pickleball. They enjoy the theater and the Pops and look forward to their two ski trips in the West. Chris and Karen also make sure to leave time every day to walk their Golden Retriever, Emerson, to the beach and dog park.
Holderness is grateful to the Carneys for their continued leadership and support.