Our History

The story of the Ardenne Alumni Foundation is rooted in the longer story of Ardenne High School itself, a school built on faith, service, discipline and the pursuit of excellence.

The Ardenne Alumni Foundation was established by past students of Ardenne High School to give back to the institution that helped shape their lives, in a structured and lasting way. Officially launched in October 2014, as an approved charitable organisation, the Foundation receives donations and together with the Alumni Association and its chapter around the world, support initiatives that advance the welfare of present and future generations of Ardenne students, teachers and administrators.

Under the leadership of its Charter Chairman, Mrs. Florence “Flo” Darby, the Foundation set out to preserve and strengthen Ardenne’s tradition of excellence. Its early priorities reflected both practical needs and a broad vision for student development. These included reducing the school’s energy costs through solarisation, supporting student welfare programmes, supporting the provision of bursaries and scholarships, and online learning and in recent time the creation of a wellness centre.

One of the Foundation’s early public acts of service was its support for Ardenne’s nutrition programme. In 2015, the Foundation, together with the Ardenne Alumni Toronto Chapter, donated more than J$250,000 to the school’s nutrition programme, with the pledge that no student should go hungry while at school.

Over the years, the Foundation has worked closely with local and international alumni bodies, recognising that Ardenne’s strength lies not only on the school compound, but across a wide and loyal diaspora of past students. 

In recent years, the Foundation’s flagship fundraising effort has included the Ardenne Optima 5K Run/Walk, which has grown into a meaningful community event. By 2026, the third staging of the Optima 5K was being used to support the development of a proposed Health and Wellness Centre at Ardenne High School, while also extending assistance to Westwood High School following hurricane damage. 

The proposed Wellness Centre reflects the Foundation’s evolving vision: not only to assist students academically, but to support their physical, emotional and mental well-being. Public reporting in 2026 noted that the project was being pursued as part of Ardenne’s centenary milestone, with the aim of creating a facility that could benefit not only Ardenne students and staff, but the wider educational community. 

Today, the Ardenne Alumni Foundation continues to stand on the same values that shaped the school’s founding. It honours the legacy of George and Nellie Olson and all those who carried Ardenne through its formative years, while inviting each new generation of past students to play a part in building the future.

The Foundation exists because Ardenne gave much to its students. Its work continues because generations of alumni believe that giving back is one of the finest ways to live the school’s motto: with God as Guide, to seek the best,  not only for ourselves, but for those who come after us.