Historic Gift to Launch Athletics and Wellness Project
Kimball Union Academy is proud to announce a $10 million bequest from Phillip H. Morse ’60, marking the largest capital gift commitment in the Academy’s history. This extraordinary legacy gift will launch the vision for a new Athletics and Wellness Center and the development of a centralized Athletics and Wellness Quad, transforming the student experience and advancing one of KUA’s top strategic priorities.
Morse’s gift will significantly enhance KUA’s ability to support student-athletes and coaches in the pursuit of excellence, while also creating a best-in-class environment for health and wellbeing across the entire community. The new Athletics and Wellness Center will join existing facilities—Whittemore Athletic Center, Akerstrom Arena, Pope Field Complex, and the Barn Field House—within a pedestrian-friendly quad anchored by a new grass gathering space. The new facility will feature a multi-court gymnasium, indoor track, locker rooms, multipurpose spaces, an expanded athletic training facility, and spectator seating to elevate training, competition, and recruitment.
“During my time at Kimball Union, athletics was at the heart of my experience,” said Morse who has served as Vice Chairman of the Boston Red Sox since 2004 and a partner since 2002. “The coaches, teammates, and mentors I had there shaped me in lasting ways—and many of those relationships remain among my most meaningful lifelong friendships. As others reflect on their own time at KUA, I hope this gift inspires support for the bold vision we now have for today’s student-athletes and coaches.”
A standout student-athlete during his post-graduate year at KUA, Morse earned varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball, captained the basketball team, and received the Fred Wesley Wyman Award for Most Valuable Player. He was mentored by legendary coaches George Akerstrom and Robert “Stretch” Gillam ’56. In recognition of his legacy of leadership and teamwork, the athletics and wellness facility will be named the Morse Athletics & Wellness Center. His enduring friendship with teammate Donald F. McBeth ’60, forged on the 1959 football field and carried through college, Sigma Chi Fraternity, and military service, will be honored with an internal named space in the Center.
Phil Morse '60 with his partner Cathy Crosby.
“It would be impossible to overstate my gratitude to Phil for ensuring we have an athletic facility that matches KUA’s longstanding commitment to exceptional athletic programming,” said Head of School Tyler Lewis. “His early achievements laid the foundation for a remarkably successful career, and his enduring loyalty to the people who impacted him speak to values we hold dear at Kimball Union. His commitment to excellence—on the field and in life—serves as a powerful example, and his legacy will continue to inspire others to invest in KUA's future.”
“Phil’s foresight and belief in the long-term strength of Kimball Union Academy is remarkable,” said Jennifer Borislow ’78, P’07, P’10, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “A planned gift of this magnitude reflects not only Phil’s personal connection to KUA, but also his desire to ensure that future generations benefit from the same sense of challenge, purpose, friendship, and belonging that shaped his own life. We are honored that Phil chose to make KUA part of his legacy, and we are committed to stewarding this gift with the greatest care and appreciation.”
KUA’s storied athletic program today includes 19 varsity teams, with 70% of students earning at least one varsity letter annually. The Academy also offers robust junior varsity and recreational programs, ensuring access to competitive and wellness opportunities for all. KUA’s commitment to excellence is reflected in the many graduates who continue their athletic careers at the collegiate and professional levels.
Morse founded North American Instrument Corporation in 1969, pioneering the Morse Manifold, a transparent fluid delivery system still used in cardiac catheterization procedures today. He resides in Jupiter, Florida. He and his late wife Susan have a long legacy of philanthropy, including gifts to their alma mater, the University of Maine, which transformed its athletics program through the realization of the UMaine Athletics Facilities Master Plan, the Morse Field, and the Morse Arena. Morse is also helping advance patient care with a transformative gift to the new Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute.
As the Athletics and Wellness project progresses, we look forward to engaging others in this transformative vision. Those who wish to learn more or explore ways to be involved are invited to contact Stacey Summerfield, Director of Institutional Advancement at ssummerfield@kua.org or 603-469-2125.
