The Webb Schools, an independent high school in Claremont, California, has announced an estate gift of at least $100 million from an alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous.

The gift, the largest ever to an independent high school west of the Mississippi, was made in honor of the donor's parents and is the centerpiece of Webb's Centennial Campaign, The Next 100, which aims to raise at least $200 million by 2025. The campaign is aimed at leveraging the school's location and creating partnerships that enable students to be actively involved with the many educational, cultural, and service institutions in the greater Los Angeles area; attracting and retaining exceptional teachers; and ensuring that a curious, high-energy, kind, and hard-working student body is enrolled regardless of financial circumstance.

"This transformative gift at least $100 million will enable Webb to dramatically expand access to our unique, unbounded program to the very best and deserving students regardless of financial circumstance," said head of schools Taylor B. Stockdale. "It is the single greatest act of philanthropy in Webb's history."

"When great teachers share experiences and exchange ideas, the invaluable art of teaching becomes electric. This energy attracts the best and most imaginative students eager to be challenged, both by their teachers and by each other," said the donor. "In turn, these students go on to become inspired graduates coveted by the world's best colleges and universities. And, more importantly, students get exposed to enough of what the world has to offer that they are able to find the place — be it a niche or an arena — where they can make their mark. Webb then truly becomes a place where the opportunities are boundless."