A Grateful Farewell to the Horizons Community
Posted on by Bill Hansen, Development and Communications Manager
My time with Horizons at Carolina Day School came to a close on August 31, 2026, with my retirement. As I reflect on my years with the organization, I am filled with gratitude for the countless experiences I have cherished and for the incredibly thoughtful, kind, and dedicated people alongside whom I had the privilege to serve.
The Horizons community truly lives up to its name. It is a community of compassionate, professional people who show up every day to do good in the world. Whatever challenges are encountered, they consistently lead with respect, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to helping children succeed.
I have often said that Horizons is unique in the field of youth development. In nearly 47 years working in out-of-school-time programming, I have never seen anything that compares with the Horizons Summer Academy. Its power comes from the combination of long-term relationships, academic rigor, and joyful enrichment. Families make a nine-year commitment, allowing students to grow within a consistent, caring community. Professional educators provide strong instruction in literacy and math, while swimming, social-emotional learning, and other enrichment experiences make learning engaging and fun. The results are remarkable: students return to school with meaningful academic growth, greater confidence, and a continued love of learning.
My time at Horizons has taught me so much, both professionally and personally. While there are far too many colleagues, supporters, partners, and volunteers to thank individually, I would be remiss if I did not express my deepest appreciation to Executive Director Jenny Tracy and Horizons co-founders Swati Patel and Himanshu Karvir, the team that interviewed and hired me. Of all the organizations and employers I have had the privilege to serve throughout my career, this has been the very best. Their visionary leadership, unwavering integrity, and genuine care for both people and purpose have made Horizons an extraordinary place to work.
I only hope that I have given back a small measure of all that I have received from these remarkable leaders and the many others who have made this journey so meaningful.
To the entire Horizons community, thank you for the opportunity to serve. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly, inspiring me so deeply, and demonstrating every day what is possible when we invest in children and in one another. You embody the belief that has guided this organization from the beginning: "We Believe in the Promise of Opportunity for All Children." It has been an honor to be part of that promise.