Donor Spotlight: The Baudouin-Callan Family
At the heart of everything we do is you—our incredible community of parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and grandparents. Your generosity fuels the extraordinary experiences that make French International so exceptional. Thank you for being the driving force behind our success.
Michelle and Alexandre joined our community in 2022 after returning from three years abroad in Taiwan. Their daughter, Eloise, joined kindergarten in 2022 and is now a third grader.
What motivated both of you to enroll Eloise at French International?
“My husband is French and Swiss and has spoken French with our daughter since she was born. After visiting the campus, speaking with several families that attend FI, and meeting a few of the teachers, we knew this was a perfect match for her. The curriculum is so thoughtful and unique that I was excited to have Eloise in this environment.”
Alexandre joined the French International Board of Trustees this school year, dedicating his time and knowledge to supporting our mission and values while continuing initiatives to implement our five-year Strategic Plan. Michelle also took on the Annual Fund Representative volunteer role for the second year! She serves as an ambassador for the Annual Fund, a key fundraising initiative at FI, sharing the importance of its impact on our school community and supporting the Development team in building a culture of philanthropy. By fostering engagement and participation, she plays a vital role in ensuring we continue to provide learning and educational opportunities outside the classroom.
Ever since joining French International, Michelle and Alexandre have been dedicated supporters of the Annual Fund by making their annual contribution and using their company’s matching gift program to amplify the impact of their generosity.
What contributed to your decision to donate to the Annual Fund?
“Activities! Anything out of the classroom is such a great opportunity for the students. Classroom work is much needed, and so are these other experiences to see the concepts applied in the real world. It gives them a new perspective. I love this for our children and would want to see more of these fun things happen!”
As a parent, how have you witnessed the positive effects of your donations on Eloise’s education and overall experience at the school?
“Field trips and new adventures are very much something to look forward to in our household. The anticipation of the day is always so fun to see in your child. And instead of the first words out of her mouth when I pick her up are: “Mom, did you bring me a snack” they are, “The field trip was SO fun!”. The last field trip (3rd Grade), they visited 4 of the cats that were placed around the city. This has inspired our child to continue searching for and documenting the locations of other cats around the city!”
What message would you like to share with our community about the importance of supporting French International?
“Supporting FI strengthens the community that all of us value so much – for some of us it is why we enrolled! Contributions, no matter how big or small, allow for so many different types of fulfillment for the school. Scholarships, field trips, a new campus, and so much more. Being a part of giving is impactful at any level.”
What is your favorite, or proudest, French International moment?
“It is hard to pinpoint an exact moment, but we are proudest of the overall growth in our child, which is a testament to the comprehensive curriculum of the school.”
What are you the most excited about for the future of French International?
“I am super excited to see the new campus! After seeing how incredible the Middle School transformation was, I can’t wait to see what happens for the Maternelle and Lower Schools.”
Thank you, Michelle and Alexandre, for leading by example—your dedication means so much to our community!
Has anything you've seen from us inspired you to give?
“Gaining a better understanding of how this fund is different from the other buckets of donations really helped. It is specific and dedicated to one purpose that is beneficial to students of all ages.”
Interested in knowing how philanthropy powers French International? Take a look at the details below!