also purchased more than of rainforest, known as Siempre Verde, in Ecuador for the purpose of establishing a research and education center. In 1995 Lovett began hosting Summerbridge Atlanta (now known as Breakthrough Atlanta), an academic enrichment program for middle school students from Atlanta's public schools. During the 1998–99 school year, the Lovett School Board of Trustees worked in earnest toward a new strategic plan. Working committees met to plan for the school's future in the areas of governance, educational environment, co-curricular programs, character education, inclusivity, faculty/staff, technology, facilities and endowment/development. The school was named an "independent school of distinction" in its Fall 1999 interim review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2000-01 and celebrated with such events as a history exhibition and a reunion for former alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the school. That year, Lovett also embarked on its 75th Anniversary Campaign to raise funds for a construction and improvement plan, which was designed to improve the quality of student and faculty life. The fundraising goal for Phase I of that project was $55 million. Phase II of the project was started in 2003 under new headmaster William S. Peebles IV. It was completed in 2009 and included a new middle school and community center. The school instituted its Character Pledge in 2000: "We, who are members of the Lovett community, seek to live lives of good character. We believe that good character grows from daily acts of honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion. We pledge ourselves to develop these ideals with courage and integrity, striving to do what is right at all times." In 2017, the school announced that Meredyth Cole would replace retiring Headmaster William S. Peebles IV at the end of the 2017–18 school year. Notable alumni Brent Abernathy (1996), Major League Baseball infielder, 1995 Dial Award winner, outfielder, gold medalist in the 2000 Olympics (baseball) David I. Adelman (1982), United States ambassador to the Republic of Singapore, 2010–2013. Knox Culpepper (1981), record-holding linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs Wes Gordon (2005), fashion designer Jeff Greenstein, television writer, producer, and director Grant Haley (2014), NFL player Gale Harold (1987), actor, Queer as Folk, Vanished, numerous movies and TV appearances Mary Louise Kelly (1989), broadcaster and author Shane Kimbrough (1985), NASA Astronaut Christine Lakin (1997), actress; played "Al" on Step By Step as a child Charlotte Laws (1978),