Charlotte Frances Fox '60
At the school’s opening meeting last week, Girls Preparatory School’s Head of School, Megan D. Cover, announced to the faculty and staff the creation of a new fund to support its faculty.
This summer, the school was notified of a gift in excess of $8 million from the estate of GPS alumna Charlotte Frances Fox, Class of 1960. The second-largest individual gift in the 120-year history of the school, the majority of the funds were allocated to create The Fox Fund for Exceptional Teaching, a permanent reserve for faculty salaries.
“I wish Charlotte were here with us today to witness the impact of her extraordinary generosity and thoughtful planning on her alma mater,” Ms. Cover said to her faculty members. The fund was established after an unanimous vote from the school’s board of trustees on how to best allocate the unrestricted gift.
“This fund will provide ongoing support to one of our highest priorities: investing in our faculty—those who develop trusted relationships, nurture our girls’ potential, and prepare them to lead lives of integrity and purpose,” Ms. Cover said.
Prior to this gift, GPS had committed to a significant multiyear plan to increase faculty compensation in order to recruit and retain the very best educators. “Thanks to Charlotte’s generosity and foresight, we are able to shore up this commitment with a significant investment in our faculty,” Ms. Cover said.
Charlotte Frances Fox graduated from GPS in 1960 and went on to graduate from Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) in 1964. After graduation, she worked at the investment brokerage firm E.F. Hutton. In 1968, she was hired by Alpha Research and the investment management firm Montag & Caldwell as an assistant to Solon Patterson, who was in charge of creating Montag’s first growth mutual fund, the Alpha Fund. Initially Charlotte was the head of the securities trading operation of the fund. As the fund and the firm grew, she was promoted several times, ultimately to vice president in charge of all securities trading for both Alpha Research and Montag & Caldwell.
In 1972, Charlotte was selected as an Outstanding Young Woman of America. She was nominated by the Emory University Alumni Association in recognition of her contributions to the betterment of her community, profession, and country. She passed away on April 17, 2025, at the age of 82.