Letters of Gratitude
Dear CDS Community,
As I reflect on the 2024-25 school year, I am filled with gratitude for the generosity and joy that every member of our community brings to Children’s Day School. Our students’ experience is made all the more magical and meaningful because of your commitment and support. For that, I am deeply grateful!
Last school year began with a joyful milestone for our community: the opening of the Treehouse, our new Early Childhood Center. From the very first slide rides, laughter and excitement filled the air. Now, four-year-olds eagerly anticipate their fifth birthday when they get to ride the slide for the first time! These moments capture the magic of childhood, the spirit of CDS, and the way that our community’s generosity sparks joy for our students every day.
This past summer also brought exciting enhancements to our beloved farm and garden. Goldie and Karl, our new CDS sheep, enjoyed walks in the yard, jumping over blue blocks, and grazing in their special planters. Thanks to the Class of 2023, these sweet additions to the farm are thriving! The Class of 2025 made a lasting impact with the gift of a new greenhouse installed over the summer, creating opportunities for our students to nurture seedlings and sustain the garden year-round. These projects not only enrich our campus but also reflect the lasting legacy of alumni classes and the power of giving. I hope both classes come back to see the impact of their philanthropy on the current CDS students!
One of the most profound ways philanthropy shapes CDS is through our commitment to socioeconomic diversity via our sliding scale tuition. One of the things I am most proud of in the implementation of this program is how each year we look for opportunities to deepen support. We continually expand our strong commitment to our students’ learning experience through the careful allocation of our annual budget, funding outdoor education, the 8th-grade trip to Washington, DC, athletics, school supplies, field trips, and yearbooks for all CDS students. The Annual Fund supports all of our programming that helps all students thrive in our community. I am deeply grateful for the support from so many of our families and 100% of our trustees and employees. Your generosity sustains our values and directly impacts every student.
At CDS, rites of passage hold special meaning. Whether it’s riding the slide for the first time, setting out on the middle school backpacking trip, or stepping into new challenges, these moments mark growth, resilience, and joy. They remind us that learning is not only about knowledge but also about courage, community, and connection.
It is a privilege to witness these milestones in the lives of our students, and I am excited to see how the year unfolds for our community. I will be watching for moments that spark curiosity, joy, and wonder! Thank you for being partners in this journey and for helping every child at CDS thrive.
With gratitude,
Shelly Luke Wille Head of School
Welcome everyone,
As we reflect on a phenomenal year, we are filled with immense gratitude and pride for the vibrant community that has brought so much joy to our campus.
As fellow CDS parents and trustees, we have the privilege of watching our school’s mission come to life. While the Board’s work of strategic planning and financial oversight ensures our long-term success, the mission is truly realized through the daily actions of our community. We see (and rely on) the countless hours of parent volunteers—from reading in classrooms and chaperoning field trips to leading the PTTA, Bid & Bash, Country Fair, and Annual Fund—that demonstrate our shared commitment to community and keeping our focus consistently on the children. The energy and inspiration you all bring to our school are palpable. Thank you for joining us in this partnership.
This past year, we asked for your support, and you answered with extraordinary enthusiasm and generosity. The Annual Fund benefits all students every day. Our parent participation rate in contributing to the Annual Fund was a particular highlight and a powerful testament to our shared belief in the CDS mission. The enthusiasm and support from our community brought events like the Bid & Bash and your participation in countless count-me-ins to new levels of success. In tandem with this community-wide support, the board and school leadership laid important groundwork to strengthen the sustainability, growth, and implementation of the school’s endowment to ensure longterm stability for CDS. This deep engagement created a sense of shared purpose and celebration that sparked joy in every corner of our school.
Looking ahead, the Board continues its work on updating our Campus Master Plan and ensuring our school’s long-term sustainability, especially through growing our endowment. Having a significant endowment would allow us to be even more sustainable, accessible, and resilient. We continue to do everything within our power to control expenses without compromising what we value about the CDS experience. Your support remains fundamental to our ability to achieve these goals and to continue providing the exceptional education that is our collective passion.
With gratitude and joy,
Nicolas King & Meghna Subramanian Co-Chairs of the Board of Trustees 2024-25
Nicolas King, Co-Chair
Meghna Subramanian, Co-Chair
Alka Singal, Vice Chair
Angela Alvarado, Treasurer
Jed Borghei, Secretary
Shelly Luke Wille, Head of School
Tracy Kirkham, Counsel Emeritus
Joe Connolly
Alexandra Conrad
Abigail Davisson
Jules Greene
Angelique Huerta
David ibnAle
Patricia Kao
Brian Kreischer
Diane Larrabee
Carolyn Laub
Timothy Lugo
John Nguyen
Laura Sims
Brad Terrell
Susan Haley Varat
Todd Wandell
Cyndi Wong
Shelly Luke Wille, Head of School
Jessica Alva, Human Resources Director
Kristina Berman, Director of Enrollment Management
John Castro, Director of Facilities
Antonette Greene, Early Childhood Program Director
Karen Hayes, Assistant Head of School
Lindsay Hershenhorn, Director of Curriculum & Program Innovation
Scott Hunt, Director of Advancement
Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney, Director of Finance & Operations
Marie Keating, Lower School Director
Sharon Ng, Director of Community Engagement
Kerri O’Malley, Director of Marketing & Communications
Tanner Taylor, Extended Program Director
Christopher Wachsmith, Middle School Director
Ali Walker, Chief of Staff
Afandie Winter, Director of Technology
Total amount raised $1,574,213
Thanks to your inspired giving, we raised $1,574,213 to spark JOY for every CDS student. Your impactful support is helping to advance our school with purpose and continues to foster our strong culture of philanthropy.
Our Generous Community
As part of our continued commitment to inclusivity, we no longer list specific giving levels in this report. Every gift to CDS is a meaningful expression of support and helps drive our shared vision forward. By focusing on collective impact rather than financial tiers, we honor each contribution equally and
The CDS Mission
At Children’s Day School, what you learn and who you become are equally important.
CDS is a welcoming community in the big city, a farm and garden among urban streets, an advocate for responsibility to others as well as individual achievement, an independent school with down-to-earth values, always asking how we can do this better.
We strive for balance so students become both academically successful and grounded. They leave CDS confident, with the humility to listen and the resolve to speak up for what they see as right.
Eighth Graders Take Climate Advocacy to Congress
At Children’s Day School, what you learn and who you become are equally important. Before they leave CDS, eighth graders put our mission into action and demonstrate their ability to communicate with purpose and advocate for what they see as right during their trip to Washington, DC. This trip is more than a sightseeing excursion. It’s the culmination of years of study, inquiry, and practice living the values that define our school community: democracy, justice, diversity, inclusion, and action.
This year, the Class of 2025 brought these values to life in a powerful way. Their chosen civic engagement project focused on climate change. In their humanities class this year, building on knowledge they’ve gained throughout their time at CDS, students researched the causes of climate change and the policies the U.S. is considering to combat and adapt to these effects. They examined policies, explored global agreements, and investigated how corporate accountability can drive environmental progress. Students then developed an informational pamphlet and petition and headed out into the streets of San Francisco to engage in thousands of conversations about combating climate change. They were able to gather around 1,100 signatures from citizens who agreed with their statement in support of the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act. It was now time to take this (unofficial) petition to Congress.
Students presented their research, pamphlet, and petition directly to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. With clarity, conviction, and data-backed arguments, they urged her to support legislation that holds major polluters accountable and safeguards the future for their generation.
“Our petition statement goes as follows: We, the young people of the San Francisco Bay Area, believe that the effects of climate change need to be addressed and combated for the well-being of all people, and in particular, to safeguard the futures of workingclass people. Fossil fuel use releases carbon dioxide and methane emissions into the atmosphere, trapping heat and increasing temperature. The primary cause of climate change is the amount of fossil fuels that huge companies burn, and we believe they should pay a penalty for this as an incentive to stop,” one eighth-grader presented on behalf of the class.
“The Speaker Emerita heard their presentation and was inspired and moved by it,” shared eighth-grade Humanities teacher Terry Ashkinos. “She went on to say how important this issue is, but also how hard it will be to push any green energy bills through Congress right now. But she said that the class of 2025 should not be discouraged by this, for this fight is the fight of their generation, and it must be heard and addressed.”
“Our graduates leave CDS confident, with the humility to listen, and the resolve to speak up for what they see as right. This year’s trip to Washington, DC, was a powerful demonstration of our mission in action,” reflected our Director of Curriculum and Innovation, Lindsay Hershenhorn.
At CDS, students learn that their voices matter, not someday, but today.
ANNUAL FUND
Thank You for an Extraordinary and Joyful Annual Fund
We are thrilled to announce the success of the 2024–2025 Annual Fund and are deeply grateful for the generosity of our CDS community. In just one month, you raised $1,129,816 with 96% of parents participating, 100% Board participation, and 100% faculty and staff participation. This is an incredible show of support that speaks volumes about our shared commitment to CDS and sparks joy for everyone. The Annual Fund is the cornerstone of philanthropy at CDS and our most important fundraiser of the year. It directly supports every student’s learning journey by funding the people, programs, and resources that make a CDS education truly exceptional. From inquiry-based classroom experiences to arts, outdoor education, and social-emotional learning, your generosity sustains the dynamic programming that defines our school and supports the dedicated faculty and staff who make it all possible.
A heartfelt thank you to our Annual Fund Co-Chairs, Jeremy Pelkey and Sean Livingston, as well as our Leadership Captains and PTTA liaisons for their incredible work and commitment. We’re so grateful to be part of a community that shows up with heart, purpose, and joy. Thank you for believing in our students and for investing in the future of CDS.
ANNUAL FUND CO-CHAIRS
Sean Livingston and Jeremy Pelkey
ANNUAL FUND LEADERSHIP CAPTAINS
Andrea Ach
Christine Borghei
Chris Bunga
Ross Davisson
Sarah Gawley
Brian Kreischer and Sarah Maxwell
Roko and Kelley Kruze
Carolyn Laub
Sean Livingston and Jeremy Pelkey
Zabrina Olivares
Jeanette Perez
Laura Sims
Leah Palmer and Leo Spooner
Meghna Subramanian
Todd Wandell
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Anonymous (42)
Shaima Abbas and Ahmed Alsaifawi
Andrea and Chris Ach
Rosalyn and Andres Acosta
Tatiana Acosta
Jorge Adame and Maria Orozco
Robin and Trevor Adams
Oren Ahoobim and Erin McHale
Cynthia Aldridge and Damon Ellis
Robin Allan and John Gordan
Jessica Alva
Angela and Frank Alvarado
Prateek Ameta and Sameera Thangudu
Arianna Amirsadri and Nick Polansky
Kyle Andeer and Julia Lynch
Ana Andreescu and Ryan Kluft
Terra and Josh Andrews
Alexa and Seth Andrzejewski
Lydie and Geoffrey Angelino
Chalida Anusasananan and Terrance Amsler
Linda and Terry Anusasananan
Lisa Anusasananan and Marzio Cuomo
Ruta and Joseph Arellano
Arioli-Carr Family
Rebecca Arons and Eric Fastiff
Elisa and Rossen Asenov
Brian Athos and Li-An Huang
Marie Autphenne and Jeff Wallace
Hana Azman
Lara and Ricardo Balazs
Anthony Baldino and Jennifer Burke
Shakuntala Ray Banerji and Anamitra Banerji
Dominic Bankovitch
Edgar Barajas and Yoly Magallanes
Luis Barajas and Ana Ramirez
Claire Baszucki
Erika Bates and Family
Xochi Batlle
Valentine Batra
John and Jordan Beadle
Bekiaris Family
Corinne and Daniel Beksha
Luz Beltran
Berger Family
Christopher Berini and Jeffrey Huang
Kristina Berman and Bryan Springmeyer
Zachary Bernstein and Kristen Virdone
Maurice Berry and Brionna McGhee
Sharyne Beza
Rachel Bhadare and Ajmere Dale
Ellie and Lock Bingham
Rev. Sally Bingham
Henrry Blanco
Brandy and Joseph Blau
Borghei Family
Michael Borozdin
Tina Bravo
Alma and Greg Brown
Denise and Daniel Brown
Larkin Brown and Matt Dudley
Pooja and Ian Brown
Elizabeth Browne and Billy Knupp
Julie Bruins
Rebeccah and Samuel Brusca
Danica Burt
Brandon and Laura Cajuguiran
Marvin Calderon and Margarita Laguan
Wyatt Cameron
Lauren Campagna
Chandra and Christopher Campbell
Samantha Campbell
Ash Carera-Henry
Thomas Carlisle and Stephanie Carpenter
John Castro
Manny Castro Marquez
Victor Manuel
Cervantes Salido and Adriana Guadalupe
Carrillo Ventura
Lynn Chamorro and Simon Pickford
Lizzie Chapman
Karishma and Barath Chari
Jennifer Choi
Greg Chow and Andrea Gonzalez
Melissa Choy
Anna Christiansen
Kelley Clements and Rhonda Ross
Lilia and Lawrence Coburn
Roni Cohen and Jonathan Gordon
Stephanie Cohen and Adam Keats
Holly Coleman and David Strandberg
Joe Connolly
David Connors and Kate Sommers-Dawes
Parker and Alexandra Conrad
Cameron Cooper and Sarah Williams
Kate Corliss and Ryan Moriarty
Guillermo Cortez
Nanci Corzine
Nicholas Crawford and Juliana Ma Crawford
Laura Crescimano
Cronk Family
Brandon Culley
Sarita D’Aloia
Dakov Family
Hannah Davis and Joe Binder
Abigail and Ross Davisson
Gabriela De Vasconcellos and Eric Krieger
Maria and Andrew Del Pinal Sparks
Kunal Desai and Shivani Desai
Laura DiMonte
Alyson Dinsmore and Scott Murano
Aparna Dixit and Nathaniel Furniss
Sarah Dodge and Keenan Rice
Elizabeth Donoghue and Linn Chiu
Denise Dunning and Eric Petitt
Christen Duong and Josh Nguyen
Jenny Duong
Marybeth Dyer
David Eastin
Martha Elster and Jonathan Kirst
Chris and Kimberley Emanuel
Alexa Engelman and Keith Kowalczykowski
Thomas Engelman
Ashley and Blake Felson
Teresa Ferrari and Jeff Saarman
Phillip Fillastre
Jane “JJ” Fiorella
Paul and Heather Fischer
Jasmin Flores
Flower Family
Reggie and Dan Foldes
Fox Family
Patricia Fox and Joel Krauska
Ria Fresnoza and John Nguyen
David and
Susan Friedlander-Holm
Vierka Galvanek-Goldman and Sloane Sandy
Anna Gandamana and Rico Tan
Greg Gardner
Sarah and Michael Gawley
Daven Gee
Genet-Jacobs Family
Maura Georges and Kevin Krause
Jen Gilomen and Rhi Bell
Elma Gomez and Rivel Ramirez
Rigoberto Gonzalez and Giselle Olmedo
Kitty and John Gordan
Carol and Martin Graham
Belinda Gray
Gerry and Sam Gray
Antonette Greene
Jules Greene
Kathy and Carl Greenwood
Catherine Grove and Bruce Robertson
PB Gutierrez
Sejal and Eric Hall
Jen Hamilton and Seth Boro
Kris and Pamela Hamrick
Brad and Heather Hardie
Harper Gregg Family
Katie Hart
Tim Hathaway
Hayes Family
Karen and Vincent Hayes
Kelly Hayes and Justin Gleason
Katie Haylon
Hope and Bruce Hazen
Analise Elliot Heid
Rebecca and Cal Henderson
Allie Hersh
Lindsay Hershenhorn
Dan Hicban
Riley High
Joe and Diana Hilberman
Ute Hoch and Kevin Day
Hoffman Hunter Family
Jo Hoffman
Tracy and Grant Holder
Matt and Hilda Hollis
Kimberly Hong and Jonathan Shottan
Kathryn Houston and Robert Blazej
Huerta Family
Scott Hunt
Hunt Family
Erika Mendez Jacobo
Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney
Mary and Dick Jaffe
Sarah Jaffe
Gillian James and Dan Springer
Petra Janopaul
Anjali Jariwala
Jagdip Jaspal
Tristan Jemiolo
Gabriel and Christina Jinich
Jennifer and Bryan Johnson
Josiah’s Family
Jue Family
Noriko Kakihara and Jim McFadden
Hillary and Leeron Kalay
Lydia Kandel and Sean Kandel
Patricia Kao and Seth Gassman
Karaivanov Family
Lamat Kateb
Marie Keating
Katie and Bridget Keating-Klamm
Kelly Family
Amy and Mike Kennedy
Khurana Family
Alex and Arianne Kieve
Anne and Loren Kieve
Dora and Jay Kim
James Kim and Jeanette Perez
Radha Kindler
Dawn Ogawa and Nicolas King
Tracy Kirkham
Klau Family
Dani and Charlie Kleinman
Klineman Family
Kurt Knuepfel and Lani Kunioka-Volz
Joan and John Kohout
Pallav Kolli and Garani Nadaraja
Robert Kozlowski and Kathryn Wilcox
Kelley and Roko Kruze
Jessica Kumar
Mrinalini Kurup and Anant Vyas
Diane Larrabee
Carolyn Laub and Heather Tumey
Cailin LaVallee and Brett Smith
Lynn and Tony Lazcano
Danielle Lazier and Luis Mamayson
Andrea and Kevin Lazorik
Anna Lee
Denise and James Lee Thorp
Julie and Mike Levin
Levy Family
David and Jenna Lieb
Ky Lim
Sean Livingston and Jeremy Pelkey
CJ Logel
Alicia and Adam London
George Lopez Jr.
Lord Family
Debbie and Bat Louie
Noam and Dina Lovinsky
Carol Lu and Matt Ahrens
Madison Luber
Mary and Michael Ludlam
Lindsey Luebchow and Krishna Rao
Kelly and William Lukens
Beatrice and William Lynes
Winnie and Kenneth Ma
Candy Mabry
MacDonald/Gray Family
Sean MacMannis
Sarianne and Wesley Madsen
Joe and Mattie Magdovitz
Mak Family
Nicholas and Phoebe Malcolm Preston
Rebecca and Lee Mallabone
Rodrigo Malta Schmidt and Bianca Santos Marzani
Mark Mandapat
Yari Mander
Jacqueline Mariscal
Daisy Martinez
Roy Martinez
Salvador Martinez
Margaret Mason and Bradley Ellis
Ellen and Stuart Masters
Rachel Masters and Dan Mosedale
Ragini Mathur and Ashvin Vaidyanathan
Emily Matthews
Sarah Maxwell and Brian Kreischer
Tim McAnaney and Lee Work
Rose McHale
Selinda Medrano Bernal
Mihran and Jeannine Misserlian
Todd Mitchell
Illeana Moncada
William Moran and Kim Ngo
Joan Moriarty
Daniel and Samira Morton
Deborah Mosser and Donny MacLean
Cary and Karen Murphy
Murphy Family
Erica and Andy Murray
Vasudha Narasimha
Kim and Ben Neuwirth
Susie and Harry Neuwirth
Leah Newkirk and Matthew Lang
Sharon Ng
Cathy and Frank Nguyen
Nicks Family
Nitze Schneebeck Family
Paola Nou
O’Connor Family
Kerri O’Malley
Brad Olcott and Julie Chang
Maya Ortiz de Montellano and Jay Meindertsma
Nick Orton and Katie Pickrell
Gretchen Ott and Mike Cotsifas
Londa and Ryan Overbeck
Darryl Owens
Leah Palmer and Leo Spooner
Paredes Vilanova Family
Shaila Parikh and Vikram Viswanathan
Teresa and Douglas Park
Vrushali Patil and Samir Goel
Alicia Perdue
Whitney Phu and Andrew Maxwell
Laura Picciarelli
Anna Pickard and Bobbie Johnson
Patrick Piemonte and Leslie Nadeau
John Pilgrim
Mark Pingree
Luisa Pinto
Natalia Pinto and Clayton Maffett
Sonia Pinto-Torres
Heather Ponts and David Mabry
Roland Pritzker
Celeste and Cy Prothro
Elisabeth Pulvermann and Tyler McNally
Antonio Quadra
Naudia Queen-Prengel and Eric Prengel
Tara Ramos and Roman Ipanaque Ordonez
Shriya Ravikumar and Sidharth Kakkar
Hannah Rees-Fullgraf and Samuel Rees
Katrina Reid and Jessica Hilberman
Sadie Renjilian
Katherine and Edward Rhee
Amanda Richard
Serena Richard
Dr. Kathleen Ricker
Mollie Ricker and David ibnAle
Miegan Riddle and Charles Zedlewski
Rijser-Nicholson Family
Henry and Tricia Ring
Lori Roberts
Jessica Robinson
Teresa Rodriguez
Erin Rooney
Marybeth and Jared Russell
Thalia and Giovanni Saarman González
Sadalgi and Moktali Family
Tzarina Saenz
Karli Sager and Jason Monberg
Sanger and Stacker Family
Veronica Saucedo
Tanya Schevitz and Terry Ashkinos
Caitlin and Eric Schlakman
Lisa and David Schlakman
Matt Schwartz and Karen Levesque
Karen Schwindt and Greg Vena
Anne Sculley
Jenny Seeds
Seibert Family
Sam Sevett
Shah-Bhargava Family
Lauren and Marcus Shelksohn
Jennifer Shoda
Buehling Family
Edward Siahaan and Ivonne Wahjudi
Sigoss Family
Hunter and Laura Sims
Marcy and Hunter Sims
Alka Singal and Brad Pennington
Michelle Snyder
Aleksander Sobczyk and Natalia Jura
Temi Soleye and Olusegun Sokenu
Jenny and Max
Stefanotti-Ventilla
Ryan Stern and Timothy Barber
Rae Stoddard and Lamar Harris-Walker
Susan Stoddard-Phillips and Julien Phillips
Allison Styer and Eric Schoenfeld
Meghna Subramanian and Kareem Ghanem
Barbara Sullivan
Maureen Sullivan and David Evans
Sutton Hollick
Charitable Fund
Syer Babik Family
Hannah Tacke
Ryan and Elizabeth Tackett
Ada and Elliott Tamony
Sharon Tang
Agnes and Don Tanhueco
Lorna Tanner and Chris Bunga
Camila Tartari Kaul and Amit Kaul
Tanner Taylor
Brad Terrell and Melody Hsu
Sunnylyn Thibodeaux and Micah Ballard
Thomas and Elizabeth Thomas
Thomma Family
Tom-Zamudio Family
Nathan Tone and Alyssa Bernstein
Alexa and Matthew Tonner
Elsa Townsend
Tara and Joe Townsend
Merredith Treaster
Ryan Trutner
Ioanna Tziri and William Weil
Cassia Ureta
Sergio Valencia
Hope Van Sciver and Dave Pakula
Nancy Varat and Zane Lang
Debra and Michael Varner
Ana Vasquez and Gil Vazquez
Maddie Vilhauer
Lexi Villasana
Voisin-Eisenberg Family
Bryce Vree and Julie Vree
Divya and Ashutosh Vyas
Chris and Justin Wachsmith
The Walazamas
Ali Walker
Bill and Sherry Wallace
Wallin Family
Todd Wandell and Jamie Wieferman
Kay Washington and Joshua Bonnette
JoEllen and Tom Watson
Kimberly Watson
Hiromi and Benjamin Weiner
Ellie Wen and Greg Katz
Devon and Michael West
Molly Whittaker
Kelly and Michael Widmann
Wille Family
Heidi and Scott Williams
Winsor Family
Afandie Winter
Laura Wolfram
Cyndi Wong and Athanassios Diacakis
Adam and Lindsay Woollerson
Vanessa Wu and Colin Zima
Dina and Randall Yoshimura
Thomas Zambito and Yatin Chawathe
Nancy and Gene Zastrow
Sheila Zedlewski
Claudia and Jason Zervoulakos
Julie and Phil Zigoris
Steven and Taylor Zisman
Rachel Znerold and Scott Eberhardt
Diane and Albert Zonana
Michael Zyracki and Mary Ray
CORPORATIONS & FOUNDATIONS
Abbott Laboratories
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Apple Matching Gifts Program
Blackbaud Giving Fund by Your Cause
DocuSign
Dodge & Cox
Edward E. & Marie L.
Matthews Foundation
Figma, Inc.
Fiserv
GoDaddy for Good
EVERY CONTRIBUTION COUNTS
Your contribution, combined with the generosity of others, helps to strengthen our ability to provide accessible, high-quality education and enriching experiences for every child at CDS.
Google Matching Gifts Program
Intuit
Kirkland & Elllis LLP
LinkedIn Corporation
Morgan Stanley
Moss Adams LLP
PayPal Giving Fund
Plant Construction Company, L.P.
PlayStation Cares Salesforce.com Foundation
The San Francisco Foundation
Visa Matching Gift Program
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Zoom Video Communications
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AT BID & BASH 2025
From ruby slippers to emerald sparkles, Bid & Bash 2025 was a night full of fun, laughter, and deep generosity. Together, we raised more than $550,000 in support of our sliding scale tuition program, which plays a crucial role in keeping CDS accessible to families from all backgrounds, building a truly inclusive learning environment where students grow alongside peers with different perspectives and life experiences. We are so grateful to the entire CDS community, especially the amazing planning committee, volunteers, sponsors, and every guest who participated in the auctions, Fund-A-Need, raffle, and dance party.
AUCTION COMMITTEE
Christine Borghei
Chris Bunga
Sarah Dodge
Pamela Hamrick
Mango Huang
Sharon Ng
Kim Ngo
Brad Olcott
Zabrina Olivares
Marianto Orozco
Jeremy Pelkey
Whitney Phu
Temi Soleye
Ada Tamony
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Marisa Flower
Beatrice Lynes
Allison Styer
Jeff Tanhueco
Julie Zigoris
DECOR & ENTERTAINMENT &
LOGISTICS
COMMITTEE
Terra Andrews
Marisa Flower
Elena Golovanova
Charlie Kleinman
Beatrice Lynes
Juliana Ma Crawford
Brad Olcott
Jeremy Pelkey
Michelle Snyder
Hope Van Sciver
Ivonne Wahjudi
Gabriela Zamudio
Rachel Znerold
COMMUNITY
MEMBERS
Anonymous (32)
Andrea and Chris Ach
Jorge Adame and Maria Orozco
Oren Ahoobim and Erin McHale
Robin Allan and John Gordan
Angela and Frank Alvarado
Prateek Ameta and Sameera Thangudu
Arianna Amirsadri and Nick Polansky
Kyle Andeer and Julia Lynch
Terra and Josh Andrews
Alexa and Seth Andrzejewski
Arioli-Carr Family
Vanja Artis and Brett Artis
Elisa and Rossen Asenov
Brian Athos and Li-An Huang
Marie Autphenne and Jeff Wallace
Hana Azman
Anthony Baldino and Jennifer Burke
Edgar Barajas and Yoly Magallanes
Valentine Batra
John and Jordan Beadle
Amy and Sam Bebbington
Corinne and Daniel Beksha
Berger Family
Christopher Berini and Jeffrey Huang
Zachary Bernstein and Kristen Virdone
Adrian Betanzos Diaz and Mayra Bracamontes
Reinschlussel
Ellie and Lock Bingham
Brandy and Joseph Blau
Borghei Family
Denise and Daniel Brown
Larkin Brown and Matt Dudley
Rebeccah and Samuel Brusca
Buehling Family
Danica Burt
Laura and Brandon Cajuguiran
Samantha Campbell
Chandra and Christopher Campbell
Steven Cano
Thomas Carlisle and Stephanie Carpenter
Maggie Carr
John Castro
Victor Manuel Cervantes Salido and Adriana Guadalupe Carrillo Ventura
Andrew Choi
Lynn Chamorro and Simon Pickford
Anna and Nicolas Cobarruvias
Lilia and Lawrence Coburn
Stephanie Cohen and Adam Keats
Joe Connolly
David Connors and Kate Sommers-Dawes
Parker and Alexandra Conrad
Cameron Cooper and Sarah Williams
Nicholas Crawford and Juliana Ma Crawford
Laura Crescimano
Cronk Family
Sarita D’Aloia
Dakov Family
Hannah Davis and Joe Binder
Abigail and Ross Davisson
Gabriela De Vasconcellos and Eric Krieger
Alyson Dinsmore and Scott Murano
Sarah Dodge and Keenan Rice
Elizabeth Donoghue and Linn Chiu
Jenny Duong
Christen Duong and Josh Nguyen
Martha Elster and Jonathan Kirst
Chris and Kimberley Emanuel
Alexa Engelman and Keith Kowalczykowski
Iris Escarraman and Joshua Fernandez
Flower Family
Reggie and Dan Foldes
Fox Family
Ria Fresnoza and John Nguyen
David and Susan Friedlander-Holm
Sarah and Michael Gawley
Margit Geist and Scott Engler
Genet-Jacobs Family
Maura Georges and Kevin Krause
Jen Gilomen and Rhi Bell
Jessica Gines
Rigoberto Gonzalez and Giselle Olmedo
Antonette Greene
Harper Gregg Family
Catherine Grove and Bruce Robertson
Sejal and Eric Hall
Jen Hamilton and Seth Boro
Kris and Pamela Hamrick
Rebecca and Cal Henderson
Lindsay Hershenhorn
Hoffman Hunter Family
Matt and Hilda Hollis
Kimberly Hong and Jonathan Shottan
Katherine Houson
Kathryn Houston and Robert Blazej
Scott Hunt
Marion Ingersoll
Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney
Sarah Jaffe
Jennifer and Bryan Johnson
Jue Family
Noriko Kakihara and Jim McFadden
Lydia Kandel and Sean Kandel
Patricia Kao and Seth Gassman
Karaivanov Family
Kelly Family
Amy and Mike Kennedy
Khurana Family
Alex and Arianne Kieve
Elden Kim
Dora and Jay Kim
James Kim and Jeanette Perez
Tracy Kirkham
Klau Family
Dani and Charlie Kleinman
Kurt Knuepfel and Lani Kunioka-Volz
Pallav Kolli and Garani Nadaraja
Lisa Koshkarian
Robert Kozlowski and Kathryn Wilcox
Michelle Kriebel and Ted Arleo
Kelley and Roko Kruze
Amy Kwok
Diane Larrabee
Carolyn Laub and Heather Tumey
Danielle Lazier and Luis Mamayson
Andrea and Kevin Lazorik
Denise and James Lee Thorp
Sean Livingston and Jeremy Pelkey
Alicia and Adam London
Nguyen Louie and David Wegman
Noam and Dina Lovinsky
Carol Lu and Matt Ahrens
Mary and Michael Ludlam
Kelly and William Lukens
Beatrice and William Lynes
MacDonald/Gray Family
Joe and Mattie Magdovitz
Nicholas and Phoebe Malcolm Preston
Rebecca and Lee Mallabone
Jacqueline Mariscal
Rodrigo Malta Schmidt and Bianca Santos Marzani
Ben Malthus and Amanda Gorenxa
Yari Mander
Rachel Masters and Dan Mosedale
Ragini Mathur and Ashvin Vaidyanathan
Sarah Maxwell and Brian Kreischer
William Moran and Kim Ngo
Murphy Family
Kim and Ben Neuwirth
Sharon Ng
Nitze Schneebeck Family
Dawn Ogawa and Nicolas King
Brad Olcott and Julie Chang
Kerri O’Malley
Nick Orton and Katie Pickrell
Londa and Ryan Overbeck
Leah Palmer and Leo Spooner
Shaila Parikh and Vikram Viswanathan
Vrushali Patil and Samir Goel
Joshan Paybarah
Payne Family
Jessica Peralta and Jordan Ullman
Lau and Matteson Perry
Whitney Phu and Andrew Maxwell
Anna Pickard and Bobbie Johnson
Natalia Pinto and Clayton Maffett
Heather Ponts and David Mabry
Roland Pritzker
Celeste and Cy Prothro
John and Mary Lee Pulvermann
Naudia Queen-Prengel and Eric Prengel
Tara Ramos and Roman Ipanaque Ordonez
Shakuntala Ray Banerji and Anamitra Banerji
Katrina Reid and Jessica Hilberman
Amanda Richard Mollie Ricker and David ibnAle
Miegan Riddle and Charles Zedlewski
The Rijser-Nicholson Family
Henry and Tricia Ring
Jessica Robinson
Erin Rooney
Marybeth and Jared Russell
Thalia and Giovanni Saarman González
Karli Sager and Jason Monberg
Kim and Dane Sager
Sanger and Stacker Family
Patrice Scatena
Caitlin and Eric Schlakman
Karen Schwindt and Greg Vena
Seibert Family
Shah-Bhargava Family
Lauren and Marcus Shelksohn
Jennifer Shoda
Edward Siahaan and Ivonne Wahjudi
Sigoss Family
Nuria Simo Vila
Hunter and Laura Sims
Alka Singal and Brad Pennington
Michelle Snyder Aleksander Sobczyk and Natalia Jura
Temi Soleye and Olusegun Sokenu
Ryan Stern and Timothy Barber
Rae Stoddard and Lamar Harris-Walker
Allison Styer and Eric Schoenfeld
Meghna Subramanian and Kareem Ghanem
Lauren Sujeeth
Sutton Hollick Charitable Fund
Renata Sviridova and David Barboza
Syer Babik Family
Ada and Elliott Tamony
Lorna Tanner and Chris Bunga
Camila Tartari Kaul and Amit Kaul
Tanner Taylor
Thomma Family
Tom-Zamudio Family
SAVE THE DATE
Bid & Bash 2026 April 4 at Bimbo’s 365 Club
Alexa and Matthew Tonner
Tara and Joe Townsend
Merredith Treaster
Ioanna Tziri and William Weil
Hope Van Sciver and Dave Pakula
Peter M. van Zante
Maddie Vilhauer
Voisin-Eisenberg Family
Bryce Vree and Julie Vree
Chris and Justin Wachsmith
Wallin Family
Todd Wandell and Jamie Wieferman
Kimberly Watson
Hiromi and Benjamin Weiner
Ellie Wen and Greg Katz
Kelly and Michael Widmann
Wille Family
Heidi and Scott Williams
Winsor Family
Cyndi Wong and Athanassios Diacakis
Adam and Lindsay Woollerson
Vanessa Wu and Colin Zima
Thomas Zambito and Yatin Chawathe
Sandra Zepeda
Claudia and Jason Zervoulakos
Julie and Phil Zigoris
Steven and Taylor Zisman
Rachel Znerold and Scott Eberhardt
Vivien Zraick and Ben Rosenfield
Michael Zyracki and Mary Ray
CORPORATIONS & FOUNDATIONS
Apple Matching Gifts Program
Barrow Salon
CP & Sons
Fairlight Advisors
Guzman Construction Group
IMA
Jensen Architects
Umpqua Bank
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
A UCTION & EXPERIENCE DONORS
Anonymous (4)
Jorge Adame and Maria Orozco
Adventurous Sports
Another Planet Entertainment
Arioli-Carr Family
Vanja Artis & Brett Artis
Adrian Betanzos Diaz and Mayra Bracamontes Reinschlussel
Bright Star Pilates
Larkin Brown and Matt Dudley
Chaminade Hotel
Diptyque Paris
Sarah Dodge and Keenan Rice
Dogpatch Paddle
Claudia Dolin and Craig Solomon
Far Niente Wine Estates
Fiorella
Ria Fresnoza and John Nguyen
Jen Gilomen and Rhi Bell
Gold Bar Whiskey
Kris and Pamela Hamrick
Holey Moley Golf Club
Matt and Hilda Hollis
Scott Hunt
In-Symmetry Spa
Kelly Family
Dr. Robert Kohen
Kelley and Roko Kruze
Diane Larrabee
Joe and Mattie Magdovitz
Nicholas and Phoebe
Malcolm Preston
William Moran and Kim Ngo Nopa
Pamela Lastiri | Interior Design Firm
James Kim and Jeanette Perez
Katrina Reid and Jessica Hilberman
Schumacher Photography
Michelle Snyder
Splash Sports Bar
Spy Camp
Camila Tartari Kaul and Amit Kaul
The Pilates School SF
Tom-Zamudio Family
Total Wine & More
Todd Wandell and Jamie Wieferman
Wilderness Adventures
Count-Me-In
Thank You for Making Count-Me-Ins a Meaningful Part of Our Year
We are so grateful to the CDS families who dreamed up, planned, and hosted Count-Me-In events this year. From joyful crafting parties and spirited trivia nights to drag bingo, ice cream socials, bowling parties, and backyard dinners, each experience brought people together in ways that are fun, welcoming, and deeply meaningful while raising funds to support our sliding scale tuition program.
Count-Me-In Hosts
Josh
Thank You to Our Mural Makers
CDS parents and artists Leksi Weldon-Linne and Rachel Znerold led the creation of our new community mural on the 333 campus as part of an inclusive Count-Me-In. After a joyful planning session with students, families, and staff—where our community shared what makes CDS special—more than 100 artists of all ages, from preschoolers to grandparents, picked up brushes and brought the mural to life. Thank you to everyone who contributed their creativity, time, and heart to this beautiful mural!
2025 Changemaker Award
PAST CHANGEMAKERS:
2024
Lily Glickman ’13
Blue Kennedy ’21
2023
Gabriella Chen ’20
2022
Gracie Veiga ’17
Katharine Biggar ’19
2021
Sarah Muzhaqi ’19
2020
Nora Hylton ’16
The Joe Cooper Changemaker Award is given to alumni who model the change-making spirit embodied by CDS co-founder Joe Cooper throughout his life. Any CDS alum is eligible to receive the Changemaker Award as an acknowledgment of their work to continue the legacy of action instilled in CDS students. We are proud to honor the recipient of the 2025 Changemaker Award for Alumni: Heather Weiss, Class of 2009!
Heather is currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology and Social Change. A graduate of Lowell High School, UC Santa Barbara, and the California Institute of Integral Studies, she has dedicated her career to environmental nonprofits, focusing on food systems and their potential to become more just—both for people and the planet. Most recently, she served as the Interim Assistant Director of The Friends of Alemany Farm and continues to contribute as an Advisory Committee Member, leading regular volunteer days on-site. For the past two years, Heather has visited the first-grade Owls and Hawks classes, bringing a bit of the farm to CDS.
Heather’s dedication to environmental justice and community-building is both inspiring and deeply aligned with the values of CDS’s Farm and Garden program. Her work exemplifies the power of education, sustainability, and civic engagement, and we are proud to recognize her meaningful contributions to our city.
In 2025, the Changemaker Grant, in addition to donations made by our community at this year’s event, also funded creative and innovative projects proposed during our annual Soup for Change.
Alumni Spotlights
Ethan Liao ('24)
Honored at NY's Jazz at Lincoln Center
Not only did high school freshman Ethan Liao (CDS Class of 2024) perform in February at Carnegie Hall, but he also headed back to New York in May, as the Jazz at Lincoln Center organization awarded one of his original works, "By Candlelight,” as a national composition contest winner. Ethan's original piece can be heard here. We're so proud of you, Ethan! Keep composing!
Vida Sharp (‘15)
Brings the Buzz to Teacher Appreciation Week
Vida Sharp (CDS Class of 2015) returned to CDS this May to spread caffeinated cheer to teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. She is the co-founder of Third Wheel Coffee, which began as a pedalpowered cart and now shares a home with Lucinda’s Deli near Alamo Square. Alongside her partner Thomas, Vida has grown Third Wheel into a thriving business with five rotating baristas and a range of creative offerings. You can learn more about them in The Frisc, and be sure to stop by Lucinda’s Deli to show your support. A big thank you to Vida and Thomas for providing a well-deserved treat for our teachers!
Yvonne Armenta (‘09)
Speaks at Bid & Bash
We were thrilled to feature Yvonne Armenta (CDS Class of 2009) as an alum speaker at this year’s Bid & Bash! Yvonne is a public speaking consultant, speaker, and podcaster with an MBA from San José State who focuses on project-based learning and competency-based education. She is also the founder of ¡Latina, Presente!, which creates spaces for Latinas and introverts to practice their speaking skills. Yvonne shared about the impact of her time at CDS and how she was encouraged to use her voice to stand up for what she believed in—an inspiring reminder of how CDS’s mission and values live on in our alums.
Grandparents & Special Friends Day
In November, we welcomed grandparents and special friends to campus for a joyful day of connection and celebration. It was a meaningful opportunity to share the CDS experience, highlight our students’ accomplishments, and honor the important relationships that enrich our school community. From social gatherings to classroom visits to student performances, the day reflected the spirit and heart of CDS.
SAVE THE DATE
Grandparents & Special Friends Day Friday, May 15, 2026
We’re excited to share that Grandparents & Special Friends Day is moving to the spring! This thoughtful change gives us the opportunity to better showcase student learning and creative work, enjoy more welcoming weather, and celebrate just ahead of our beloved Country Fair Weekend. We look forward to celebrating the important people who support and inspire our students every day. More details to come!
Eighth Grade Gift: Thank You to the Class of 2025!
Each year, the eighth-grade class leaves a meaningful gift to the school as a gesture of gratitude and a legacy for future generations of CDS students. This year’s gift, a greenhouse for the Farm and Garden program along with a contribution to the CDS Endowment, will have a lasting impact. The greenhouse will expand hands-on learning opportunities in environmental stewardship, deepen students’ connection to the natural world, and further enrich one of CDS’s most cherished programs.
The contribution to the CDS Endowment also helps ensure that our school remains financially strong and focused on its mission for generations to come. Support for the endowment builds a foundation of resilience and sustainability for the future. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s gift!
2025 Class Gift Committee:
Christopher Cano
Oliver Day
Daphne Diacakis
Harper Gregg
Brynn Kennedy
Gretchen Robertson
“I think that every little thing helps, and as a school, a greenhouse will not only help our school sustain itself, but it will also bring incredible memories to the farm and garden class.”
— CHRISTOPHER
“I hope to protect the environment by raising awareness about the small, everyday actions people can take to help preserve it, such as sorting their trash correctly, driving less, and conserving water.”
— DAPHNE
Parent Teacher Trustee Association (PTTA)
PTTA Leadership
Chris Bunga, Co-Chair
Christina Jinich, Co-Chair
Class Liaison Coordinator
Kate Gray
Family Farmer Program Coordinators
Devon West
Cyndi Wong
speakSF Parent Education Coordinators
Christine Borghei
Sarah Gawley
Rae Stoddard
Thank you to the PTTA Leadership and all of the parents, teachers, and trustees who worked together to give back to CDS this year! The PTTA creates a welcoming environment where every person can find an opportunity to connect in meaningful ways and contribute to the growth of our vibrant school community, from our Welcome Potluck and beloved Country Fair to coordinating faculty and staff appreciation events. We are excited to continue on this collaborative journey, building connections and nurturing a strong sense of belonging for all.
Country Fair Planning Committee
CO-CHAIR EVENT PLANNING
Christina Jinich
Pamela Hamrick
CO-CHAIR COMMUNICATIONS
Michael Gawley
Emilie Munroe
MERCHANDISE
Hope Van Sciver
BAKE SALE
Deborah Genet
Jessica Peralta
CRAFT MARKET
Brandy Blau
Gaby Vilanova
GAMES
Leah Palmer
Leo Spooner
MUSIC / ENTERTAINMENT
Iris Escarramán
GRAPHIC DESIGN / MARKETING
Whitney Phu
ADMIN
Amanda Richard
Scott Hunt
Sharon Ng
Karen Hayes
“ To all of our CDS Staff, the PTTA wants to extend our deepest gratitude for your time, energy, and unwavering support.
Your dedication, expertise, and warmth make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and families every single day.”
—CHRISTINA JINICH
Preschool
Seth Andrzejewski
Stephanie Carpenter
Sarah Gawley
Leksi Linne
Phoebe Malcolm Preston
Caitlin Schlakman
Vanessa Wu
TK
Matt Dudley
Kindergarten
Elisa Asenov
Rebecca Henderson
Sean Kandel
Natalia Maffett
Alexa Tonner
Gaby Zamudio
1st
Christine Borghei
Sarah Gawley
Eva Rijser
2nd
Danielle Lazier
Whitney Phu
Jared Russell
Julie Zigoris
3rd
Ellie Bingham
Keri Cicolani
Leksi Linne
Ragini Mathur
Calli Sharma
4th
Rebecca Henderson
Kimberley Hong
Kelly Kelly
Thomas Zambito
5th
Sandra Chu
Brad Olcott
Mary Ray
6th
Elizabeth Browne
Kate Gray
Karen Hayes
Sara Quinto-Seibert
Michelle Snyder
7th
Lynn Chamorro
Natalia Jura
Jessica Peralta
8th
Amy Kennedy
Angela King
Jeanette Perez
Allison Shields
Financial Information
At CDS, our students are at the heart of everything we do. Providing them with an exceptional and inclusive education requires more than vision. It depends on a strong foundation of financial sustainability and a deeply rooted culture of philanthropy.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, CDS operates with a balanced budget that supports both daily excellence and long-term strategic priorities. Philanthropic support plays a vital role in this model. Every contribution helps us invest in what matters most: our students. Your support enables us to recruit and retain outstanding educators, expand meaningful programs, and respond to the evolving needs of our learners. It also allows us to offer tuition on a sliding scale, reflecting our commitment to economic diversity grounded in our core values of equity and inclusion.
The impact of this collective generosity is powerful. It allows CDS to lead with purpose, to innovate with intention, and to remain true to its mission while preparing students for a changing world.
