Letter from Diane Rich, Head of School
Letter from Kevin MacLellan, President of the Board of Trustees
Financial Overview The Ever y Child Fund
Gala - Ready, Steady, Koh! A Black and White Ball Honoring Fr. Koh’s Retirement
A L ET T ER F R O M T H E
Dear St. James’ Families,
It’s been a privilege getting to know this community, and I look forward to deepening our relationship in the years to come..."
What an exciting year it has been! Filled with wonderful traditions and some newer events, we brought together old friends and offered the opportunity to make new ones as we welcomed families to St. James’. In my first year of 2024-25, I quickly came to recognize the joy and generosity of this wonderful community.
St. James’ families continued to make the School a philanthropic priority, reflecting the pride we all feel for our educational home. In 2024-25, the Every Child Fund brought in over $1.2M, PartyBook raised $45,000 and the Spring Gala netted just under $350,000! I want to extend my sincere thanks to the parent volunteers who led these efforts: Michelle Cheng, Chris Cowan, Nan Joseph, Susannah Laracy, Jennifer Lin, Meagan Olsen, and Soo Ji Park for co-chairing the Every Child Fund, plus all the Grade Ambassadors for helping us reach 100% family participation; Brooke Benjamin '91, Daisy Lee '88, and Beth Sanford for co-chairing PartyBook; and the tremendous Gala Committee who were led by Kate Buhrmaster, Anne Gharabegian, Priscilla Givens, Madelaine Guppy, Maureen Hawley ‘96, Nkechi Howell ‘87, Marya Khalil-Otto, Ashley Kim, Diana Ra-Lee, Judy Oh, Meagan Olsen, and Malin Wong, who produced a fabulous evening honoring the retirement of Father Koh.
The St. James’ Parent Association (PA) seems to outdo itself each year with the engaging cultural celebrations they host, another fabulous Holiday Market, and Family Camp Weekend was again a heart-warming time of lawn games, mouthwatering food, and cozy campfires.
behalf of all of the St. James’ staff, I am grateful for your philanthropic support and your level of spirited engagement in all things St. James’!
Diane Rich Head of School
Dear Families, Friends, and Supporters of St. James’,
..[Teachers, administrators, and staff] transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, making St. James' a place where learning is joyful and every child feels seen.”
When I think of St. James’, I think of a garden hidden in the heart of a vast city. Beyond our gates, the world can be noisy, unpredictable, even daunting at times. But here, in this garden, something remarkable happens: children are allowed to remain children. They learn, they laugh, they grow, all within a sanctuary where they are safe, cherished, and encouraged to blossom into their fullest selves.
This past year, our garden thrived under the thoughtful care of our new Head of School, Diane Rich. In her very first year with us, Diane has already left a profound mark. She brings with her not only knowledge and experience, but also a spirit of resilience, integrity, and kindness. Diane’s leadership has strengthened the roots of our community, and her vision is helping us grow in ways both bold and beautiful.
Of course, no garden flourishes without its caretakers. To our teachers, administrators, and staff: you are the sunlight and the soil, the daily presence that nurtures our children’s hearts and minds. Your dedication and love do not go unnoticed. You transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, making St. James’ a place where learning is joyful and every child feels seen.
As I look toward the year ahead, I am filled with hope. There is a season for planting, a season for tending, and a season for harvest - and I believe we are entering a time when all the seeds we have planted together will bear fruit. With Diane’s steady guidance, the devotion of our faculty, and the generosity of our families, St. James’ will continue to be not only a school, but a sanctuary.
Thank you for walking this path with us. Thank you for believing in the power of this community, and for entrusting us with your most precious treasures - your children.
With deep gratitude and joy,
Kevin MacLellan President of the Board of Trustees
The Every Child Fund is more than just our annual fund - it is a tangible demonstration of how we are one community all working to support each other. A significant part of our School’s overall budget, the Every Child Fund fuels everyday moments that define our students’ experiences: the joy of discovery in the classroom, the strength of friendships formed in community, and the confidence that comes from being seen, supported, and celebrated.
This year, we are proud to share that our community once again came together in extraordinary ways. Through the collective generosity of our families, alumni, faculty, and friends, the 2024–25 Every Child Fund campaign raised $1.2m, with 100% family participation. We are especially grateful to our dedicated ECF Ambassadors - led by co-chairs Michelle Cheng, Chris Cowan, Nan Joseph, Susannah Laracy, Jennifer Lin, Meagan Olsen, and Soo Ji Park. We also applaud KRP and our 3rd Grade students, who reached 100% class participation first and earned well-deserved ice cream celebrations!
The impact of this year’s campaign is far-reaching. Thanks to the collective support of our families, we are able to maintain the joyful, inclusive, and academically strong environment that defines St. James’. Your gifts directly support critical areas such as our Tuition Assistance program, which serves over 20% of our families. This helps ensure that a St. James’ education remains accessible to families from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds - a core value that has always been central to our mission.
This year also marked the launch of our new website, which clearly articulates the priorities that guide our work each day: preserving the wonder of childhood, building strong academic foundations, fostering a diverse and welcoming community, and nurturing the social and spiritual growth of every child. These priorities come to life through the Every Child Fund, which touches every part of school life - from classrooms and curriculum to community programming and campus enhancements.
We are deeply grateful to each and every donor whose commitment ensures that St. James’ remains a place of learning, joy, and opportunity for all.
C O -CHA I RS :
Michelle Cheng
Chris Cowan
Nan Joseph
Susannah Laracy
Jennifer Lin
Meagan Olsen
Soo Ji Park
Stephanie Adams
Matt Barbabella
Michelle Cheng
Katie Chang ‘93
Daniel Chang
Elizabeth YoungMin Chang
Danny Chun
Chris Cowan
Jennifer Culp
Marika Dato
Dennis Dennehy
Yolanda Felton
Yemen Fowler
Nyasha Hatendi
Adanma M. Okezie
Alenoosh Hartouni
Alex and Adam Rosenberg
Alexa Laffen and Paul Felten
Alice Kuramoto
Ally and Carlos Betancourt
Amanda and Nathan Vanhook
Amanda Reno and Mazik Saevitz
Amy and Arthur Sher
Amy Schlecter
Ana Araya
Andrea Salazar-Kone and Moussa Kone
Angela Zotea
Anonymous
Anonymous
Ashley Samuels
G I V I NG L EVE L S :
Club Husky:
D’Amico Society:
1968 Association:
Seashell Society:
Philanthropic Council:
Head’s Circle:
Angel Wings:
Sarah Hwang ‘98
Jake Itzkowitz
Adam Jones
Nan Joseph
Umi Kawabata
John Kennedy
Raushda Kennedy
Casee Kelly
Danny Kim
Elaine Kim
Eunice Kim
Juliet Kwon
Jennifer LaDuke ‘93
Gigi Lam
John LaBombard
Susannah Laracy
Daisy Lee ‘88
Emily Levin
Teresa Leung
Sue Leung
Jennifer Lin
Clara Lim
Stephen Ma
Sue Ma
Hilary Marx
Alex Montalvo
Matt Murray
Meagan Olsen
Ashley Wiley '97 and Alex Johnson
Ashling Loh-Doyle and Andrew Nunnelly
Bank of America Foundation
Brandon Felton
Brandy and Gary Anderson
Brian Duggan
Byron Zapata
Carlos Castellanos and Joseph
McDonald
Caroline Pho and Ted Chung
Casee Kelly and Adam Benson
Chenelle Geoffroy-Lindsey and Jimmy
Lindsey
Chris Zapata
Claire Lagerwey and Steven Wilson
Comcast
Crystal and Austin Clements
$1 - $749
$750 - $1,967
$1,968 - $4,999
$5,000 - $9,999
$10,000 - $24,999
$25,000 - $49,999
$50,000+
Soo Ji Park
Jina Park
Caroline Pho
Joanna Philbin
Sylvia Rivera
John Roman
Andrea Salazar-Kone
Jamie Son
Miya Sumii
Malin Wong
Sumana Wolf
Crystal Boateng and Christian Kouma
Daniela Park and Jeffrey Kim
David Forrest and Robert Rave
Doug Jones
Ebony DeWitt
Ed Hermeno
Effie and Lance Williams
Eileen and Lewis Fein
Elise and Charlie Wilder
Elizabeth Desmarais
Elizabeth YoungMin and Sonny Chang
Elyse Hollander and John Zaozirny
Emerald Berg and Chris Bou Saeed
Erin Walsh and Christian Högstedt
Eunkyoung Park and Hojae Lee
Faith Foss and Thomas Mahar
Gaeun and Jay Choe
Grace Kim and Jimmy Chung
Guggenheim Partners
Helen Howe and Alex Persson
Hyo Yeon and Steve Lau
In Hee Na and Jin-Ho Phark
Jaima and Adam Jones
Janice E. Kim '83
Jasmine Lord
Jeff Bryan
Jennifer Chou and Joe Webb
Jennifer Sarayba and Raf Sosnowski
Jennifer Sohal and Oleg Sultseng
Jessica and Gonzalo Andrade
Jessica Schibler and Prague Robert
Jessica Sindler and Noah Eaker
Jinwook and Juyoung Park
Jonathan Dar
Joni Lefkowitz and Leslie Madill
Jooyeon Lee and Joe Hong
Joyce Park and Jason Macaya
Jules and Crispin Leyser
Katharine and Alex Pittman
Katie Lowry Chang '93 and Will Chang
Kejia Pan
Kelli and Anthony Chau
Kroger
Lamar Sally Sr.
Laura and Michael Longo
Lauren Reynoso
Lauren Soloff and Adam Sher
Lesley Blume and Greg Macek
Leslie D. Emge
Lilla Zuckerman and David Jurmain
Lilly Foundation
Linda and Tony Lee
Lisa Cargill
Lupe and Wayani Taylor
Lydia Sullivan and Daniel Eckroad
Marika and Antonello Dato
Matthew Wallace
Maya Boudreau and Evan Watkins
Meagan Olsen
Nkechi '87 and David Howell
Pat Wilcher
Patricia Joseph Thomas
Paul Serrano
Priscilla and Nate Givens
Rachel Luo and Andrew Matt
Raushda and John Kennedy
Rebecca and Daniel Lee
Richard Yi
Samata and Jonathan Pattinson
Sarah Godoy and Daniel Carrillo
Sarah Helm
Sarah Hwang '98 and Christopher Su
Shelly Yoon and Chan Park
Stella and Steve Noh
Stephen Bedikian
Sumalee Karuna and Gregory Herman
Tae Hyun Kim and Brian Seok
Tara Russell and Scott Ashby
The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation
Adreon and Travis Fenderson
Adrienne White and Albert Won '88
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Amgen, Inc.
Andie Li and Luke Zhang
Andrew Kim
Anonymous
Beatrice Shen and Michael Peraza
Beth and Jonathan Sanford
Bindhu Varghese and Jonathan Sheldon
Bradly and Roger Perry
Bytedance Inc
Camille and William Overby
Carmella and Raj Singh
Chantal and Jarrett Dube
Christine Yeo and Steve Choi
Cristina and Hanley Baxter
David Lynch Family Trust
Diana Won and Sean Stephenson
Elaine Kim and Aram Lee
Emily Berger and Franklin Hess
Emily Lynch
Eunice Kim and Dan Chang
Eura Lim and Jun Kim
Eva Qiu and Alwin la Pietra
Hannah Lyu and Sun Hoo Kim
Heivi Kim and Edgar Cho
Isis and William Rivera
Janet and Fan Wei Kung
Jeahee Pyo and Robert Chu
Jennifer '93 and Tom LaDuke
Jennifer Culp and John Hoffman
Jenny O'Brian and Ryan Koh
Jessica Scott and Nyasha Hatendi
Ji Eun Choi and Tae Hwan Kim
Ji Hae and Jeong Lee
Joanna Philbin
Ju Hyun Lee and Eunju Kim
Jules Enescu and Jeff Balis
Juliet and Eric Kwon
Kate and Eugene Hong
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors
Foundation
Kelly and Alex Montalvo
Kensie Kim and James Kuk
Kundi Li and Anthony Wang
Kyeong R. and Duk Kyoung
Laura Rister
Lauren LeFranc and Ryan Scott
Leehwa and Craig Nakamatsu
Lisa Christensen '95 and Ken Peltan
Lorraine and Joseph Sarles
Louise Macbeth and Andrew Christensen
Madelaine Guppy and Hugo Adair
Miya Sumii and Yemen Fowler
Nate and Bo Cross
Nina Freudenberger and Michael Larocca
Northrop Grumman
Riot Games, Inc.
Sarah Moses and Geoff Shaevitz
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sophie and Samuel Choi
Su Oh and Stephen Ma
Sue and Tao Leung
Sunmi Son and Ryan Ahn
Susan Rich
Sylvia Rivera and Eric Schaar
Tess and Jonathan Lee
Tiffany Joseph '92 and Christopher Schreib
Tom Davidson and Robert Levine
Yolanda Felton
Yong Ho and Jin H Kim
Yuna Cho and Eunshik Shin
Aeysha Carr and Curtis Spears
Ally Bank
Anonymous
Bellinda Alvarez and Marty Scott
Bora Hong and William Park '91
Brooke '91 and Joshua Benjamin
Capital Group Companies
Casey and Sean Morris
Claire and Sung Han
Daisy Lee '88 and Zach Kahn
Gia Paladino-Wise and Michael Wise
Gigi Chen and Sherman Huo
Gigi Lam and Mike Selsky
Grace Kallis and Sean Clements
Hilary Marx and Nicholas Leeds
Hyunsook Huh and John Park
Jacqueline and Mark Ankner
Jamie Quinn and Jake Itzkowitz
Jamie Son and Jeong ho Roh
Jennifer and David Feeney
Jina and David Park
Jiyeong Park and Hyunjong Kim
Joanna Philbin
Karen '86 and George Hur
Kathleen Chen and Clem Wright
Kayla and Sean Lee
Laura Skoczylas and Tony Newman
Lily Hsu and Konrad Schlick
Linda and James Lee '86
Loraine Park and Gerald Tsai
Loranda Paul
Maisie and Rich Radford
Malin Wong and James Kissane
Marge and Walter Manzke
Marisa Miller and Jonathan Berzer
Maureen Hawley '96 and Tony Morales
Medtronics
Meehee Back and Ji Lee
Melissa Loy and Mike Margolin
Mo Rhim and Greg Kim
Moon Sun Min and Jae Chang
Parsons Corporation
Sarah Suh and James Kim
Scout and Billy Kemper
Sera and Ray Hahn
Sora Lee and Jay Um
Stella and Gary Taglyan
Stephanie and Kaleo Adams
Stephanie and Kyle Hjelmeseth
Sun and Roger Kim
Sunkyoung Kim and John Han
Susan and Brian Gillespie
Teresa Leung and Isaac Lee
Tracie and Allen Sun
Umi Kawabata and Ben Baudhuin
Virtus Investment Partners
SEASHELL SOCIETY | $5,000 - $9,999
Allison Yoo and Henry Jung
Anne and Phillip Gharabegian
Anonymous
Bel and Alan Joseph '96
Binna Yu and Seungduk Son
Cathleen and Eric Stern
Cece Yang and Bryan Lee
Devon and Matt Dentler
Diana Suh and Josh McCloskey
Dongjin Lee and Kyung Kang
Dr. Catherine and Kenneth Lee
Education Credit Management Corporation
Elizabeth Fain-LaBombard '92 and John LaBombard
Elizabeth Yin Yu and Victor Meng
Esther Chang and Matt Hanna
Georgia and Lou Howe
Ivana Cingel and Ryan Likes
Jeani and Matt Kearney
Jennie Chang and Wayne Tu
Jennifer and Joe Hsu
Jennifer and John Lee
Jennifer Lin and Allan Edmiston
Jessica and Ji Lim
JJ and Oliver Walsh
John Roman
Judy Oh and Michael Moon
Land's End Inc.
Marcie Ulin and Matthew Lau
Margaret Lee '91 and David Bommarito
Mark A. Laracy
Matthew McAlpin Robert Goff
PHILANTHROPIC COUNCIL | $10,000 - $24,999
Aeduk (Jennifer) Suhr and Hakjoon Joo
Ambrosia and Dennis Dennehy
Amelia Stephenson and Daniel Chun
Ashley and Roy Kim
Clara and Glen Lim
Diana Ra-Lee and Brian Lee
Diane and Tim Rich
Emily Levin and Shawn Hare
Hyerim Park and Brian Choi
Jae Won and Augustine Chung '93
Jessica and James Chu
Julia and Peter Bae
Kate Foley and Max Osterweis
Katie and Al Provinziano
Katie and Jake Ahn
Katie and Matt Murray
Kelly and Scott Yang
Lang Fisher
HEAD'S CIRCLE | $25,000 - $49,999
Brian Curran and Kevin MacLellan
Elizabeth Yarborough and Peter Hagist
Erica Hanson and Ike Barinholtz
Hyung and Ki Kim
Irene and Peter Chung
Jeet Sohal and Eric Andersen
Jennifer and Young Kim
Jenny Oh and Andy Kim
Jenny Yoon and Kyehan Kim
Maria Ferrari and John Tumlin
Rachel and Bulent Altan
Stacie Yee and Gabriel Colwell
Tricia and Richard Hoffman
Michelle and David Cheng
Michelle Lawrence and Andy Ross
MJ Lee and Stephan Kim
Netflix, Inc.
Nina and Kent Bailey
Nina Lightdale-Miric and Alexander Miric
Rachael and Justin Klaeb
S. Monica Soni and Chris Cowan
Sabina Yoo and Daniel Moon
Sally Pressman and David Rogers
Sandra Lee
Sarah and Jack O'Brien
Steph Cha and Matt Barbabella
Susannah and Noah Laracy
Tanya and Arthur Yoon
The Walt Disney Company
Luna Kim and Sam Ulin
Nan and Victor Joseph '98
Rosalind Lawton and Thom Zadra
Sara Lee and Charles Kim
Shio Kusaka and Jonas Wood
Soo Ji and Jong Park
Sumana and Adam Wolf
Yasmine and Matt Johnson
ANGEL WINGS | $50,000+
EJ and Tae Hyun Shin
Vicky and George Joseph
The Spring Gala was a joyful celebration of Father Koh's 34 years as the St. James' School Chaplain.
On May 2, 2025, the St. James’ community gathered at the stunning Taglyan Complex for our annual Spring Gala, themed Ready, Steady, Koh! A Black and White Ball Honoring Fr. Koh. Guests arrived dressed elegantly in black and white and were greeted by a red carpet, setting the stage for a glamorous evening dedicated to celebrating Fr. Koh’s remarkable 34 years as our School Chaplain. We were honored to welcome beloved legacy teachers, previous Heads of School, alumni families, and longtime friends - many of whom traveled from afar - to pay tribute to Fr. Koh and express their deep gratitude for his lasting impact on generations of students. We are proud to announce that this year’s gala netted just under $350,000, a testament to the generosity and spirit of our community.
Our dedicated gala committee - Kate Buhrmaster, Anne Gharabegian, Priscilla Givens, Madelaine Guppy, Maureen Hawley ‘96, Nkechi Howell ‘87, Marya Khalil-Otto, Ashley Kim, Diana Ra-Lee, Judy Oh, Meagan Olsen, and Malin Wong - curated an unforgettable evening filled with heartfelt tributes and exciting auction items.
Returning auction favorites like the Four Seasons Maui getaway delighted attendees alongside new offerings such as a Four Seasons Tamarindo experience in Mexico, a special baking session with our Head of School, Diane Rich, tickets to sold-out concerts, spa packages, and more. The fundraising portion of the night culminated in a thrilling “Last Paddle Up” game, where guests competed fiercely for the coveted front-of-carpool parking spot. Paddles were raised over 150 times during a 15-minute battle between our families, raising more than $15,000 in that single game alone.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this event possible - and especially to the Taglyan family for hosting us in such a magnificent venue. A portion of the funds raised will be dedicated to installing a new playground at the elementary campus honoring Fr. Koh, ensuring his legacy continues to enrich our community for years to come. This gala was a joyful celebration of Fr. Koh’s enduring impact and a powerful reminder of the strength, generosity, and joy that define St. James’.
S. Monica Soni and Chris Cowan
JJ and Oli Walsh
The St. James’ Parent Association
OM M ITT EE M E M BER S
Kate Buhrmaster
Anne Gharabegian
Priscilla Givens
Madelaine Guppy
Maureen Hawley ‘96
Nkechi Howell ‘87
Marya Khalil-Otto
Ashley Kim
Diana Ra-Lee
Judy Oh
Meagan Olsen
Maling Wong
Bingo on the Field: Kayla Lee, Jessica Lim, and Jamie Son
Flower Arranging: EJ Shin, Julia Bae, and Ji Yeong Park
Christmas and Photos with Santa: Brian Curran and Kevin MacLellan
Valentine’s Day: Luna Kim and Allison Yoo
Soul 2 Seoul: Soo Ji and Jong Park
Special thanks to our chefs and mixologists: George Hur and Crew, Loranda Paul, Jonathan Sanford, Margaret Lee ‘91, Mike Margolin & Melissa Loy, and Adam & Sumana Wolf
Baking with Marge Manzke at République: Marge and Walter Manzke
March Madness Brackets: Aeysha Carr and Curtis Spears
Formula Fig Family Skincare Workshop: JJ and Oli Walsh
Drag Queen Circus: Brian Curran and Kevin MacLellan
This year’s PartyBook series brought the St. James’ community together through a vibrant variety of events, raising a record-breaking $45,000 to support our school’s essential programs. From Bingo on the Field and Flower Arranging workshops to festive celebrations like Christmas and Photos with Santa and Valentine’s Day gatherings, each event offered unique opportunities for connection and fun. Highlights also included Soul 2 Seoul - enhanced by the talents of chefs and mixologists - Drag Queen Circus, Baking with Marge Manzke at République, March Madness Brackets, and a Formula Fig Family Skincare Workshop. Thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of all participants and hosts, the PartyBooks continue to be a cornerstone of community engagement and fundraising at St. James’. A huge thank you goes to our phenomenal PartyBook co-chairs - Beth Sanford, Brooke Benjamin ‘91, and Daisy Lee ‘88 - for their tireless work and dedication. We are so grateful for all they do to
As he prepared to conclude his tenure at St. James', our former Head of School, Mr. Peter Reinke, pledged a generous gift of $25,000 to the endowment established in his honor. The Peter Reinke Endowment directly supports the school's tuition assistance program, which provides approximately $1.3 million annually to help make a St. James' education accessible to more families in our community. Currently, about 20% of our families benefit from this vital program.
At his final Spring Gala, Mr. Reinke was honored by the Board of Trustees, and some proceeds from the evening were directed to the Peter Reinke Endowment in recognition of his years of dedicated service to our community.
To learn more about contributing to the Peter Reinke Endowment, please contact the Advancement Office.
President: Kevin MacLellan
Vice President: Adam Wolf
Treasurer: Erica Hanson
Secretary: Augustine Chung ‘93
Esther Chang
Chris Cowan
The Rev. Dr. Kate Cress
Elizabeth Fain-LaBombard ‘92
Phillip Gharabegian
Victor Joseph ‘98
Jennifer Lin
Sandra Lee
Sarah O’Brien
Diane Rich, Head of School
John Roman
Diane Rich, Head of School
Mei-Ling Leonard, Assistant Head for Early Child Education
Elizabeth Desmarais, Assistant Head for Systems & Matriculation
Rochel Rosel, Preschool Director
Kara Leigh Powers, Director of Admission
Jules Leyser, Director of Advancement & Communications
Lora McManus, Dean of Students & Belonging
Fernando Rios, Director of Plant Operations & Security
Amy Schlecter, Chief Financial & Operating Officer
Your suppor t helps make St. James’ an exceptional place for lear ning!
Your suppor t helps make St. James’ an exceptional place for lear ning! Your gift can be in cash, check, credit card or appreciated assets. You can make a one-time annual gift or pay a pledge in installments. St. James' is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Please contact the Advancement Office to make any special arrangements or discuss your questions.
If you would like to make a gift to St. James’ Episcopal School, please visit the Giving section of our website which can be found at this link.
Personal checks and/or credit and debit card payments are the most popular ways to give.
MEMORIA L OR T RI B UTE GIF T S
Make a gift to The Ever y Child Fund in memor y or in honor of a teacher or a loved one.
GI F TS OF SECURI T IE S
Appreciated securities are one of the most tax-efficient ways to suppor t St. James’.
M AT CHING GI F T S
Many companies will match gifts made by employees. Contact us for details.