REPORT OF GIFTS 2022–2023 Stories of Legacy
TO SAVE MONEY AND TREES, we have published the details of the 2022-23 Report of Gifts online.
Development Office 2023 Director of Development Nicole Martz P ’22, ’24
Associate Director of Development Visit penncharter.com/gifts or scan this QR code.
Christopher Rahill OPC ’99, P ’34
Development Assistant Denarii Beard OPC ’17
The material is protected with a password to ensure the privacy of our donors. To access details about charitable giving at PC, enter the password: stewards. ON THE COVER: Class of 2023 Commencement
Director of Stewardship Stephen A. Bonnie OPC ’66
Event Coordinator Shawna Hanley P ’34, ’35
Director of Advancement Services Shannon Morel P ’21, ’25
Director of the Annual Fund Emma Rowan
Director of Parent Engagement Lauren Stabert P ’35
Development Associate Blanca Womack P ’20
PENN CHARTER TRUSTEES Brigitte Addimando P ’28, ’29, ’33 Christine B. Angelakis P ’11, ’13, ’18 Anne Marble Caramanico Hon. 1689, P ’07 Grace Sharples Cooke P ’08, ’11 David Evans OPC ’59 Jane F. Evans Hon. 1689, P ’93, ’95, ’98 Amy Gadsden P ’23, ’23, ’27 Mark D. Hecker OPC ’99 Paul H. Hough OPC ’77 Leela Morrow P ’29, ’32, ’37 Kenneth A. Murphy OPC ’82, P ’09, ’19, ’21 Teresa A. Nance Andrew Newcomb P ’29, ’32 Jeffrey A. Reinhold P ’12 Benjamin E. Robinson III OPC ’82 Robert L. Rosania OPC ’82, P ’22, ’23 W. Scott Simon OPC ’78 Gregory E. Summers OPC ’89, P ’23, ’26 Larry L. Turner P ’19, ’22 F. John White OPC ’65, P ’90, ’96, ’99
SENIOR TRUSTEES Richard A. Balderston OPC ’69, P ’02, ’05 George C. Corson OPC ’52, P ’83 Nelson J. Luria OPC ’59 William F. MacDonald Jr. OPC ’62, P ’05 Edward Zubrow Hon. 1689
From the Head of School I am pleased to present the Report of Gifts for 2022-2023. This document is a testament to your deep appreciation for and steadfast commitment to Penn Charter and the impact your experience here has had on your lives. After just four months serving as head of school, I truly understand how and why Penn Charter ignites your passion. As I walk through the storied red doors each morning, I’m reminded of the generations of students who have walked through these same doors and whose lives were transformed because of their Penn Charter education. Our community’s generosity allows us to continue this legacy of excellence and to carry on the traditions that strengthen our connections to one another. Karen Warren Coleman
In reviewing this report, I was heartened to see the strength of our parent participation in the Annual Fund, of our reunion giving efforts, and of the gifts our community makes in honor of teachers and programs that influenced their lives—all of which demonstrate the deep and lasting impact Penn Charter has on current students, their family members, and on our cherished OPCs. No conversation about Penn Charter’s impact would be complete without mention of my predecessor, Darryl Ford, whose influence on our school is woven into the fabric of this community. A newly-endowed fund established in his honor—the Dr. Darryl J. Ford Hon. 1689 Legacy Fund—will provide grants for programmatic enhancements and other strategic priorities of the school. Supporting students and faculty was a hallmark of Darryl’s tenure, and this fund, supported by OPCs, board members, parents and caregivers, will allow Penn Charter to continue offering those opportunities. As I continue to immerse myself in the PC culture, meet more of our OPCs, get to know our students and families, and become accustomed to the mores of our school, I have recognized a common quality: the power of this community and the strength of our connectedness. I hope you enjoy reading the stories that illustrate the strength of community at Penn Charter. You are so much more than altruistic and dedicated families, OPCs, board members, faculty and staff, and your generosity extends far beyond a particular fund. You enable dreams, support success and encourage aspirations. You live lives that make a difference, and you inspire others to do the same. Thank you.
Karen Warren Coleman Head of School
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
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REPORT OF GIFTS CASH RECEIVED, JULY 1, 2022 - JUNE 30, 2023
The Report of Gifts highlights the generosity of nearly 2,000 people who contributed to William Penn Charter School and whose philanthropic commitments help to shape this institution.
ANNUAL FUND $1,722,790 WHERE DO OUR GIFTS COME FROM?
ALUMNI ANNUAL FUND
PARENT (CURRENT AND OPC PARENT) ANNUAL FUND
FRIENDS ANNUAL FUND
$890,993
$696,203
$31,414
GRANDPARENTS ANNUAL FUND
FACULTY AND STAFF ANNUAL FUND
$62,118
$42,062
RESTRICTED ANNUAL GIVING $2,909,162
EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDIT
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT
$1,727,974
$488,500
TEACHERS RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION
OTHER
$521,924
$170,764
T O TA L G I F T S T O C U R R E N T O P E R AT I O N S Annual Fund + Restricted Annual Giving
$4,631,952 2
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
CAPITAL AND ENDOWMENT $6,504,046 FACULTY ENDOWMENT
UNRESTRICTED $841,173
$277,374
SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAM EXCELLENCE
GENERAL ENDOWMENT
$2,657,891
$1,338,571
$1,151,050
$237,987
A L L C H A R I TA B L E G I V I N G Gifts to Current Operations + Capital and Endowment
$11,135,998 THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT PENN CHARTER. CONTACT US TO LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUPPORT PC.
By Yellow Envelope or Credit Card: Use the enclosed yellow envelope or visit us online at penncharter.com/give.
Gifts of Securities:
Recurring Gifts:
Employer Matching:
Make a Pledge:
Transferring stock and mutual funds can be an easy way to give to Penn Charter and in many cases offers a tax advantage. We recommend that you consult with your tax advisor in order to learn more about the advantages of gifting securities.
Recurring gifts allow you to divide your gift to Penn Charter into manageable increments through convenient automatic charges to your credit card. Recurring gifts are a great option for Annual Fund giving.
Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to support various causes, including educational institutions. Most companies match dollarfor-dollar, but some will double or triple an employee’s gift!
Pledge your gift now and make your payment later. Contact us for details on how to structure your gift.
For questions about the Report of Gifts or making a charitable contribution to our school, contact Director of Development Nicole Martz at nmartz@penncharter.com or 215-844-3460 ext. 265.
LEARN MORE.
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
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PENN CHARTER FINANCES:
AN OVERVIEW BUDGET: $34,971,819
INCOME
21
71
%
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS
GIFTS
TUITION & FEES
Funds drawn from endowment and funds from state tax-credit programs
1
%
4
6
%
%
Annual Fund and pension contribution
1
%
STUDENT SERVICES
MISCELLANEOUS INCOME
that incur additional fees
including summer camp, rental of Kurtz Center
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
EXPENSES
54
14
%
16
%
PAYROLL
BENEFITS
10
%
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
%
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE
6
%
STUDENT SERVICES
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
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Keeping—and joining—students at the center: Darryl J. Ford Hon. 1689 at a Middle School assembly last spring.
THE FORD FUND:
A Lasting Legacy During his 26 years at Penn Charter, Darryl J. Ford, former head of school who retired in June 2023, made many lasting impacts on the campus and this community. Along the way, countless individuals learned from and absorbed the values Ford espoused, which are deeply embedded in Penn Charter’s culture.
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William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
During the last year of his tenure, one way to ensure the continued legacy of Darryl Ford’s values came into focus: the creation of an endowed fund in his name. Grants would be awarded for school programming and initiatives that support the current strategic goals or priorities of the school. “Supporting faculty and student-centered strategic initiatives was a mainstay of Darryl’s leadership,” said Nicole Martz, PC’s director of development. “The Dr. Darryl J. Ford Hon. 1689 Legacy Fund provides the head of school the flexibility to support students and faculty opportunities that fall outside annual budgets and that align with the school’s values and its immediate needs. It was important to Darryl that he set up future heads for success, and this fund is one of those ways to do just that.” Funds are to be distributed at the head’s discretion each year, a responsibility that current Head of School Karen Warren Coleman, who began her tenure in July 2023, takes seriously. “Darryl was a transformational leader and set Penn Charter on an inspiring and exciting trajectory,” Coleman said. “This fund helps the school continue this path by providing meaningful experiences beyond coursework for students, and opportunities to explore curricular innovations and leadership experience for faculty.” The fund was established with lead gifts from OPCs, board
IN NAME AND LIKENESS
Ford Portrait
Enter the main doors of the Kurtz Center for Performing Arts, turn left and come face-to-face with Earl J. Ball Hon. 1689, who served Penn Charter as head of school from 1976 to 2007. Painted in thick strokes that evoke Ball’s good nature, this portrait of PC’s sixth head in the modern era was created by Garth Herrick in 2005. In a nod to Ball’s enthusiasm and support for the arts, it hangs in the Kurtz Center, a place Ball helped bring to fruition. Likewise, with the support of Brian Ellerson OPC ’86, a portrait of Darryl J. Ford Hon. 1689 will soon hang in one of PC’s buildings— painted by one of Ford’s favorite artists, Richard Watson.
“Darryl set a tremendous example as a moral leader,” Ellerson said. “That’s who Darryl is. He is the friend that we all want.” Ellerson is funding the portrait to recognize Ford’s legacy at Penn Charter, and to ensure Ford’s likeness is represented at the school along with other past heads, including Richard Mott Jones (1874-1917) in the Timmons House. After Watson was tapped to create the piece, he visited Penn Charter last May to display his artwork in the Special Gifts Gallery in the Main Building and to talk with Ford and an audience of faculty, parents and caregivers, and OPCs about his artistic process and inspirations. Ford owns several pieces of Watson’s artwork.
members, and current and former parents. “We have tremendous respect for the steady leadership and guidance that Darryl consistently demonstrated during his tenure and believe that a fund connected to Darryl’s name will inspire future leaders,” said Melissa Codkind P ’11, a longtime volunteer at the school, who along with her husband, Mitch, made a gift to the Ford Fund. “We are very excited for Dr. Coleman to continue where those before her left off in guiding the institution toward future success.” As she has come on board, Coleman has been struck by the deep relationships people have with one another throughout the Penn Charter community. “The foundation of these relationships, in all relationships, is trust,” she said. “I feel this fund further underscores this trust that the school—and I—will carry on the values that have led us to this point.” “Trust is a perfect word to describe our relationship with Penn Charter,” Codkind said. “We trust that the Legacy Fund, in Darryl’s name, will remain a valuable Penn Charter resource for years to come.”
Caroline, Tyler, Logan and Brian Ellerson OPC ‘86
“Darryl cares about the alumni, but that’s not his guiding light,” Ellerson said. “His guiding light is the students. I will always be connected to the school because [it is where] I learned how to learn. I did not appreciate it then, but it remains an integral component of my life. Furthermore, I am extremely proud of what Darryl has done as an African American leader of students. For these reasons I am contributing to his legacy.” Ford’s portrait will be complete during this school year, marking his enduring impact on generations of students who have also impacted him. continued on next page
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
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Richard OPC ’69 and Claudia Balderston celebrated the renaming of the Middle School assembly room—now the Ford Commons—with Darryl J. Ford Hon. 1689 and Head of School Karen Warren Coleman.
Ford Commons Darryl J. Ford’s lasting influence on Penn Charter began at the
Middle School along with his wife, Claudia.“Throughout his
Richard B. Fisher Middle School, where Ford began his PC career
leadership at Penn Charter, Darryl Ford has always kept the
as director in 1997. During his 10 years there, many life lessons
students at the center.”
and lasting impressions were made in the school’s assembly space, the 200-seat Balderston Commons amphitheater. Named for Claudia and Richard A. Balderson OPC ’69 when the Middle School was built in 2002, the room gives students a central place to hold weekly meetings, share news about student life and interests, and learn about current and impactful issues and topics. During his time as director, Ford built a unique Middle School community and culture that defined this division, and Balderston Commons was at the heart of it all. “I think of the Commons as a place that helped to expand my
Richard and Claudia Balderston had the chance to celebrate Ford, and formally pass on the room’s name, at a dedication ceremony on Sept. 22. Held in the Ford Commons, now with its new name above the entrances, the program was also attended by former head of school Earl J. Ball Hon. 1689, Head of School Karen Warren Coleman, members of the Board of Trustees, Ford’s family members and other friends. “Through your generosity and leadership, we created a scholarship together and envisioned the master plan together,” Ford said at the dedication, addressing the Balderstons. “Now we will witness
thinking and connection to other people here and beyond Penn
students travel from the Balderston Lower School to this Ford
Charter,” said Felix Morris, a seventh grader.
Commons through the corridors of the Main Building and out the
Now, the space will inspire under a new name: Ford Commons. “There really is no better place to carry Darryl’s name and legacy than a place where students shine,” said Richard Balderston OPC ’69, who supported the construction of the
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William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
red front doors to opportunities made possible by us and everyone at Old Penn Charter. How meaningful this is to me.” — Michael Petitti
A GIFT OF
PUBLIC PURPOSE Integral to Penn Charter’s mission of educating students to live lives that make a difference, the Center for Public Purpose, since its inception in 2013, has built and strengthened relationships with community partners in the city of Philadelphia. Share Food Program, with its mission of fighting hunger by distributing food to individuals, families and food pantries across the Philadelphia region, is one of Penn Charter’s primary partners. Through an endowment gift of $1 million from Shanin Specter OPC ’75, in honor of his wife, Tracey, Penn Charter is deepening its relationship with Share Food Program and its commitment to food security in the city of Philadelphia and surrounding communities. “Hunger is an awful problem in Philadelphia but also a solvable problem,” Specter said. “And so we feel Shanin Specter received Penn Charter’s Alumni Award of Merit in 2015.
that it’s important to do our best to address it. And continued on next page
Center for Public Purpose Mission Statement The Center for Public Purpose engages Penn Charter students in community-based work addressing some of the most pressing social issues in greater Philadelphia. The center’s work aligns with Penn Charter’s Quaker values and curriculum and creates structures that inspire students to take ownership of their own learning experiences. Through this process students gain the skills and competencies to live lives that make a difference.
UBLIC PUR PO SE William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
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if we can appropriately nourish our
project and its collaboration with
“Penn Charter and Share have a history
citizens, they’ll be able to learn and to
Share’s Nice Roots Farm to support
of community engagement together,”
work productively and to lead healthier
the Friends’ Fridge at the nearby St.
said Alyson Goodner OPC ’96, director
lives. And that will have positive ripple effects throughout the community.” By covering expenses, the Specter gift has allowed Penn Charter to increase programming between Share and PC students. Examples include the
James School; keynote speakers for the Upper School Day of Service; and family days at the Share warehouse to engage the larger PC community in this work. Penn Charter and Share are also in early conversations
of the Center for Public Purpose. “To have donors like the Specters who are so invested in and committed to Share, and equally to Penn Charter and our student experience, is really special—it’s authentic. We are all deeply committed to sustaining this partnership.”
sixth grade food security capstone
to collaborate on a student-led
project for which Share serves as an
conference to educate communities
The Specter gift is an outcropping
intern site; second grade’s food justice
about food sovereignty.
of the connections that the family
“There’s no more fundamental moral issue in our society than the responsibility we have to be sure that all of our children are properly nourished.” — Shanin Specter OPC ’75
Shanin OPC ’75 and Tracey Specter, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, at a Share Food Program event.
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William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
has to both Penn Charter and Share. Shanin was a “lifer” at Penn Charter, attending the school for grades K-12, and Tracey, who began as a volunteer at Share, is now chair of Share’s Board of Directors. Shanin made this gift to support Penn Charter’s relationship with Share, “Tracey’s favorite cause,” as a milestone-birthday gift to his wife. “I think that it is a great way to educate Penn Charter students about the needs of the community, about how to give back, about how to achieve the satisfaction that comes with helping others,” Shanin Specter said. “And so we wanted to deepen and broaden the relationship between Penn Charter and Share, which this gift is advancing.” “Shanin and Tracey Specter have a clear commitment to Penn Charter and our mission of public purpose,” said Head of School Karen Warren Coleman. “Their gift to support PC’s collaboration with Share is a game-changer, opening up even more opportunities for our students to become change cultivators and compassionate friends, as the Portrait of a Penn Charter Learner calls them to do.” Jacob Kestenbaum, a senior, has
Tracey and Shanin Specter in the Share warehouse.
“Shanin and Tracey Specter have a clear commitment to Penn Charter and our mission of public purpose. Their gift to support PC’s collaboration with Share is a game-changer, opening up even more opportunities for our students to become change cultivators and compassionate friends, as the Portrait of a Penn Charter Learner calls them to do.” — Head of School Karen Warren Coleman
worked with Share since Lower School and currently as co-clerk of the Food Security Club and through his Social Impact Investment class. “I think
“I’m very fortunate to have been
all taught at Penn Charter. It’s a
it’s rare,” he said, “to have so many
educated with the Quaker traditions
opportunities to get to know, learn
great relationship for the school, for
of community and personal
about and support a community partner.
responsibility,” Specter said. “And
Share and for the entire Philadelphia
Share has always been focused on the
there’s no more fundamental
greatest needs of the Philadelphia
moral issue in our society than the
region and has been an example for me
responsibility we have to be sure
of how to think creatively and work
that all of our children are properly
with partners to address the most
nourished. I see Share’s mission as
challenging issues in our city.”
a manifestation of what we were
community. And I have no doubt that there will be students who will lead a life of greater purpose for others by their exposure to Share through Penn Charter.” PC —Rebecca Luzi
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
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PARENTS BUILD COMMUNITY Parent giving to the Annual Fund supports a critical piece of the school’s operating budget each year, touching every aspect of the student experience—from faculty professional development to supplies for
“I wanted to give to create a sustainable impact,” Lewis said. “I wanted to show up physically and lend my expertise in my professional field as a videographer. I wanted to create a platform to amplify students’ voices, tell their stories and empower them to learn a new skill. That’s why I gave my time and energy through skilled volunteering; I addressed a school’s need by sharing my talents with the community.”
the classroom and so much more. “The collective support of our families ensures the continued excellence of a Penn Charter education and demonstrates our commitment to our school, our faculty and our children,” said Director of Parent Engagement Lauren Stabert, also a PC parent. In recent years, the level of participation by current parents has grown significantly, which would not have been possible without the partnership of parent volunteers. Parents who give of their time and talents—building community through their collective efforts—are a growing and increasingly important part of Penn Charter’s development success.
Hezekiah Lewis films a senior time capsule video.
Hezekiah Lewis Giving Back Through Skilled Volunteering Hezekiah and his wife, Leashia, P ’34, served on the inaugural Family Circle Committee, which focuses on building a robust culture of philanthropy among PC parents. As part of his service on the committee, Lewis volunteered his professional expertise in video production, producing a thank-you video for leadership donors as well as three senior time capsule videos for the Class of 2023. In this series of “time capsules,” seniors reflected on relationships, experiences and achievements that underscored their Penn Charter journey.
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William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
Leashia and Hezekiah Lewis and their children, Heze (front) and Zekai.
Lewis was also excited to offer seniors the opportunity to learn video production as part of their Senior Comprehensive Project. “I think many times we don’t show our gratitude enough,” he said. “We might say it, but how do we show it? How do we engage in it actively? To me, it’s all about actions speaking louder than words. And that’s so important because those actions can ripple into a community and strengthen it.”
Jyoti Sharma and Nithin Adappa
Nithin Adappa and Jyoti Sharma
Fostering a Culture of Philanthropy
“My hope, too, was to emphasize to the group that giving in whatever way a family feels comfortable does have an impact,” Sharma said. “To me, what is meaningful for the
Jyoti Sharma and Nithin Adappa P ’30, ’33, William Penn
school and the students is coming together, giving as a
Society leadership donors for several years, recognized that
community, and emphasizing that your donation, no matter
they wanted to do more than give financially. They wanted
its size, does impact the school.”
to build community among like-minded families to build
“Jyoti and Nithin generously hosted more than 40 people in
collective support for the school.
their home for coffee and breakfast,” Stabert said. “It was
“I think people are more inclined and more comfortable
an opportunity for families to meet other parent leadership
giving to the school when they feel part of the community,”
donors and hear remarks about their impact.” Ranging from
Sharma said, “and when they understand what their
brand-new PC parents to those who had been at PC for
contribution is going towards.”
years, “the one thing they all had in common was that they had made their first leadership gift of $1,689 or more within
Lauren Stabert and Sharma brainstormed ways to accomplish that, and Sharma volunteered to organize an
the past 18 months.”
event with her husband, Nithin Adappa, to thank other
“You don’t often talk about giving with other families,” Adappa
parents for their support and to celebrate PC’s community
said. “It’s not something you discuss with others. The event
of donors. In the past, the couple had experienced the
served as a platform for us to have discussions with other
success of informal fundraising events that highlight ways
families that we know in our social circles about how we, as a
that gifts make a difference.
group, can essentially help the community together. continued on next page
THE WILLIAM PENN SOCIETY RECOGNIZES LEADERSHIP GIFTS ($1,689+) TO THE ANNUAL FUND. Leadership giving among parents has grown in recent years.
67
PARENT LEADERSHIP DONORS
In 2020-2021
88
106
PARENT LEADERSHIP DONORS
PARENT LEADERSHIP DONORS
In 2022-2023
In 2021-2022
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
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“As we got more vested in the community this past year, we
offer ideas, provide feedback, make connections and be a
made a tangible difference within the student and faculty
sounding board.
body. And so that’s been something that’s really been felt by
Baum said it was important for her not only to donate but
us and that we want to continue doing as our kids grow up in the school.”
to volunteer her time and support the effort because she believes in the impact. “As an educator and faculty member
“We’ve always felt that giving to the school in whatever
at Villanova University, I understand and appreciate
capacity will only create a stronger school for all of our kids,”
the importance of donating to faculty professional
Sharma said.
development,” she said.
Heather Baum P’23,’27
100 percent participation, demonstrating, Baum said, “how
Finding Connection Through the Senior Parent Gift
The goal of the Senior Parent Gift Committee was to reach we value, give back and support the community that has enriched our children’s lives. We have been so happy at PC, and I felt motivated to express this to families. It was fun because everyone felt the same way about PC; it was simply
Last September, Heather Baum, parent of Dabney OPC ’23 and
up to the committee to inform them of the impact.”
ninth grader Margaux, was inspired to volunteer on the Senior
And so, in the end, Baum wound up offering to contact
Parent Gift Committee—a way to savor her oldest daughter’s final year at PC. She wanted to spend more time with families with whom she’d felt deeply connected for more than a decade. “I wanted to do more than serve as the class chair” during Dabney’s senior year, Baum said. When Lauren Stabert reached out about serving on the
parents directly to ask them to make a gift—and found that she enjoyed it. “What I found meaningful were the connections I got to make,” she explained. “We have known some of these families for 12 years! Being on the committee allowed me to catch up with people I hadn’t spoken to in awhile. It was
Senior Parent Gift Committee to raise money for faculty
fun to reconnect and experience milestone events together.
professional development, she identified the team of
I realized that I would miss these parents, so it was nice to
parents who were already on board.
have one last hurrah with them.” PC —April Torrisi
“I felt, wow, I would love to work with them and have the time together before our children head off to college,” Baum said. “However, I clarified that I felt uncomfortable directly asking people to give.” Instead, she would be happy to
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
HERE’S HOW!
• Serve on parent fundraising committees like the Family Circle or the Senior Parent Gift Committee. • Serve as an ambassador for parent giving. No prior experience required. Receive training to empower you to support development efforts on your own time and as part of special days like Great Day to Be a Quaker. • Lend professional expertise. Do you have skills in fundraising, event planning, photography, videography or another way you’d like to volunteer? Senior Parent Gift Committee members PJ Maley OPC ’89, P ’19, ’22, ’23, ’25; Denelle Drake P ’23; Heather Baum P ’23, ’27; Ann Summers P ’23, ’26; Theresa Zulick P ’21, ’23, ’26; Mark Butler OPC ’97, P ’23.
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William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
• Attend or help out at events such as Color Day and Great Day. Contact Laurent Stabert, director of parent engagement, at lstabert@penncharter.com or 215-844-3460 ext. 276.
MAGIC FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OPC Giving Drives the Student Experience Today
As the feet of OPCs retrace the grooves up the Senior Stairs and meander down the hallways and into classrooms and the Old Gym, memories come flooding back, like magic. “There are stories—inside jokes—from each room you go by,” explained Doug Little OPC ’63. Visiting the Old Gym over OPC Weekend, Little and his classmates found relics of their time, including a track record and the old climbing rope. During OPC Weekend, and, for many, throughout the year, classmates reunite and recollect their experiences at the school, and learn what’s happening at the school today. “OPC Weekend is another reminder of the power of our alumni community,” said Associate Director of Development Chris Rahill OPC ’99. “Every year OPCs from all over the world come back home not only to reconnect with classmates, teammates and teachers, but to exercise the great pride they have in Penn Charter.” Conversations also include giving back to Old Penn Charter, and the affection and tight ties OPCs cultivate with their
Dick Gilkeson OPC ’63 (right), pictured with Doug Little OPC ’63, returns to Penn Charter often. “I love to see how the guys are doing. As soon as we see each other we’re right back to where we were 60 years ago.” The class hit attendance records at their 60th reunion this year. “I hope we set the record for our 65th and 70th,” Gilkeson said.
alma mater that keep Penn Charter going strong. “When I attended Penn Charter, I was unaware of the importance of alumni support,” said class agent John King OPC ’83. “I did not know that it fueled scholarships, financial aid and many other special programs. Once I realized that those who graduated before me ‘paid it forward’ to help
and we want to make that possible for today’s students; for them to have access to the best teachers, coaches and facilities. We know how important Penn Charter’s mission is to creating the next generation of leaders. There is no better feeling than being part of something greater than ourselves.”
enhance my experience at PC, I felt it was important to do
Little and the rest of the Class of 1963 have been building
the same for today’s students.”
a financial aid fund since their graduation, supported by a
King, his classmates and fellow OPCs are staunch and
major gift during their 20th reunion 40 years ago.
generous supporters of Penn Charter, including the Annual
“The giving is up to each individual,” Little said. “Some
Fund. More than 865 OPCs gave to the Annual Fund in
classes have major donors; we have steady donors.” Due
2022-23, totalling more than $890,000. Reunioning classes
to the fund, he said, “someone else will have the benefit of
gave $534,089 to Penn Charter.
going to Penn Charter as we did.”
“OPCs set the standard when it comes to alumni giving,”
This year, two students are attending Penn Charter as
Rahill said. “We are grateful for our Penn Charter experience,
a result of the collective support of the Class of 1963. continued on next page
William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
15
These alumni are literally paying it forward so the next generation has access to the excellent education and student experience for which PC is known. And, the gifts to the Annual Fund support every current student at Penn Charter— and the programs, facilities and faculty that make up the Penn Charter experience. Liz Spagnoletti OPC ’08 and her husband, Mark Hecker OPC ’99, give for Penn Charter’s future generations, as well. “It is important to me to support all of the efforts around financial aid,” Spagnoletti said. “We don’t specify our gift for that, but we know any gift you make is contributing to the school’s ability to make its education more accessible to as many students as possible. The idea that part of our giving is to make the school more accessible is first and foremost.”
“Once I realized that those who graduated before me ‘paid it forward’ to help enhance my experience at PC, I felt it was important to do the same for today’s students.” — John King OPC ’83 OPCs give to support access for future generations, but
The Class of 2008 gathered for its 15th reunion at Middle Child Clubhouse, owned by classmate Matt Cahn. Then-head of school Darryl J. Ford Hon. 1689 joined them later in the night. “We’ve always felt a special connection,” said Liz Spagnoletti OPC ’08. Ford was the Middle School director when the class was in Middle School, and they were his first graduating class as head of school.
years, to support faculty salaries, professional development and enrichment, all of which have a critical impact on the students of today. Like so many OPC classes, “the Class of 1983 loved and respected our teachers, so the idea of supporting a facility where today’s teachers could become even better at what they do really struck a chord.” said King of the class’s gift to support the Teaching & Learning Center, located in
they also give in support of the talented teachers. OPCs
Gummere Library.
speak fondly—even reverentially—about their PC teachers.
“You walk onto campus, and everything is there for you, to
They understand how impactful a great teacher can be, and
educate you, to enrich you, to help you be the person you
many give in honor or memory of those teachers. Classes
want to become,” said Spagnoletti, thinking about the
band together in one year, or over the course of several
experience for current and future students that OPC gifts support—and reflecting her own feelings as a student. That’s the expansive impact of OPC giving: At once, fondly recalling Old Penn Charter, and giving with the intention that current students will enjoy their experience and keep the cycle going. “I hope that Penn Charter students experience the same sort of safe, supportive educational environment that I did so they can become their best selves and go out and make the world a better place in whatever way they choose,” King said. “That said, I hope Penn Charter continues to place a premium on imparting Quaker values via every possible opportunity … for the highest good of all concerned.
The Class of 1983 gathered at a classmate’s house on OPC Weekend. “True friendship eclipses time and space,” said class agent John King.
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William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
“To me,” he continued, “that’s the real magic of Penn Charter.” PC —Julia Judson-Rea
WOMEN OPCs GIVE BACK In the modern era, the first PC graduating class that included women was 1992. Three decades later, Penn Charter’s alumni donor base is a reflection of coeducational classes, with more and more women OPCs developing into long-term donors. Margaux Pelegrin OPC ’99 is one of those women. A former director and president of the Alumni Society, Pelegrin is steeped in Penn Charter. She is an Annual Fund leadership donor, EITC donor, a lead sponsor of the annual Golf Outing, and a PC parent: Colin, grade 7, and Ben, grade 5, both began in kindergarten. She and her husband, Kevin, have a real estate business in Center City. What has kept her so connected to Penn Charter? Teacher relationships first and foremost. “We may not have appreciated it then,” Pelegrin said of her class, “but the teachers have had such a lasting impact on us, through our college years and our early career years. Many of these same faculty members are still at Penn Charter, and they still have that same gumption for education and inspiring students that they did 25, 30 years ago. I think that’s a very good reflection of the school as a whole and
Margaux Pelegrin OPC ’99
“The Grace Fund is a resource for teachers to ensure students have what they need at PC to succeed, whether it’s athletic shoes or field trip money, despite any financial shortfall,” Pelegrin said. The Grace Fund aligns with our
something that I appreciate as a PC parent.”
family values, and it also aligns with the school’s mission of
Pelegrin has always kept close the Quaker testimonies that
equity in education.”
are woven into the fabric of Penn Charter.
Chris Rahill OPC ’99, associate director of development,
“The values that I carried into my post-Penn Charter life,”
sees the connection between PC graduates and their school
she said, “were intrinsic Quaker values that promoted
every day.
collaboration, listening and problem solving. These were
“OPCs are strong supporters of Penn Charter largely
carried into my next years of education and also into
because we are grateful for the impact the school has had
personal relationships.”
on our lives,” Rahill said. “The number of women OPCs
When Pelegrin and her husband make an annual gift to
continues to grow, and their influence is felt throughout our
Penn Charter, they direct it to the Grace Fund, a full-access
campus, As donors, teachers, coaches and parents within
fund designed to pay the cost of items and activities not
our community, women OPCs are carrying on the tradition
covered by tuition.
of giving back to our school.” continued on next page
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Pelegrin has an appreciation for the alumni who came before her, before the shift to coeducation. At one point, she was the only woman on the Alumni Society board, an experience that allowed her to get to know OPCs from the all-boys-school generation. “It was a much smaller school then,” she said. “And because of that, they are a tight-knit group and hold PC traditions close, but they are still very open to the forward-thinking changes that the school has made over the years that uphold the tradition of excellence in education.”
When Virginia McMunigal OPC ’06 arrived at Penn Charter in ninth grade, it was a big change for her; she had been at her previous school since kindergarten. “I was nervous about it,” she said. “I hadn’t been the new kid since I was five years old.” Athletics was where she first found community. “I joined the soccer team my freshman year, and that, I think,
Virginia McMunigal OPC ’06 and her baby, Palmer.
She and her husband, Patrick Kelley, moved back to Philadelphia three years ago, and McMunigal is excited to be closer to the Penn Charter community. When she came
was the number one thing that made me feel comfortable
to campus for PC/GA Day in 2021—extra thrilling because
attending a new school.”
of the official opening of the Graham Athletics & Wellness
It didn’t hurt that pre-season practice began a few weeks
Center—“I had a rush of the same feeling I did when I was
before school did. “So by the time I was starting classes and
actively playing on a team,” she said.
everything,” she said, “I was already recognizing people in
This year, PC/GA Day might be a great opportunity to
the hallways and had friends, and so that was great for me.”
introduce her baby, Palmer, to the PC life.
Basketball was her primary sport, but McMunigal also
“People like Virginia who are consistent supporters of the
picked up lacrosse at PC, and in each of her three sports,
Annual Fund help sustain the student experience for others,”
she made different a group of friends. “Community
Rahill said. “This tradition of loyal alumni support—by
was probably the number one thing for me at PC,” she
women OPCs—is further proof that OPCs are committed to
acknowledged. “I felt very comfortable right away, even
the future success of Penn Charter.”
coming in as a new student when a lot of the kids already
“When I think about my high school experience,”
knew each other.” McMunigal, who for a decade held the girls basketball scoring record of 1,573 points, was inducted into the Athletic Honor Society in 2021 for her individual accomplishments.
McMunigal reflected, “I really, genuinely do think back about how lucky I was to go to a school like Penn Charter with the character that it has. That makes me want to give back and pay it forward to future classes.” PC —Rebecca Luzi
“[Teachers] still have that same gumption for education and inspiring students that they did 25, 30 years ago.” — Margaux Pelegrin OPC ’99
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William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
INSPIRING TEACHERS, INSPIRED GIFTS The name of a legendary educator above a hallway’s entrance invites students to walk underneath and be inspired: Alice B. Davis Hon. 1689 Science Wing. Beyond the inscription, the hallway stretches across the Upper School’s science classrooms and labs. Along its walls, glass cases display student projects in physics, biology, chemistry. David Hassman OPC ’83 once sat in a classroom in this science wing. In that room, Alice Davis herself rigorously taught and motivated her students. An iconic Penn Charter chemistry teacher and the school’s first female science department chair, Davis retired in 2010 after 38 years at the school. She died from cancer in 2015.
Joined by wife Jodi Hassman and mother Lillian Hassman, David Hassman OPC ‘83 talks with Alice Davis’s husband, David, at the science wing dedication ceremony in April 2023.
For Hassman, and countless others, the time spent in this hallway, and particularly with Davis, set the stage for his life beyond. Hassman is now a physician specializing in
science department chair Timothy Lynch, and in partnership with Hansell Stedman P ’13, ’14, ’21 at the Perelman School of
family medicine.
Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, affords students
“She had a big impact on my trajectory,” Hassman said of
a one-year internship in a clinical laboratory.
Davis. “It was the confidence that she helped build inside of
“I think it’s important that you can give back to the school,”
you that helped propel you to that next step. The confidence
said Hassman, whose three children also attended PC,
to be successful, the confidence to succeed.”
graduating in 2014, 2016 and 2019. Yet Hassman was still
Davis’s impact on Hassman, and his overall experience at
looking for a way to show appreciation for the teacher who
Penn Charter, has spurred his support of the school for years;
had made chemistry exciting for him: Alice Davis.
in 2016, he established the Hassman Family Fund for Science
Meanwhile, Penn Charter was in the midst of the 10-year
Research Innovation to support internships for PC students
How Far? Capital Campaign, which would close in December
in a research laboratory. The program, facilitated by former
2022 after reaching $135 million. After a conversation continued on next page
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19
with Director of Development Nicole Martz, Hassman began to see a way to make a gift to the campaign that would honor Davis. He made an unrestricted gift to support the
GRATEFUL GIVING The lasting influence of a Penn Charter
construction of the Lower School, the division in which Davis
teacher or program motivates many to
began her career at Penn Charter—a campus transformation
make gifts to the school.
gift that was recognized with a naming opportunity in the Upper School, where she inspired generations. “I felt that I can contribute and accomplish two different recognitions,” Hassman said. “One was recognizing an influential science teacher, and the other was recognizing that the school should have funds to dispose of in the way they feel they can utilize them to grow.”
For Bret and Donna Perkins, witnessing their son blossom into an avid reader made them want to encourage other students to find that same joy. Tiernan, now a PC sophomore, was in first grade when teacher Beth Gould recognized he would benefit from extra help with reading. Gould began teaching at PC in 2005 and retired in 2022.
On May 23, 2023, members of the Hassman and Davis families and many friends gathered outside the science wing, under the freshly affixed lettering, for a ceremony officially naming the wing in Davis’s honor. A framed photograph at the wing’s entrance includes an inscription that recognizes her “unwavering commitment to the student-teacher relationship … and her endless energy and dedication to students.” “Penn Charter has always been a very special place to me,” Hassman said. “The teaching and the learning and the environment that it projects is everlasting, and I think it’s up to us to continue to help it grow and expand in any way that we can.”
Bret and Donna Perkins, with their sons, Tazio (left) and Tiernan.
“The year that Tiernan had Beth as a teacher was transformational, ” said Donna Perkins, whose other son, Tazio, is a junior at PC. “In the beginning, he was not so interested in learning to read. Beth really worked her magic, and Tiernan became this voracious reader, and he reads more than any of the four of us in our family.” Tiernan was so impacted by Gould that he thanked her in his remarks at the end-of-year fifth grade Meeting for Worship. A decade later, the family, as part of a gift to support the new lower school’s construction, named a classroom in the new school in her honor. The Beth A. Abby OPC ’19, Brooke OPC ’16, Corey OPC ’14, Joseph, David OPC ’83, Jodi and Lillian Hassman.
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William Penn Charter School • Report of Gifts
Gould Glass Classroom will be a learning and reading space inside the library.
“We wanted to be able to do something meaningful for Beth and for Penn Charter to acknowledge the impact on our family,” Perkins said. The opening of the new lower school is scheduled for summer 2025. If the family doesn’t run into Gould beforehand, Perkins anticipates a student-teacher reunion one day after the opening. “I don’t think Tiernan has seen Miss Gould in a long time,” Perkins said. “I’m looking forward to the two of them seeing each other.”
ARTS MATTER There are many ways to create legacy, and for Chuck Bauer and his partner, Chuck
Chuck Bauer (front row, second from left), Class of 1965, in 10th grade.
Both his stepfather and father were 1936 PC graduates; his stepfather benefited from financial aid, as did Bauer. And
Beckwith, their recent planned gift through a
while he did not graduate from the school, he carries with
bequest to the school stemmed from Bauer’s
him lifelong lessons from his time as a Quaker.
appreciation of PC’s commitment to financial
“The kind of instruction at Penn Charter at that early,
aid and the arts. “The theater department there was strong, and that was a wonderful experience for a young person to have,” Bauer, a
impressionable age has paid dividends,” Bauer said. “Penn Charter gave me the very strong impression early on that the arts matter. So that motivates me to help that happen for others.”
member of the Class of 1965, said. “And I kind of became a
Bauer’s planned gift is made in memory of Oliver Nuse, who
little bit of a stage-struck kid for a while. And when I got to
chaired the Art Department for nearly three decades.
college, it was one of the majors I considered. But the fine
“The stories of our past guide the path of our future,”
arts, the visual arts, won out. When we had art class at Penn Charter, it was always the part of the week I liked best.” Bauer attended PC on-and-off since kindergarten; his stepfather was often relocated for military service. He left the school just before his senior year when his
Nicole Martz said. “Whether an impactful teacher, the opportunities created or experiences had, individuals take a piece of Penn Charter with them everywhere they go. It’s why our parents and OPCs give back, and we are so grateful for the legacies they leave.” PC
stepfather was again transferred, this time to Germany.
— Michael Petitti
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY AT PENN CHARTER. Planned gifts are a wonderful way to contribute to our ongoing educational excellence and achieve both your personal and philanthropic goals. Penn Charter can be named as a beneficiary in wills, trusts or life insurance policies, or supporters can participate in a Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust. The Pinehurst Society, named for the East Falls farm that includes our present-day campus, recognizes those alumni, parents and friends who have included Penn Charter in their estate plans. Contact Director of Development Nicole Martz at nmartz@penncharter.com or 215-844-3460 ext. 265 to discuss gift planning options.
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3000 West School House Lane Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19144
Head of School Karen Warren Coleman welcomes Lower School students on the first day of school.