Scholarship Character Community Balance
We believe that academic excellence is best achieved in an atmosphere of high expectation, inspirational instruction, individualized attention, and student-teacher relationships based on mutual trust and respect.
We believe in the cultivation of integrity, personal responsibility, consideration for others, and skills for compassionate leadership.
We believe that students should develop dimensions of themselves beyond academics. Laguna Blanca is committed to providing all students with meaningful experiences in the arts, athletics, and a wide array of co-curricular opportunities.
We believe that the success of Laguna Blanca relies on a mutually supportive partnership between faculty, students, parents, and staff who actively promote healthful living, honorable citizenship, and human kindness.
Dear Laguna Families, Alumni, and Friends,
Gratitude is an unofficiacore value here at Laguna Blanca School. Everyday, I hear stories from grateful alumni, parents, and students regarding the ways in which Laguna impacted their lives. It’s one of the most powerful threads you’ll follow in the enclosed Annual Report. I want to be the firstto express my gratitude for what the entire Laguna Blanca community has shown up to accomplish.
Thegifts you gave as expressions of your gratitude-time, funds, guidance—have impacted our community perhaps more than you will ever know. I want to thank everyone for making the Laguna Blanca experience possible. Tha includes the countless volunteers who organized the Golden Oak Gala, Laguna Fund fundraisers, and other school events that make every year at Laguna magical; every single community member who took time to donate to the Laguna Fund, contribute to the endowment, or make a planned gift; and of course, the tireless members of our development team who work year after year to make our work possible.
Not every gift can be itemized, but every gift is extraordinary. Because of you, Laguna has been able to accomplish some extraordinary things.
First, Laguna’s financialhealth is as strong as it’s been in the school’s 90-year history. Our endowment, which plays a foundational role in ensuring Laguna’s long-term stability, is growing. Our annual Laguna Fund has not just met but exceeded its goals for the past few years. A strong financial foundation is what allows us to focus freely on our most important work: creating enriching educational experiences for our students.
Another milestone: admissions. Our enrollment has been at capacity in the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School for four years running. As an independent school,
operating amidst the complexities of an ever-changing economic environment, that is an extraordinary accomplishment. It also reflectsthe dedication of our faculty and staff who have remained steadfast in their commitment to our students for the past nine decades.
Lastly, I want to give thanks for the tremendous governance afforded by our Board of Trustees and their leadership in creating Laguna’s new strategic plan, which will guide our school’s growth for the near future. Theoverall theme of the strategic plan is simple: Thive. At its core, it’s about ensuring that the most important part of our school community—our people—is flouishing. You can check out the entire strategic plan online now.
Today, thanks to all of you, Laguna is in a prime position to honor its extraordinary past while also celebrating the promise of its future. We could not be more grateful.
With excitement,
Ron Cino
Head of School
Summary of Giving 2022-2023 F Y
July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023
Annual Giving Programs
Unrestricted Annual Giving
Golden Oak Gala and Paddle Raise
TEDx Sponsorship
Other Restricted
Endowment, Capital, Restricted
$802,158.00
$445,876.00
$44,000.00
$191,896.00
$21,637.00
TOTAL $1,505,567.00
Revenue & Philanthropic Support
Gross Tuition and Fees
Annual Gifts
Other Revenue
$15,581,569.00
$1,505,567.00
$2,632,269.00
TOTAL $19,719,405.00
Expenses
Financial Aid
Instructional and Student Activities
Physical Plant
General and Administrative
$2,092,193.00
$8,406,927.00
$2,577,727.00
$4,859,123.00
TOTAL $17,935,970.00
Endowment
Th endowment contributes approximately 4% to the operations of the school annually. At the close of fisal year 2022-2023, the overall market value of the endowment reached $7,408,343.
Revenue and Philanthropic Support Expenses
chase legacy
Named for Mr. and Mrs. Harold Chase, Laguna’s firstdonors, who generously gave the land on which our beautiful Hope Ranch campus stands today, the Chase Legacy Society recognizes our community members who have included Laguna Blanca in their estate planning. Though their philanthropic foresight, the long-term sustainability for future generations of Laguna students and families will be realized.We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Chase Legacy members for including Laguna Blanca in their estate plans.
Suzann and Douglas* Anderson ’61
Nancy* and Larry* Bentson
Sally and Michael Collins
Holly and Jason Eldred ’95
Chris and Bob Emmons
Dorris and Chauncey Goodrich
Christine and Dennis* Green
Lynn and Robert Koegel
Annette* and Herbert Krueger
Janice and Peter Lorber
Karen Lucian ’64
Shelly and Nicholas Miller ’98
Sherri and Bruce Nelson
Suzanne Newton
Yvonne and Jeffey Pommerville ’66
Kathleen Sheahan Reid ’62 and Kemble White
Gloria and Leo* Rosen
Alice and Charles* Stearns
Dana White
Delores Elder Willett*
Leesa Wilson-Goldmuntz and David Goldmuntz
NICHOLAS
MILLER ’98 CONTINUES LEGACY AT LAGUNA BLANCA WITH PLANNED GIVING
“It’s true what they say—you can’t take it with you. But the process of estate planning doesn’t have to be a sad process. You can findjoy in being part of your own planning. It’s like saying a finalthank you at the end of your journey.”
NICHOLAS
MILLER ’98
He’s only 44, but Nicholas Miller ’98 is already focusing on building a legacy—one that includes family, wine, and Laguna Blanca School.
Nicholas is now one of the youngest members of Laguna’s Chase Legacy Society, which honors those community members who have chosen to include Laguna Blanca School in their estate plans. While many don’t begin to consider planned giving until their later years, Nicholas sees it as a way to play a meaningful role in determining how his assets will eventually be distributed.
“It’s true what they say—you can’t take it with you,” he says. “But the process of estate planning doesn’t have to be a sad process. You can findjoy in being part of your own planning. It’s like saying a finalthank you at the end of your journey.”
For Nicholas, the Laguna Blanca journey began in ninth grade when he followed his brother Marshall Miller ’96's
footsteps to the Hope Ranch campus. At the time, it was clear Laguna was a place that helped his brother flourish. “People tend to go one of two ways in high school,” Nicholas says. “I got my awkward years out of the way in middle school and revisited them in college, but high school is when I thrived. I got to play a sport every season and I enjoyed multiple electives—music, drama, and speech. I was given a platform to launch into an era of extreme confidenc. All of those aspects created a platform for success.”And success is what he found.
After graduating from Laguna in 1998, Nicholas followed in his brother’s footsteps once againthis time, all the way to Brunswick, Maine-where he earned his degree in economics and sociology at Bowdoin College. Thee, he met his wife, Shelly, and the two eventually moved back to the West Coast where Nicholas joined the family business—a
business that’s been evolving for fie generations. The Miller family began farming and ranching back in 1871. By the 1970s, what started out as a venture for growing lemons and avocados had transitioned to a grape-growing business. Today, the family’s Bien Nacido and French Camp vineyards, which encompass an astounding 2,000 acres, source some of the industry’s most sought-after fruit. But 130+ years into the family’s focus on farming, Nicholas decided it was time for another change. In 2005, he and his brother, Marshall, decided to turn the family’s grapes into their own signature wine. Th leap paid off. In 2022, Nicholas was named Wine Executive of the Year by TheWine Enthusiast at its annual Wine Star Awards. Theawards are meant to honor the most influential members of the wine and spirit world, both in terms of innovation for their brand and involvement in the
Central Coast wine community. Currently, besides his involvement in the wine industry, Nicholas finds pleasure in introducing his own children to the Laguna experience. His eldest, Dual Miller ’29, is enrolled at Laguna Blanca, while he aspires for his other two children, Brody (9) and Everly (5), to attend once they reach middle school age. He also enjoys engaging in Laguna events, supporting the Gala and alumni events with wine donations, and even hosting the alumni holiday party at his home right down the street from Laguna’s Hope Ranch campus. Thefact that his wife has taught art at the school completes the circle of their Laguna involvement. Thisdeep connection made it fittingto give Laguna a planned gift.
“When you run a family business, succession planning is naturally on your radar,” Nicholas says. “It was a way to give back to a school that gave me a lot.”
BLANCA
1933 society
Laguna established the 1933 Society during the school’s 75th Anniversary as a way of recognizing donors whose lifetime contributions to the school have exceeded $100,000. We are grateful that in just 15 years, the 1933 Society has grown to include alumni, current and former parents, grandparents, and community members who have chosen to prioritize Laguna Blanca School in their philanthropic giving. Thistype of philanthropic leadership from our community members is the bedrock and heart of Laguna Blanca.
Wendy and Harry Atterbury
Rebecca and David Ball
Lina and John Paul Beltran
Nancy* and Larry* Bentson
Sue and Brent Bickett
Geri and Jerry Bidwell
Tracy and Michael Bollag
Beth Bowles-Messick and Andrew Messick
Michelle and Jeff Banch
Diane and Tim Brown
Pamela and Rick Brown
Lori and Barry Cappello
Ellen McDermott Charney and Scott Charney
Darcy and Dean Christal
CKE Restaurant Corporation
Josh Connor
Patricia Connor
Marcia and Jamie Constance
Ann and Chris Conway
Christine and Kevin Costner
Alex and William Daugherty
Teran and Bill* Davis
Lisa Douglas
Peter Douglas
Chris and Bob Emmons
Stacey and Ryan Fell
Jane and Seymour Fletcher
The oley Family
Charitable Foundation
Carol and Bill Foley
Edward E. Ford Foundation
G.A. Fowler Family Foundation
Elisabeth and Greg Fowler
Julianna Friedman and Tom Dain
Della and Gary Furukawa
Beth and Lee Gabler
Daniel J. Gainey*
Diane and Dan Gainey ’81
Kay Gainey*
Genevieve and Lew Geyser
Godric Foundation
Robyn and Larry Gottesdiener
Christine and Dennis* Green
Lisa and Mitchell Green
Roxanne and Ernest Greene
Marilyn and Steven Gutsche
Lisa and George Hagerman
Astie and Larry* Hammett ’53
Ruth* and Benjamin Hammett ’50
Perri and Donald* Harcourt
Colette and Glenn Hartman
Victoria Hartmann and Victor Atkins, Jr.
Raye Haskell
Natalie and Brett Hodges
The nn Jackson Family Foundation
Chana and Jim Jackson ’78
Joan and Palmer Jackson, Sr.
JL Foundation
Layla and Essam Khashoggi
Caroline Power Kindrish ’78
Carol and Stephen King
Kristin and Bill Loomis
Alicia and Rob Lovelace ’80
Lillian* and Jon* Lovelace
Nissy Mahmoud and Bob Fuladi
The Haold McAlister
Charitable Foundation
Mari and Pat McAlister
Susan and Craig McCaw
John McGovern
Carolyn and Art Merovick
Lori and Lee Mikles
Mary and Jim Morouse
Mosher Foundation
Barbara* and Thmas Mullaney
Mary Murfey ’74
Yuki and Shuji Nakamura
Shelly and Chetan Nayak
Sherri and Bruce Nelson
Nichols Foundation Inc.
Stephanie and Dewey Nicks
Dawn D. O’Donnell
Pierce O’Donnell
The rfalea Family Foundation
Heloise and Sandy Power
Katy Powers
Deanna and Andrew Puzder
Valerie and A.J. Rice
Julia and John Rodgers
Alison Wrigley Rusack and Geoffey Rusack
Kendra and Don Sabino
Jean* and Arent* Schuyler
Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation
Jessica Smith and Kevin Brine
Stefanie Sohn-Jackson and David Jackson
Marina Stephens and Len Homeniuk
Christi Sulzbach and Bob Bogle
Denise and Jim Taylor
Chris Terrill
Kristen and Tom Tolles
Anne and Michael* Towbes
Lindi and Matthew Wade
Whimsie Fund
Dana White
Leesa Wilson-Goldmuntz and David Goldmuntz
WWW Foundation
Richard Wolf
Crystal and C lifford Wyatt ’85
Laura and Geof Wyatt ’79
Merryl Snow Zegar and Charles Zegar
Amal and Hani Zeini
Anonymous Donor
*deceased
bold new donor
1933 SOCIETY
HOW LAGUNA EARNED LASTING SUPPORT FROM THE ATTERBURY FAMILY
“When it comes to giving, every single dollar helps Laguna stay strong. Being involved—in whatever way is possible for you—is integral to the school’s success.
WENDY AND HARRY ATTERBURY
When Harry and Wendy Atterbury joined the Laguna Blanca community, it was for a very special reason: they were looking for a “right-fi” high school for their son Tucker Atterbury ’12 , who struggled with dyslexia. Harry and Wendy were searching for a school that would prepare Tucker for the academic rigor of college while also providing a supportive and cooperative learning environment. Thy found that special combination at Laguna Blanca School.
“What really impressed us was how seamless the experience was,” Wendy says. “At Laguna, they did a fabulous job of supporting Tucker. His learning difference was no big deal. Everyone welcomed him. Tha’s signifiant for any child who has struggled.”
One of the most important elements of Tucker’s experience at Laguna was the school’s Academic Services Center, a specially staffed center where students gain extra support in areas like executive functioning skills.
In Academic Services, Tucker got help reviewing his assignments and making sure he was staying on top of the challenging Laguna curriculum.
But it wasn’t just Academic Services that was helpful for Tucker. He also enjoyed Laguna’s smaller class sizes, which allowed him to better focus on his learning. And, after struggling in past schools, he made fast friends at Laguna—friends he continues to connect with to this day.
“At a small school like Laguna, you can’t realistically prepare students for what they’ll experience at a larger university,” Wendy says. “But if you instill confidence and curiosity, they won’t be afraid to try new things. Tha’s really what education is about.”
Thatextra support would eventually prepare Tucker for success at Roger Williams University, where he majored in philosophy—a degree that requires an immense amount of reading and writing and one that many with dyslexia might have chosen to avoid.
“Laguna gave Tucker the academic confidence to pursue his dreams,” Wendy says. Thelearning experience at Laguna was so positive for Tucker that the Atterburys continued to support the school even after he graduated. Initially, their interest was personal— they wanted to ensure that the school’s Academic Services Center remained strong and well-funded for future students. Since then, they’ve continued to give financialy to causes like the Center for Science and Innovation and the endowment fund, as well as make time to volunteer on campus. In fact, Harry joined the Board of Trustees in 2016—four years after his son had already graduated.
“I have a strong affection for Laguna,” Harry says. “Thee is a tendency for parents to leave the Board of Trustees when their child graduates, but I believe it’s
good to have people on the Board who do not currently have children in the school. It allows for an outside perspective. Rather than wanting Laguna to do well until my child graduates, I want it to do well in the long term. I value its legacy.”
When it comes to giving, the Atterburys want the community to know that every single dollar helps Laguna stay strong and that being involved—in whatever way is possible for you—is integral to the school’s success. Tha’s true whether you’re a current parent, alumni parent, or recent grad.
“Don’t worry about the number—whether it’s $25, $50, or $100,” Wendy says. “Thee are so many ways to be part of this school community. All you need to do is show up.”
laguna fund
TheParliament of Owls and Seeds of Laguna both recognize individuals who make unrestricted gifts to the Laguna Fund, our annual giving program. Donors to the Laguna Fund understand that unrestricted gifts play a crucial role in allowing the administration to allocate resources where and when they are most needed. We thank our Laguna Fund donors as these gifts affirm their trust in Laguna’s leadership and empower our faculty to continue educating and supporting students in ways that align with our mission and values.
Parliament of Owls
GREAT HORNED OWL
$25,000+
Lisa and Mitchell Green
Lilia and Skye McGinnes
Skyeline Construction
Vicky Tsai and Eric Bevan
Betty Elings Wells
Richard Wolf Anonymous
CALIFORNIA SPOTTED OWL
$10,000 TO $24,999
Beth Bowles-Messick and Andrew Messick
Ellen McDermott Charney and Scott Charney
Christine and Kevin Costner
Denman/Newman Foundation
Suzanne Dufrane and Paul Ryan
Katrina and Andrew Firlik
Robyn and Larry Gottesdiener
Roxanne and Ernest Greene
In honor of Katherine ’23 and Conley ’21 Ball
Benjamin Hammett ’50
In memory of Larry Hammett ’53
Hermann Family Foundation
The nn Jackson Family Foundation
Chana and Jim Jackson ’78
James McGonigle
Lisa McGonigle
Shelly and Chetan Nayak
Kathryn and James Newman
Lacey and Charlie Petersen
Alison and Lyle Turner
Crystal and Clifford Wyatt ’85
Alexandra Zarnescu and George Berar
Anonymous
LONG-EARED OWL
$5,000 TO $9,999
American Foundation
Brian Baker ’96
In memory of Margaret A. Baker
Elizabeth Baker ’02
In memory of Margaret A. Baker
Rebecca and David Ball
Marci and Ron Berg
Elizabeth and Bryan Foscue-Boyd
Christine and Eric Green
Joan and Palmer Jackson, Sr.
Amanda and Alex Koper III ’00
Yuliya and Roman Lutchyn
Montecito Bank and Trust
Mary and Jim Morouse
Mary Murfey ’74
Sherry and Pardis Nasseri
Opatrny Family Foundation
In honor of Jacob Muralles ’31
Santa Barbara Foundation
Nancy and Michael Sheldon
Anne Baker Siegel ’92 and Rudy Siegel
In memory of Margaret A. Baker
Hiroko and Robert Sloss ’72
Stefanie Sohn-Jackson and David Jackson
Spaulding Family Foundation
Van Spaulding
Gabriela and Nick Swinmurn
Alexis and Brett Tande
Beata Tomanova and Dusan Toman
TheWeaver Family
Amy Wendel and Daniel Meisel
Laura and Geof Wyatt ’79
Merryl Snow Zegar and Charles Zegar
BARN OWL
$2,500 TO $4,999
Beatriz Aguilar and Hector Lujan
Kelly and Bob Avery
Yumi and Daniel Bollag
Marisa and Brian Bolton
Sandra Campbell
Katie and John Carpenter
Suzanne and Michael Cohen
Jordan and Daniel Connelly
Steve Couvillion ’92
Kathleen and Nathaniel Craig
Deva and Gabriel Dalporto
Norma Delwiche
In honor of Tucker Delwiche ’32
Rebecca and Robert DeSantis
Sara and Dustin Dodgin
Jen and Max Drucker
Winnie and Hod Dunbar
Rosemary and Kent Dunn
Joy and Courtland Durling
Lindsay Ervin and Drew Sharma
Sandra and Ian Fisher
Billie Fitzpatrick and Gretchen Weimer
Louise Gainey ’86
Auguste Goldman
Jean and Mathew Gradias
Steffay and Tucker Hall
Janet Handtmann
Janet L. Handtmann Foundation
Daniela and Tyler Hassman
KBZ Architects
Thmas Kenny
Karen and Hyung Kim
Michelle Kobashi and William Leitner
Elizabeth and Asher Kupperman
Dawn and David Lafitt
Ann Lee and John Peltz
Karen Lynn-Lieb and Thd Lieb
Nissy Mahmoud and Bob Fuladi
Teresa and Benoît Michaud
Ellen and Michael Milne
Claudia Moeller-Eichholz and Philipp Moeller
Yuki and Shuji Nakamura
Jamie and Joshua Narva
Amber and Steve Ortiz
Setenay and David Osman
Tiffay Pelletier
Nathalie Pérez-Cino and Ron Cino
Lizzie and Brent Peus ’87
Page and Joe Plowman
Debbie and Alex Popovich
Katy Powers
Anna and Michael Probstel
Chelsea Rangsikitpho ’00 and Dave Bradley ’99
Belle and Bert Regeer
Valerie and A.J. Rice
Rebecca and Ari Ryan
Natali and Michael Smith
Lisa and Gordon Smythe
Suzanne and Kyle Stewart
Anne and Michael* Towbes
Karen and David Trogan
Susan Tyler
Ede Van Quathem and Zach Wagner
Jaimie and Christopher Wight
Noelle Wolf
Susan and David Woodhouse
Healey and David Young
Elizabeth and Courtland Young
Melia Yust and Mathias Coordes
Seeds of Laguna
OAK
$1,500 TO $2,499
Sonia and Michael Behrman
Vanessa and Phillip Carrington
Nadine Torbey Gilles and Aaron Gilles
Alexa and Joshua Newman
Beth and Lee Ohanian
Karen and Jeffey Stone
Shiyu Yan and Xian Wang
TORREY PINE
$1,000 TO $1,499
Fabiana and Nathaniel Acosta
Joyce Balak
Sheralyn and Chris Baltes
Courtney and Alexander Bianchi
Sue and Ed Birch
Valery and Steven Booth
G.V. and R.G. Castagnola
Family Foundation
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Heather and Ryan Conolley
Aly and Paul Feinstein
Melissa and Seth Henderson
Talina and Steve Hermann
Nilma and David Igdaloff
In honor of Grant Withee ’23
Mary and Charles Jackson ’76
Susan and Palmer Jackson, Jr. ’82
Patricia Jackson Jameson ’84 and William Jameson
Mary and Thmas Jenkins
In memory of Michael Rodrigue ’53
Kimberly and Russ Jeter
Marjorie Jeter
Sara and Scott Loncki
Aimee and Tom Miller
Allison and Jeff Mikin
In honor of Grace Mirkin ’35
Mosher Foundation
Elsha and Michael Narachi
Erin Neil and Jeffery Brookshire
Katherine and Jacob Niksto
PacificWealth Strategies Group, Inc.
Nicole Talley Paterson ’92
Peggy and Chris Polos
Judy and Gordon Rick
Elvina and Michael Risley
Shelly Ruston
Kelly and Jeremy Smith
Tanja and David Smith
Vicki and Ralph Tate
Madisyn Taylor and Scott Blum
Martha Tolles and Walter Burris
Amy and Ian Wickman
PALM
$500 TO $999
Melissa and David Alkire
Carrie and Scott Anderson
Christina and Nicholas Behrman ’08
Elaine Mah Best and Mike Best
Bryan Courson
Michelle and Art Damiani
Elena and Daniel De Meyer
Del Mar Construction, Inc.
Celine Derai and Maxime
Bouvat-Merlin
John Feldsted ’73
Terry and Ronald Foil
Gretchen Gende and Stephen Willey ’81
Givinga Foundation, Inc.
Solene and Xavier Guillemane
Jessica and John Helson
Sherry and Shawn Hlavaty
Wendy and Steve Hoffcker
Lisa and Thmas Jackson
Katherine Keeler-Hodgetts
Birgit Klein and Andrew Broeren
Leyla and Nathan Lynn
Corinne Grassini Mathern and Patrick Mathern
Cecilia and Michael McClintock
Liliana Monroy
Gillian and Alam Muralles
Drew and Nick Parisi
Gregory Passani
Jennifer and Tyler Rameson
Chelsea and Ryan Rifkin ’98
Angie Ruiz and Mark Terbeek
Maggie Saunders and Austin Herlihy
Karina and Jeremy Schweitzer
Starr Snead
Nadine Staeger
Rachel and Eric Trautwein
Jennifer Jeter Trupiano ’00 and Mike Trupiano
Kelly and Michael Walker
Michala and Denny Wei
Audrey Weiss and Jon Busch
Emel Zaim and Bernd Christiansen
LAGUNA BLANCA
OLIVE UP TO $499
Bonnie and John Adams III ’70
Terrie Adden and Arturo Flores
Anna and Nathan Alldredge
Marcella and Burak Alsan
Amazon.com, Inc.
Gina and Blake Andrews
Abigail Angeles and Benjamin Duron
Rose Lee and Dan Ary
Conley Ball ’21
Rebecca Cleek Barton ’82 and Kelly Damon In memory of Patricia Cleek
Jennifer and Scott Bates
Alexander Bates ’21
Oliver Bates ’22
Kimberlee and Tony Becerra
Evan and Russell Berger
Elizabeth Bisno ’21
The Blaby Family
Walden and John Bohnet
Tina and Kent Braniff
Duncan Briggs
Jennifer and Ryan Brown ’96
Dana and Charles Caldwell
Laura Camp and Ruston Slager
Jennifer and Richard Carney
Laura and Robert Catarra
Ursula Chan
David Childers
Miriam and Arthur Cislo
Kelli A. Clifford
Heather and Alex Craigie
Margarita Cuevas
Hallie and Daniel D’Agruma
Ellen and Jeff Dameon
Stephanie and Josiah Damery
Tamara and Christopher De La Vega
Mieke and John Delwiche
Damian Deveze
Laura Wooster Dorfman and Blake Dorfman ’02
Erica and George Downing ’99
Deeanne and Peter Edwards ’77
Holly and Jason Eldred ’95
Bill Ellis
The Enel Family
Rosemary Fatano
Lexie and Erik Faust
Kira and Barry Fay
Tiffay Fedor
Debbie Fleming and Paul Chiment
Eloise Foucher-Newhouse and Alexander Russell
Happy and John Garacochea
Maureen and Gary Goldberg
Victor Gonzalez
Katy Graham
Brooke Tamas Green ’97
Allison Grisham and Deron Burkepile
Courtney and Kevin Guay
Nissa Hales
Patricia and David Hamilton ’61
Diane and John Handloser, Jr. ’65
Meaghen Harris
Betsy C. Heafit
Gail and Larry Hess
Bojana Hill
Stacie and Johnny Hirsch
Amber and Bryce Holderness
Brianne Hwang
Charlie Jacobs ’20
Marcy and Jason Jacobs
Angela and Shaun Jevons
Jennifer and Chris Johnson
Dawn and Joel Kaufman
Jody Kaufman ’91 and Bryan Thmpson
In memory of Ace Angeloff, Clara Svedlund, and Larry Miller
Helene and Michael Keech
Nancy Downing Kerr ’92 and Bryan Kerr
Noushin Ketabi and Robert Terenzi
Mary and Vladimir Knezevic
Summer Knight-Wahlberg and Kevin Wahlberg
Shirleen and Bradley Kohn ’94
Juna Kollmeier and James Buckwalter
Connie and Greg Larson
In honor of Charlotte ’29 and Jack ’35 Carpenter
Nikki and Ladislav Laza
Anna Lin
William T. Loomis ’63
Jamie and Shane Lopes
Vicky and Raymond Lopez
Janice and Peter Lorber
In memory of Laura Hess and Lillian Stedman
Sarah and Travis Lustfiel
Kate and Grant MacNaughton
Maud and Eric Maillard
Molly and Eric Markstrum
Ashlee and Les Mayfiel
Deborah McArdle and Michael Youngdahl
Darla McDavid
John McDonough ’04
John McGovern
Patricia McHale
Susan McMillan
Carolyn and Art Merovick
In memory of Margaret A. Baker
Wendy and Mike Mickle III ’62
Olga Miguel Leon and Hugo Miguel Perez
Nancy and Nicholas Miller ’59
Shelly and Nicholas Miller ’98
Tamarah and Nicholas Millington
Abby and Matt Mirkin
Randi and Martin Mitev
Michelle Montez
Erin and Zachary Moore
Olga and Kevin Murphy
Tamra and John Murphy
Colleen and Reid Murray
Holly and Dean Noble
Geraldine and Peter Otte
Paradigm Pictures
Susan Parker ’78
Brittany and Chris Parrish
Diana Farrell Pearson and Scott Pearson ’80
Leslie and Matt Phillips
Sandra Plascencia and Leopoldo Lopez
Heather Poet-Johnson and Jeremiah Johnson
Amy and Jeffey Pryor
Lena and Landon Ray
Irene Reyes and Jose Ramirez
Kimi and Eric Rice
Staci Richard and David Lea
Blaire M. Ridge
Kelli and Reynaldo Rivera
Meghan Roarty and James Bedard
April and Ray Robitaille
Laura Ronchietto
Erica Schreiber
Jillian and Jeffey Seaton
Roberta Sengelmann and Tamir Keshen
Nancy Simon
Elizabeth Slifirsk
Piotr Slifirsk
Jennifer and Jason Somer
Allyson and Paul Sorensen
Rosemarie Steeber
Jueun and Matt Steinhaus
Stout & Kaufman
Peter Strauss
James Stuebner
Mary and Andy Surber
Raffella and Neil Sutherland
Pamela and Thmas Sutphen ’67
Theesa Talbert and Sean Black
Angela and Martin Tanner
Alex Tate
Quentin Tedesco ’14
Charlotte Terzian
Claudia and Henning Thorse
Ashey Tidey and Tom Carlson
Kirste Timm
Marie Tripi-Uyesaka and Douglas Uyesaka
Jannine Tuttle
Jessica and Sam Tyler
UK Online Giving Foundation
Kim Valentine and Jason Donnelly
Lisa and Ronan Vance
Susanna Vapnek
Guadalupe Varela and Enrique Silva Cuevas
Nancy Adams Vidoni ’68
Karina Villegas and Heron Paredes
Melissa Harpham Walker ’72 and Laurence Walker
In memory of Jack Adams
Po and Yachen Wang
Mari and Brian Warner
Briana and Paul Westmacott
Hannah White ’15
Kendall White ’18
Michele White Real Estate
Andra and Greg Wilson
Michelle and John Withee
Spenser Wyatt ’15
Valerie Yoshimura and William Shay
2022-2023
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Executive Committee
Chair
Michelle Billie Fitzpatrick
Vice Chair
Ellen McDermott Charney
Secretary
Nick Behrman ’08
Treasurer
Amber Ortiz
Member-At-Large
James H. Jackson ’78
Trustees
Ron Berg
David Bradley ’99
Steve Couvillion ’92
Mitchell Green
David Jackson
Ellen Milne
Mary Morouse
Shelly Gable Nayak
Tiffay Pelletier
Valerie Rice
Chris Terrill
Jane Weaver
Cliff Wyatt ’85
from the board
Dear Laguna Blanca Community,
As Board Chair, I am honored to present our annual report, highlighting the achievements and progress we have made together. The2022-23 academic year has been marked by learning, collaboration, and celebration. As an alum, I am proud to see Laguna Blanca thriving, blending its rich history with innovation. Increasingly, that means evolving our curriculum to encourage the development of future-ready skills like creative thinking, collaboration, creativity, and adaptability. Laguna’s interdisciplinary project-based learning approach equips students with experiences that connect multiple disciplines and drive them to innovate solutions.
Our faculty continually seeks new and exciting ways to engage students and prepare them for a complex, dynamic world. Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion, we strengthen our bonds and broaden our understanding of our own community and the world through continued education, meaningful conversations, and cultural celebrations. We continue to implement a more diverse and inclusive curriculum on both of our campuses. To support diversity, we have created structures like the Financial Aid+ budget, enabling families with signifiant financialaid packages to fully participate in the Laguna Blanca experience. We translate report cards and weekly communications into Spanish, and we have hired Spanish and Mandarin interpreters for meetings and events to better engage all families.
Financially, our school remains strong due to careful resource management and generous support from donors, volunteers, and supporters. Signifiant capital improvements have been made on our Lower School campus, including new exterior paint, HVAC, new play structures, and outdoor recreation upgrades. Additionally, we have new transportation vans for athletics and school trips, and improved WiFi connectivity on the Hope Ranch campus.
Beginning in 2022-23, we engaged in a community-wide strategy process to create a vision for the future, identify a set of strategic directions, and determine related institutional priorities. Thegoals and priorities of our newly approved Strategic Plan will build upon our stable foundation and the authentic relationships that defineour school.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend my sincerest gratitude to our faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and supporters for their unwavering dedication. We are grateful to all of you who have played a part in Laguna’s esteemed 90-year history. Together, we will inspire and empower the next generation of leaders and thinkers, creating a future that’s as limitless as we know it to be.
Sincerely,
Nick Behrman ’08
Chair, Board of Trustees (2023-2024)
Laguna Blanca School
ALUMNI GIVING: LUTHER TARVER-BURKS ’10 INVESTING IN LAGUNA BLANCA’S FUTURE
“It wasn’t just Laguna’s challenging curriculum that helped prepare me for university—although that was a very big part of it. Just as important was the feeling that the entire Laguna community cared equally about my development and growth.”
LUTHER
TARVER-BURKS
’10
For Luther Tarver-Burks ’10 , giving to Laguna is about more than time and money. It’s about reinvesting in a school that has already invested so much in him.
Back in 2001, Luther was a new fourth grader at Laguna’s Lower School campus in Montecito. Now, he’s the vice president and market information consultant for Bank of America in the digital banking space, and the youngest member of Laguna’s Board of Trustees. A lot of hard work and dedication got him to this place. And yet, Luther offers much of the credit to Laguna Blanca for preparing him for his journey through college and beyond.
“When you’re going through the experience as a pre-teen and teenager, you don’t necessarily understand how valuable the education is and the confidenceand knowledge you’re building,”
he says. “Once you reach college, you realize — wow—all of that hard work definitey paid off.”
According to Luther, it wasn’t just Laguna’s challenging curriculum that helped prepare him for university—although that was a very big part of it. “Just as important was the feeling that the entire Laguna community cared equally about my development and growth.”
“The foundation set at Laguna helped give all of us students the resources and knowledge that would prepare us for whatever career we chose,” he says. “ The faculty and staff knew me. Thy knew what I needed to be successful.”
In addition to his academic studies, Luther played both football and basketball for the Owls. On the basketball team, he consistently averaged 20 points on game nights and even amassed a whopping 49 points
in a single game. Still, it was the camaraderie and friendship with his classmates that he valued the most.
Although Luther feels strongly that all of his teachers were instrumental in the success he’s experienced in life thus far, there is one who played a more pivotal role than the rest: his mom, who served as assistant to the head of school at Laguna for several years during the time he attended.
“My mom values education,” he says. “She was able to help me anticipate what my high school experience at Laguna would look like academically. She coached and mentored me and guided me through each step. I’m grateful she chose to be part of this community, as well.”
After graduating from Laguna in 2010, Luther went on to earn his B.S. in business marketing (with Magna Cum Laude honors) from Edgewood College. While there, he also played on the men’s basketball team. In 2018, he earned his master’s in business administration from Pepperdine University. Now, he continues to share both his passion for financialliteracy and his perspective as an alum with Laguna’s Board of Trustees, all while supporting the Laguna Fund.
“To me, it’s crucial to reinvest in the school that invested so much in me,” he says. “As alum, we need to consider the colleges we got into, how prepared we were, and recognize that the high school-to-college transition doesn’t happen as seamlessly without an education like the one provided by Laguna Blanca School.”
alumni giving by decade
Few gifts are more gratifying than those that come from our loyal alums. We gratefully recognize the alums listed below who have made Laguna a philanthropic priority.
1950
Benjamin Hammett ’50
Nancy and Nicholas Miller ’59
1960
Patricia and David Hamilton ’61
Diane and John Handloser, Jr. ’65
William T. Loomis ’63
Wendy and Mike Mickle III ’62
Pamela and Thmas Sutphen ’67
Nancy Adams Vidoni ’68
1970
Bonnie and John Adams III ’70
Deeanne and Peter Edwards ’77
John Feldsted ’73
Chana and Jim Jackson ’78
Mary and Charles Jackson ’76
Mary Murfey ’74
Susan Parker ’78
Hiroko and Robert Sloss ’72
Melissa Harpham Walker ’72 and Laurence Walker
Laura and Geof Wyatt ’79
1980
Rebecca Cleek Barton ’82 and Kelly Damon
Louise Gainey ’86
Gretchen Gende and Stephen C. Willey ’81
Susan and Palmer Jackson, Jr. ’82
Patricia Jackson Jameson ’84 and William Jameson
Diana Farrell Pearson and Scott Pearson ’80
Lizzie and Brent Peus ’87
Crystal and Clifford Wyatt ’85
1990
Brian Baker ’96
The Blaby Family
Jennifer and Ryan Brown ’96
Steve Couvillion ’92
Erica and George Downing ’99
Holly and Jason Eldred ’95
Brooke Tamas Green ’97
Jody Kaufman ’91 and Bryan Thmpson
Nancy Downing Kerr ’92 and Bryan Kerr
Shirleen and Bradley Kohn ’94
Shelly and Nicholas Miller ’98
Nicole Talley Paterson ’92
Chelsea and Ryan Rifkin ’98
Anne Baker Siegel ’92 and Rudy Siegel
2000
Elizabeth Baker ’02
Christina and Nicholas Behrman ’08
Laura Wooster Dorfman and Blake Dorfman ’02
Amanda and Alex Koper III ’00
John McDonough ’04
Gregory Passani ’08
Chelsea Rangsikitpho ’00 and Dave Bradley ’99
Jennifer Jeter Trupiano ’00 and Mike Trupiano
2010
Quentin Tedesco ’14
Hannah White ’15
Kendall White ’18
Spenser Wyatt ’15
2020
Conley Ball ’21
Alexander Bates ’21
Oliver Bates ’22
Elizabeth Bisno ’21
Charlie Jacobs ’20
golden oak gala
To honor its almost 90-year foundation of excellence, Laguna Blanca friends, family, alumni, faculty, and staffgathered as a community for the school’s annual spring benefiton March 11,2023. Theinaugural Golden Oak Gala returned to Laguna’s roots on its picturesque Hope Ranch campus, where guests enjoyed dinner, an exciting live auction, and dancing under lush greenery and twinkling lights in an expansive tent on the school’s athletic fields
“Theinaugural Golden Oak Gala is an example of what happens when a strong community comes together for a common purpose,” says Head of School Ron Cino. “We are incredibly grateful to our passionate, generous, and committed Event Chairs Jen Drucker and Melissa Henderson who worked seamlessly with volunteers and others throughout the school to design a spectacular night for our community to enjoy.”
Dressed elegantly in shades of gold, black, and navy, nearly 350 guests arrived for gold-fleked cocktails, whilst Laguna Blanca Alumna Hunter Hawkins ’19 serenaded the crowd with classic jazz tunes.
An upscale family-style dinner by DUO Catering was served under the sparkling chandeliers of the tent. Shelly and
Nicholas Miller ’98 kindly donated their Ballard Lane wine, which was greatly enjoyed!
CEO of SBCC Foundation GeoffGreen led the evening’s auction and was supported by emcee and Dean of Students Blake Dorfman ’02. TheLive Auction portion of the night included generous vacation packages, such as a stay at a French chateau and a ski week in Aspen, as well as Irene Neuwirth jewelry and a sculpture entitled Natsukahii by Laguna parent and artist JeffElings ’88.
With our community’s support, the event netted $470,000 to benefitLaguna’s students and programs. Proceeds from the gala allowed for the following improvements:
•Play structures and outdoor recreation upgrades for both campuses. Thisis a multi year endeavor.
•Improvements to the Victorian House at the Lower School campus, which include new paint, HVAC, and restrooms enhancements.
•Expanded Upper School WiFi
•Completion of Lower School Computer Lab
•New transportation vans for Athletics and school trips
golden oak gala event sponsors
HERITAGE OAK
Robyn and Larry Gottesdiener
GILDED LEAF
Jen and Max Drucker
Marilee and Stephen Gordon
Shelly and Chetan Nayak
Stefanie Sohn-Jackson and David Jackson
Alison and Lyle Turner
Alexandra Zarnescu and George Berar
Zegar Family Fund
OAK BRANCH
Elisabeth and Greg Fowler
Chana and Jim Jackson ’78
Sherry and Pardis Nasseri
Amber and Steve Ortiz
Anna and Michael Probstel
Chris Terrill
Crystal and CliffWyatt ’85
The emeckis Charitable Foundation
Friend of Laguna
SAPLING
Katie and John Carpenter
Rebecca and Robert DeSantis
Katherine and Daniel Eades
Aly and Paul Feinstein
Melissa and Seth Henderson
Marjorie Jeter
Sara and Scott Loncki
Elisa Lorenzi and Christian Malek
Corinne Grassini Mathern and Patrick Mathern
Tiffay Pelletier
Katy Powers
Lizzie and Brett Peus ’87
Valerie and AJ Rice
Rebecca and Ari Ryan
ACORN
Rebecca and David Ball
Marci and Ron Berg
Evan and Russell Berger
Naomi and Ben Bollag
Yumi and Daniel Bollag
Ellen McDermott Charney and Scott Charney
Stephanie and Josiah Damery
Joy and Courtland Durling
Katrina and Andrew Firlik
Daniela and Tyler Hassman
Noushin Ketabi and Rob Terenzi
Debbie and Alex Popovich
Kirste Timm
Rachel and Eric Trautwein
Anonymous
CORPORATE SPONSORS
City National Bank
Ferris Orthodontic Group
KBZ Architects
Miller Family Wine Company
White & Grube Orthodontics
SWAG BAG SPONSORS
Channel Islands Surfboards
Sonos
Ysidro Sake Spritz
AFTER PARTY SPONSORS
Cutler’s Artisan Spirits
T.W. Hollister & Co.
Lilac Patisserie
Adrienne Schuele
Claudia and Edward St. George
golden oak gala
paddle raise supporters
Fabiana and Nathaniel Acosta
Bonnie and John Adams III ’70
Beatriz Aguilar and Hector Lujan
Melissa and David Alkire
Joyce Balak
Rebecca and David Ball
Marci and Ron Berg
Courtney and Alexander Bianchi
Naomi and Ben Bollag
Yumi and Daniel Bollag
Beth Bowles-Messick and Andrew Messick
Laura Camp and Ruston Slager
Katie and John Carpenter
Ellen McDermott Charney and Scott Charney
Jordan and Daniel Connelly
Steve Couvillion ’92
Deva and Gabriel Dalporto
Elena and Daniel De Meyer
Rebecca and Robert DeSantis
Joy and Courtland Durling
Katherine and Daniel Eades
Katrina and Andrew Firlik
Billie Fitzpatrick and Gretchen Weimer
Ana and Marius Gheorghita
Nadine Torbey Gilles and Aaron Gilles
Robyn and Larry Gottesdiener
Lisa and Mitchell Green
Jessica and John Helson
Melissa and Seth Henderson
Talina and Steve Hermann
Chana and Jim Jackson ’78
Lisa and Thmas Jackson
Angela and Shaun Jevons
Elizabeth and Asher Kupperman
Sara and Scott Loncki
Yuliya and Roman Lutchyn
Leyla and Nathan Lynn
Molly and Eric Markstrum
Corinne Grassini Mathern and Patrick Mathern
Cecilia and Michael McClintock
John McGovern
Shelly and Nicholas Miller ’98
Sherry and Pardis Nasseri
Shelly and Chetan Nayak
Holly and Dean Noble
Amber and Steve Ortiz
Geraldine and Peter Otte
Nathalie Pérez-Cino and Ron Cino
Lacey and Charlie Petersen
Lizzie and Brent Peus ’87
Michelle Pfeifer and Elias Benson
Leslie and Matt Phillips
Brooke and Greg Prince
Belle and Bert Regeer
Valerie and A.J. Rice
Lisa and Gordon Smythe
Stefanie Sohn-Jackson and David Jackson
Tracy and Robert Stoll
Raffella and Neil Sutherland
Gabriela and Nick Swinmurn
Alexis and Brett Tande
Chris Terrill
Alison and Lyle Turner
Kim Valentine and Jason Donnelly
Karen and Charles Valle
Mari and Brian Warner
TheWeaver Family
Crystal and Clifford Wyatt ’85
Eunju Yoo and Jeff Elings’88
Alexandra Zarnescu and George Berar
The egar Family Foundation
golden oak gala
item donors
2Modern
Asher Market
Julia and Bill Asher
Atwill Pilates
Nicole Wasserman, Au Bon Climat
Laura Grier, Beautiful Day
Photography
Jeff ockwood, Bella Cavalli
Farms & Winery
Cristina Beltran
Bay Bertea and Greg Finney
Elaine Mah Best and Mike Best
Yumi and Daniel Bollag
Bungalow 805
Kim and Andy Busch
Ca’Dario
Mitch Hawkins, Cal Coast Adventures
Laura Capps
Vanessa and Phil Carrington
Channel Islands Surfboards
Sloan Claytor, Strength Happens
Santa Barbara Adventure Company
Suzanne and Michael Cohen
Jordan and Daniel Connelly
CorePower Yoga
The Daisy Restauant
Deva and Gabe Dalporto
Elena and Daniel De Meyer
Deckers Brands
Vanessa DeFord and Kurt Francis
Cara Delevigne
William Dorfman, DDS
Jen and Max Drucker
Suzanne DuFrane and Paul Ryan
Duo Catering
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel
Elegant Nails
Katrina and Andrew Firlik
Carolyn and Andrew Fitzgerald
Folded Hills
Courtney Lynn, Frequency Wine Co.
Nadine Torbey Gilles and Aaron Gilles
Maureen and Gary Goldberg
Alex Bollag, Golf Max
Martin Gore
Gorjana
Robert Graham
Grassini Family Vinyard
Alessia Patisserie
Michael Haber
Tiffay Haddish
Josh Hamilton, Pence Vineyards
Daniela and Tyler Hassman
Cindy Brokaw, Haven Salon
Betsy Heafit
Redica Anderson, Heavenly Mobile Massage
Jessica and John Helson
Melissa and Seth Henderson
Whitney Hoover Body Refiney
Island Packers
Lisa and Thmas Jackson
Jeannine’s
Marjorie Jeter
Cassie and John Keister
Michelle Kobashi and Bill Leitner
Shirleen Kohn
Amanda and Alex Koper III ’00
La Playa Azul Cafe
La Playa Pilates
Nina Lafuente
Adele Villareal, Leone Salon
Chuck Liddell
LOCAL
Sara and Scott Loncki
Lu’s Strawberries
Martin Watson, Mad Dogs and Englishmen Bike Shop
Margerum Wine Company
Molly Markstrum
Corinne Mathern Studio
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams
John McGovern
Mishay Salon & Spa
Mission Street Ice Cream & Yogurt
Amy Logsdon, Moment Maps
Montecito Village Salon
Karen Neary, Montecito Med Spa
Michele Morrow
Lilac Patisserie
Sherry and Pardis Nasseri
Irene Neuwirth
Oliver’s
Organic Soup Kitchen
ArtSudio 4 Kids
Nathalie Pérez-Cino and Ron Cino
Perlina Designs
Laurel Petti, The dderley School
Lizzie and Brett Peus ’87
Ryan Phillippe
Debbie and Alex Popovich
Prive Revaux
Rick Reeves, Wine Canyon Tours
Kaylie Richardson, WINK
Blaire M. Ridge
Riviera Towel Company
Randy Rowse
Rebecca and Ari Ryan
Monica Epstein, San Ysidro Spritz
The anger Family of Wines
Santa Barbara Lights
Santa Barbara Zoo
Brianna Olcese, SB Salon
Section Wines
Nancy and Michael Sheldon
Tim Sievers
Simpatico Pilates
Michael Smith
Natali and Michael Smith
Sonos
Peter Baedeker, Star Lane Vineyard
Kayla Neal, StarCycle
Tracy and Robert Stoll
Summerland Beach Rides
Summerland Winery
Raffella and Neil Sutherland
Gabriela and Nick Swinmurn
Lindsay Woodard, Symmetry Equine
Sports Massage Theapy
Evan Berger, Taste Santa Barbara
Food Tours
TheTennis Shop
Chris Terrill
JeffThmson
Tristin Tracy Photography
Rachel and Eric Trautwein
Trippers and Askers
Dug Uyesaka
Viva Oliva
Walking Tours of Santa Barbara
TheWeaver Family
Dr. Erika Klemperer, WELL Dermatology
Wyatt Family
Yona Redz
Eunju Yoo and Jeff Elings’88
Leslie and Robert Zemeckis
cumulative giving
At Laguna Blanca, consecutive giving plays a vital role in sustaining our community and enriching the educational experience for all students. We can continuously enhance our programs, facilities, and educational opportunities through the ongoing support of our dedicated donors, ensuring that each year builds upon the successes of the last. Donors listed below represent those who have supported any of Laguna’s programs and events for 5-40+ consecutive years. We are grateful for this programming support year after year.
40+ YEARS
Joan and Palmer Jackson, Sr.
Diana and Scott Pearson ’80
30 – 39 YEARS
Gail and Larry Hess
Susan and Palmer Jackson, Jr. ’82
Jody Kaufman ’91 and Bryan Thmpson
20 – 29 YEARS
Sue and Ed Birch
Natalie and Brett Hodges
Mary and Charles Jackson ’76
Chana and Jim Jackson ’78
Patricia Jackson Jameson ’84 and William Jameson
April and Ray Robitaille
Pamela and Thmas Sutphen ’67
Ashley Tidey and Tom Carlson
10 – 19 YEARS
Fabiana and Nathaniel Acosta
Anna and Nathan Alldredge
Abigail Angeles and Benjamin Duron
Joyce Balak
Rebecca and David Ball
Rebecca Cleek Barton ’82 and Kelly Damon
The Blaby Family
Elena and Daniel De Meyer
Mieke and John Delwiche
Erica and George Downing ’99
Brooke Tamas Green ’97
Roxanne and Ernest Greene
Sherry and Shawn Hlavaty
Nikki and Ladislav Laza
Vicky and Raymond Lopez
Nissy Mahmoud and Bob Fuladi
Darla McDavid
Wendy and Mike Mickle ’62
Erin and Zachary Moore
Mosher Foundation
Yuki and Shuji Nakamura
Chelsea Rangsikitpho ’00 and Dave Bradley ’99
Blaire M. Ridge
Shelly and Max* Ruston
Spaulding Family Foundation
Andy and Mary Surber
Kristen and Tom Tolles
Andra and Greg Wilson
5 – 9 YEARS
Beatriz Aguilar and Hector Lujan
Marci and Ron Berg
Yumi and Daniel Bollag
Tina and Kent Braniff
Sandra Campbell
Jennifer and Richard Carney
Ellen McDermott Charney and Scott Charney
Miriam and Arthur Cislo
Steve Couvillion ’92
Hallie and Daniel D’Agruma
Laura and Blake Dorfman ’02
Winnie and Hod Dunbar
The Enel Family
Lindsay Ervin and Drew Sharma
Billie Fitzpatrick and Gretchen Weimer
Elizabeth and Bryan Foscue-Boyd
Louise Gainey ’86
Godric Foundation
Victor Gonzalez
Nissa Hales
Janet Handtmann
Hermann Family Foundation
The nn Jackson Family Foundation
Kaufman Foundation Inc.
Dawn and Joel Kaufman
Amanda and Alex Koper III ’00
Ann Lee and John Peltz
Sara and Scott Loncki
William T. Loomis ’63
Jamie and Shane Lopes
Janice and Peter Lorber
Karen Lynn-Lieb and Thd Lieb
Cecilia and Michael McClintock
Olga Miguel Leon and Hugo Miguel Perez
Ellen and Michael Milne
Liliana Monroy
Gillian and Alam Muralles
Shelly and Chetan Nayak
Katherine and Jacob Niksto
Holly and Dean Noble
Beth and Lee Ohanian
Amber and Steve Ortiz
Geraldine and Peter Otte
Brittany and William Parrish
Lacey and Charlie Petersen
Page and Joe Plowman
Debbie and Alex Popovich
Katy Powers
Valerie and AJ Rice
Stefanie Sohn-Jackson and David Jackson
Van Spaulding
Vicki and Ralph Tate
Chris Terrill
Rachel and Eric Trautwein
Jessica and Sam Tyler
Susan Tyler
Ede Van Quathem and Zach Wagner
Lisa and Ronan Vance
Susanna Vapnek
Kelly and Michael Walker
Yachen and Po Wang
TheWeaver Family
Stephanie Wilson and Ron Ungerer
Susan and David Woodhouse
Crystal and CliffWyatt ’85
The emeckis Charitable Foundation
Leslie and Robert Zemeckis
endowment
Laguna’s Endowment Funds:
TheFoundation of Our Next 90 Years
When we think of giving at Laguna, we often think of our Annual Fund—the Laguna Fund—and for good reason. Our Laguna Fund helps us maintain Laguna in real-time. How? Tuition alone doesn’t cover all the costs associated with a Laguna education. TheLaguna Fund bridges the gap between what parents pay in tuition and the actual operating costs of the school. Thefunds raised through the Laguna Fund are incredibly flexibl. We can use them however and wherever we need to in order to provide the best education possible in any given year.
TheLaguna Fund is arguably Laguna’s most important fundraiser because it helps us in the here-and-now. But as Laguna looks toward sustaining the school for another 90 years, we’re increasingly focused on financial health in the long-term. Thatmeans growing our school’s endowment funds. Whereas the Laguna Fund helps us with everyday needs, our endowment gives us the confidenceto plan for the future and even reach a new level of financialhealth.
Endowment Funds: How do they work?
Endowment funds work a bit differently from the Laguna Fund because the monies placed into an endowment fund are never used in a lump-sum. Unlike your Laguna Fund gift, which will be used in full each year to pay for our general operational costs, a gift to our endowment fund is used to
generate interest income year over year. Only the interest from the fund is drawn each year to support the school, meaning the rest of the fund can continue to grow over time. Thebest part: the larger the endowment grows, the more interest it accrues, and the more financialy secure the school becomes.
Empowering Education:
Understanding Laguna Blanca’s Endowment Program
An endowed fund is a strategic investment, generating interest that empowers Laguna Blanca to advance its mission and values. Theaccrued interest from these funds sustains the school’s operational expenses year after year-from enriching student programs to fostering faculty development and ensuring employee retention. Thisinterest also helps make a Laguna education more accessible by providing financial aid to deserving families who might otherwise face financia barriers. As a donor, your involvement allows the school to manage the fund, helping to realize your passion for sustainability and a Laguna education. You determine how, when, and how much to give by establishing either a new endowment with a minimum initial gift of $250,000 in cash, appreciated securities, or other real property, or by bolstering an existing endowed fund.
To learn more about Laguna’s endowment program and opportunities to nurture its growth, we invite you to reach out to development@lagunablanca.org.
about the annual report
Theannual report provides a summary of our fundraising efforts and recognizes gifts received in the fisal year July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. For the purpose of this report, donors may be listed in more than one constituency group. We have made every effort to ensure accuracy of the information. If, however, an error or omission has been made, please accept our apologies and notify the Development Officat development@lagunablanca.org.
How To Give
Everyone can make a gift online at lagunablanca.org or by cash or check received in-person or via mail. Your gift is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. In addition to making a cash donation to the Laguna Fund, there are other creative ways for you to give back. Thankyou for considering expanding your support to help make our work possible!
Securities
You may achieve tax savings by making your gift via stocks or other capital assets. If you donate marketable securities, you may receive a charitable deduction for the full market value on the date of the transfer. Neither you nor Laguna Blanca will be required to pay capital gains tax on this type of gift. If you have securities that have decreased in value, you may be able to take a deductible loss when you sell the stocks and donate the proceeds. To learn more about making donations of stock, please contact our development department at development@lagunablanca.org.
Matching Gifts
Many corporations will match philanthropic donations made by their employees. Thisis a great way to maximize your gift. You could possibly double or even triple your dollars with a corporate match. Send us the appropriate paperwork from your employer’s human resources or personnel department, and your gift to Laguna Blanca School will be matched according to your company’s guidelines.
Planned Gifts
Donors may wish to consider giving through such means as a will, life insurance, a bequest, or a charitable trust. Thesetypes of gifts have a noble destination—to help secure the future of our school. Your generosity not only impacts the lives of our current students, but also has long-term benefitsfor students who will pass through our doors for years to come. Thesegifts may also help reduce estate and inheritance taxes. We encourage you to speak with your fiancial planner when considering this type of gift.
OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS development@lagunablanca.org
Sarah Lustfiel
Interim Director of Development 805.687.1372 slustfield@lagunablana.org
Marcy Jacobs
Special Assistant to the Head of School for Development 805.687.2462 mjacobs@lagunablanca.org
Blaire Ridge Assistant Director of Donor and Database Management 805.687.4620 bridge@lagunablanca.org
Jen Trupiano ’00 Alumni Relations and Special Events Manager 805.687.2463 jtrupiano@lagunablanca.org
Arianna Sterling Development Associate and Media Relations 805.798.2631 asterling@lagunablanca.org
Designer Thil Creative
Photography Brad Elliott Stephen Zeigler
Laguna Blanca School 4125 Paloma Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93110 lagunablanca.org
Please let us know if your Laguna alum is no longer at this address. We would love to update their contact information and keep in touch! Please contact development@lagunablanca.org to let us know of any changes.
Laguna Blanca School develops the intellectual, social, physical, artistic, and ethical lives of our students by providing a comprehensive and personalized earlykindergarten through twelfth grade educational experience that prepares them for college and lifelong success.
LAGUNA
BLANCA SCHOOL
4125 PALOMA DRIVE
SANTA
BARBARA,
CA 93110
LAGUNA BLANCA.ORG