IndependenceSpirit
IN MEMORIAM
This issue of Spirit Magazine is dedicated to Dr. Kenneth “Ken” Weinig, who served as Independence’s founding Head of School from 1978 to 2003. From procuring the land to make our current campus possible to planning the design of our learning spaces, Dr. Weinig’s vision remains evident in many aspects of school life, including the instrumental music program and Extended Care, both of which he established. Further, Dr. Weinig instituted an all-inclusive tuition policy, with the cost of field trips, athletics, and books covered as part of the tuition.
We are grateful for Dr. Weinig’s vision and leadership and the lasting imprint he left on the Independence community.
From the Head of School
Solidify. Advance. Cherish. Enhance.
These four words begin each of our four strategic initiatives, respectively. Like the Strategic Vision itself, these words are action-oriented, highlighting the positive trajectory of the school, where people feel both empowered and connected to a larger purposeful journey.
Breaking down these words further, solidify conveys strength and foundation. Drawing on our nearly 50-year history, Independence is built to last. Advance signals forward motion and boldness. As Independence moves into the next half-century, we are full of confidence and ambition. Cherish adds heart and connection, reminding us that we are part of a meaningful and deeply connected community. Enhance emphasizes growth and elevation, making our exceptional school even better.
Together, these words—solidify, advance, cherish, enhance—form a rhythm of action that propels our school forward and brings our new strategic initiatives to life. That’s what this issue of Spirit is all about.
As we move forward with the implementation of our Strategic Vision, it is essential to continue engaging our community of stakeholders in meaningful and intentional ways. We know that the success of the strategic initiatives depends on the collective strength of the Independence community.
Our Annual Report on Philanthropy is a celebration of the school’s generosity and a testament to the enduring partnership we share with parents, alumni and their families, grandparents, trustees, faculty, staff, corporate partners, foundations, and friends of Independence. Your support directly benefits our students and reflects both your confidence in the school and your commitment to sustaining its continued success.
We are deeply grateful for your continued engagement as we shape a vibrant and sustainable future for our school.
TIMOTHY P. COSTELLO, P’26 AND ’28 HEAD OF SCHOOL
BOLDGoing
The story of “Soaring Forward,” the school’s ambitious new Strategic Vision.
Fully Focused
For The Independence School community, the 2024-2025 school year was, as Head of School Tim Costello puts it, “the year of strategy”—a time to step back, assess the school’s recent progress, and envision the path ahead.
“The timing was ideal,” Costello says. “As we came off a highly successful campaign and looked ahead to our 50th anniversary, we had good momentum behind us—the perfect point for thinking in bold and ambitious terms.”
It’s important to note that the new vision not only begins by embracing the aspiration to excellence but also recommits to Indy’s identity as a pre-K through 8th grade school.
Impressively Inclusive
In many ways, how the school approached the planning process was as important as its result.
“The process was structured very intentionally to seek varied perspectives from many constituents, a 360-degree view,” says Donna Sentman ’80, a past parent and a longtime staff member, recently retired. “All their ideas solidified into the pillars of the vision.”
The process she described included listening and discussion sessions, some guided by outside facilitators, as well as a survey shared across the extended school community, from alumni and parents to past parents, grandparents, and former faculty members.
SOLIDIFY OUR POSITION AS THE TOP PRE-K THROUGH 8TH GRADE SCHOOL IN DELAWARE
• Elevate Our Commitment to Pre-K Through 8th Grade Educational Excellence
• Maintain Our Position as the Best Educational Value Among Area Private Schools
• Uphold a Culture Where Kids Can Be Kids
• Actively Recruit and Retain the Top Faculty and Staff to Ensure Successful Delivery of The Indy Experience
• Create Opportunities for Greater Collaboration and Targeted Professional Development
• Ensure Our Faculty and Staff Are Compensated as Best-in-Class Educators
Dr. Travis McKay ’98, a parent also active in the process, says, ”At one point, we met as a large group of stakeholders for five hours of brainstorming. What was that like? Honestly, one of the most inspiring and creative things I’ve ever been a part of. Everyone was engaged and committed the entire time, each bringing their own unique connection to the school, even people who hadn’t been back for years.”
“With all this input, we heard a lot of agreement about what Independence is and should be,” says Sarah Lauzen, a parent and member of the strategic planning committee. “The word ‘more’ kept coming up. This affirmed that we’re absolutely on the right path and we just need to keep doing more of what makes Independence so special.
Aiming High
The bold goal that grew from this work became the first pillar of the Strategic Vision: to “Solidify our position as the top pre-k through 8th grade school in Delaware.”
“Essentially,” says Costello, “we are determined to step forward and say, ‘This is who we are.’”
For Ashley Palandrani ’95, the school’s Admission Manager and parent, the choice made perfect sense. “We hear regularly that we are the best school in our area focusing on serving age 3 through 8th grade. Now is the time to own that sentiment and celebrate it!”
“We specialize in the development of ages 3 to 14 exceptionally well,” says Costello. “In fact, I believe one of our superpowers is actually that we don’t have a high school.” Through the planning process, members of the community made it clear they agree.
“One reason we changed schools and came to Independence,” says Lauzen, “even though it added a couple of 30-minute drives to our day—was its focus on pre-K to 8. I could not be happier with the decision to keep that focus.”
People First
The second pillar of the Strategic Vision that emerged is “Advance the strength of our outstanding faculty and staff,” and it seems there was an inevitable logic to this choice.”
“Given the North Star of being the premier school of our kind, you ask what makes that possible,” explains Costello. “The answer is our people—the faculty who deliver the mission and the staff who support them.”
“The process was structured very intentionally to seek varied perspectives from many constituents—a 360-degree view.”
CHERISH OUR INDEPENDENCE AND iNDEPENDENCE
• Embrace the School’s Founding Principles of Citizenship, Leadership, and Patriotism
• Grow the Endowment to Support Financial Stability and Program Excellence
• Strengthen Our Spirit of Community and Belonging
Costello notes that in recent years, Independence has made strides in terms of faculty and staff compensation, a key to recruiting and retaining exceptional professionals. But other important opportunities remain, for instance—to expand the range of offerings for faculty professional development, from supporting educators in attending and presenting at conferences, and to helping them pursue advanced studies.
“These are important and empowering to our teachers,” Costello says, “and key to the spirit of lifelong learning that great educators embrace.”
“I love the commitment to building on the strength of our faculty,” says Kevin McDonald, a middle school English teacher and parent. “When I first came to Independence, I felt like a backup player on an all-star team; my colleagues were so impressive. The people who are here make this the place it is and create this very positive environment, so it’s wonderful we are working to sustain that tradition of excellence.”
The Importance of Independence
Another core theme in the vision—and the third of its four pillars—focuses on the idea of independence, with its multiple meanings.
“Particularly in these times, being an independent school has never been more important,” says Costello. “It means we are pursuing our mission and delivering our curriculum, not being driven by outside influence.”
“ Our Core Values of respect, responsibility, and integrity make us who we are. Becoming a citizen and a leader is such a critical part of our students’ experience and has been for nearly 50 years.”
The Strategic Vision recognizes that these values are essential. As Sentman says, “Our Core Values of respect, responsibility, and integrity make us who we are. Becoming a citizen and a leader is such a critical part of our students’ experience and has been for nearly 50 years.”
This commitment has further implications, as Costello explains, “If we cherish our independence and want to secure it for the next 50 years, financial independence becomes a priority. Among other things, that means building our endowment.”
A Place of Possibilities
For many, one of the most exciting aspects of the Strategic Vision is its focus on the Independence campus and the vast opportunities the school’s 90 acres present.
This is certainly the view of Stuart Burris, an 8th grade student: “Making this a top goal is important. Going outside and learning is fun and adds a lot to our experience, whether it’s doing science experiments in the creek or having English class outside together.”
Sentman fully agrees: “So much talk today is about AI and cutting-edge changes underway—and that matters. But for the well-being of our kids, the chance to get outside is essential. It literally keeps them grounded. And with our 90 acres, we have such an opportunity. So how do we maximize that through steps that may require new investment but also steps that require no investment?”
Her question is still in the process of being answered as the school develops its plans, but several opportunities are evident. While Independence has made a number of recent investments in the campus, next steps could include focusing on common learning areas like the library and tech spaces, athletic facilities, and projects that will further expand options for outdoor learning.
A Position of Strength
As multiple stakeholders point out, Independence was fortunate to launch its process of strategic visioning from a position of strength—backed by positive performance in enrollment and fundraising, as well as less tangible advantages, such as a powerful sense of community and shared purpose.
“We are seeing strong interest in our program on the admissions side,” says Palandrani, “and so much is driven by word of mouth. When you talk to families living the Independence experience right now, you want your family to be part of that same amazing opportunity.”
As the school begins the work of translating its vision into concrete implementation steps, Palandrani is thrilled to see where the process will lead. “It can only mean an even better Independence and an even better overall experience for our students, families, faculty and staff.”
• Broaden Outdoor Education Opportunities
• Expand Student, Faculty, and Staff Health and Wellness
“ We hear regularly that we are the best school in our area focusing on serving age 3 through 8th grade. Now is the time to own that sentiment and celebrate it!”
• Maximize the Potential of Our Campus ENHANCE THE USE OF OUR 90 ACRES
1,319
Year in Review 2024 - 2025 total gifts in 2024-2025
10,834
35
new picnic tables
54,120 school-wide recess minutes
53 We expanded into three classrooms for 2025-2026! students in kindergarten
8 snacks shared with Patriot Pals (ECI and 8th grade buddies)
398 pieces of art displayed in The Week of the Arts showcase
1,418 photos uploaded to Vidigami
65 waders for outdoor learning
48 Quillbys sold in the Spirit Store Business Session products
84
46 videos produced community service hours
76 wins across all sports
10 Things
You Didn’t Know About Mr. Kitching
Daniel Kitching ’01, Director of Bands and music teacher, is the recipient of the 2025 Patricia A. Ireland Faculty Award, honoring the qualities of professionalism, compassion, and good nature, as exemplified by the school’s former head.
1
I own over 1,000 vinyl records, CDs, and cassette tapes, mostly in the classic rock and hard bop jazz genres.
2
I used to have an annual pass to Walt Disney World. I would go multiple times a year with different members of my family.
3When I was in college, I was (surprisingly) selected to sing in the All-Star College Chorus with the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops. My choir teacher thought it would be good for me—she was correct!
4
You might not be able to tell, but one of the biggest influences on me as a teacher was Fred Rogers. Though our personalities are quite different, Mr. Rogers remains one of my all-time heroes.
5The first three concerts I ever went to were The Who, Van Halen, and Paul McCartney.
6
My brother Joe is an Indy alum from the class of 2011. He and I play in a two-person rock band under the name Dan & Joe.
7
Each year after the winter band concert, I give a notoriously difficult but fun quiz to my students on “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
8
I was born in Boston. Since then, I have lived in Holliston, Unionville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Wilmington, and Pike Creek.
9
Although I am a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan, I enjoy going to Phillies games as well. However, if they ever met in the World Series, I would have to root for the Red Sox.
10
I am not the only teacher in my family. Not only am I married to a fellow Indy teacher, but I also have aunts, uncles, cousins, and immediate family members who have all dabbled in teaching!
“My favorite thing about the school concerts is hearing the progression in the difficulty of the music throughout the night, from the lower school up to 8th grade. It’s incredible how much our young musicians can learn in just a few years!”
Alumni Corner
The Alumni Award program began in 2018 and honors graduates who demonstrate outstanding achievement, leadership, or innovation in a particular field, whether in their profession or through volunteer activities or personal dedication to a cause.
The Rising Star Alumni Award is presented to an Independence alum who has graduated within the last 20 years, and the Outstanding Alumni Award is presented to an alum who graduated more than 20 years ago.
Ryan Dunphy ’10: Mr. Secretary
As Secretary of the Delaware State Senate, Ryan Dunphy has a job that he absolutely loves—and one few people understand. “A better title,” he explains, “might be chief administrative officer or director of operations for the senate.” The role involves everything from processing bills and laws as they move through the chamber to archiving official documents and handling payroll and benefits.
While majoring in political science at Villanova, Ryan first became aware of opportunities at the state senate and secured an internship with the then-secretary. After graduating and gaining experience in the federal government, he returned to Delaware, and when his predecessor retired in 2021, he was elected secretary. “I enjoy working at the state level, where I can really see the impact,” Ryan says. “And I love that in my nonpartisan role I can serve all the state’s citizens.”
Ryan remembers his years at Independence fondly, from experiencing the strong sense of community to meeting his lifelong best friend. He also remembers the strong impression the Patriotic Program made on him as a young 3rd grader. “It sparked an interest in government that still inspires me today.”
Andy Tarburton ’84: Patriot Through and Through
“People are just amazed at how many of our alumni are still involved with Independence since it’s their grade school, not their high school or college,” Andy Tarburton says. He should know: In roles as a class agent, alumni advocate, and event supporter, Andy’s been as involved as anyone—a catalyst connecting others. “I’ve been active all along,” he says, recalling that he was among those to post when the school first launched its Facebook page—and that his interest only increased when his daughter, Kylie, began working at Independence as the school’s communications specialist.
A member of the first graduating class after the move to the current building, Andy says he received an outstanding preparation—from high expectations in the classroom to the experience of interscholastic soccer (which he later played and coached at the state championship level). “It taught you the academic basics and also critical thinking. It made you a complete student.”
“Independence was a big part of my life,” he continues. “From age 10 till now, it’s always been there for me.”
To see a list of past winners and to nominate an alum for either the Outstanding Alumni or Rising Star Alumni Award, scan here:
Call to Action for
Alumni in Boston
Alumni Agents
This summer, Independence alumni gathered in Boston for an alumni-led reunion, celebrating 40 years since the school’s very first trip to the city in 1985.
The weekend was planned by former teacher and trip leader Mr. Prokop, together with alumnae Peggy Willis Courtney ’85 and Kim Harrison ’85, and featured classic Boston experiences including a Red Sox game, a Freedom Trail walk, and plenty of time to reconnect.
Independence was proud to host the opening night meet and greet, where more than 50 alumni, former faculty, and friends came together. The event was a reminder that Patriot Pride and the friendships formed at Independence continue to thrive long after 8th grade.
Plans are already underway for the next reunion in summer 2027! Stay tuned for more details and join the trip’s Facebook group for updates.
Upcoming 2026 Alumni Events
SAM DUNK: Tuesday, March 3
Patriotic Program: Thursday, April 23
Indy 5k & Color Us Kids Run: Tuesday, May 19
Field Day: Thursday, June 4
If you’re interested in building our Independence alumni community, please contact Michele Harra at mharra@indyde.org
Independence welcomed a group of outstanding new faculty and staff: (left to right) Jennifer Kellner, Kindergarten Assistant; Meghan Solge, Second Grade; Tommy Brangs, School Counselor; Kim Cavanaugh, Literacy Specialist; Katelyn Rybicki, Admission Assistant; Kim Farr, Middle School Spanish; Christian Cloud, Technology Innovation Teacher; Sarah Ferrell, Building Substitute; and (not pictured) Kirk Florey, Van Driver.
News&Notes
In June, 13 7th and 8th graders had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico on a trip memorably combining service learning with cultural immersion.
It was a day of thrilling firsts as our ECI students visited with firefighters at our local station, and it started with their first ride on a big yellow school bus.
What combines poise and presentation skills with historic research and lots of creative costuming? It’s the 5th graders’ Famous Person Showcase.
Creativity was evident everywhere this May as the school celebrated The Week of the Arts, which included the spring concerts, an all-school art exhibit, and more.
The SAM DUNK 3v3 Basketball Tournament brought the community together in the spirit of fun and fair play to support the Samuel John Hanna ’24 Memorial Fund scholarship.
For the 33rd year, our 3rd grade students had the chance to deepen their love and understanding of our nation through a signature Indy tradition, the Patriotic Program.
The school’s 8th graders were at their most impressive as they shared the results of their diverse research projects at the Capstone Evening Showcase 2025.
More than 150 students and family members visited campus for a joyful afternoon at our New Student Welcome event.
When our Patriot Pals get together, it’s a wonderful growth experience for older and younger students alike.
This year’s middle school musical, “Shrek the Musical, Jr.!,” featured one green ogre, one stubborn donkey, one charming princess, and a magical mix of laughs and tears. Middle schoolers brought learning to life this spring as they planted the school’s first pollinator garden, carefully designed and full of
This year’s summer camp program boasted 18 specialized offerings and welcomed 300 children, aged 3 through 8th grade.
See the full story and photos online at theindependenceschool.org/news
Honors & Awards
Founders’ Day Scholarships & Awards
Independence has a tradition of recognizing students across many grade levels with a variety of scholarships and awards during the annual Founders’ Day assembly. The following were presented in 2025:
The Young Writer’s Scholarship
Brian Hershner & Maisie McCloskey
The Marsh Wiltbank Uebler Scholarship
William Ferenz & Zahra Hosmane
The Teresa T. Roach Scholarship
Payton Grieco
The Jack DiMaio Memorial Scholarship
Virginia Cook & Ryan Gutzmirtl
The Anne G. Hurt Memorial Scholarship
Annika Bohman & James Helmick
The Margaret C. and William H. Cantwell Award for Musical Excellence
Grace Pan & Yiyi Xu
The Jason Motta Endowed Award for Integrity, Leadership and Sportsmanship
Brooks Wilke
The William Braune Athletic Scholarship
Matteo Giordano & Cole Slaton
The Courage Scholarship
Terry Song
The Board Presidents’ Scholarship
Ethan Liu
The Dr. Mia Shorteno Fraser Scholarship
Abby Grieco & Oliver Perny
The Andrew N. Yatzus Scholarship
Vivienne See
2025 Founders’ Award
The Founders’ Award is granted to extraordinary individuals who have had a lasting and fundamental impact on The Independence School through their service, dedication, and generosity.
Independence proudly honors Farrell L. Goble as the 2025 Founders’ Award recipient.
Farrell and his wife, Patricia, first discovered Independence in 1993 when their daughter, Suzy, and her husband, Dan, chose the school for their children, Amanda ’03 and Benjamin ’11. What began as the involvement of a proud grandparent soon became a decades-long commitment to the Independence community. Farrell immersed himself in school life as both a volunteer and donor, coaching girls volleyball for 25 years and serving on the Board of Trustees from 2002 to 2008.
Together, Farrell and Patricia generously supported numerous school initiatives—from annual giving and galas to campaigns and endowments. Among their many contributions is the Amanda and Benjamin Johnson Endowed Fund for the Support of Instrumental Music, established by Daniel P. and Suzanne Johnson and Farrell L. and Patricia Goble. The fund honors the talents of Independence’s instrumental music department and celebrates its commitment to nurturing a love of music and confident performance in students.
Following Farrell’s passing, the Independence community gathered this fall to celebrate his legacy with the dedication of the Farrell L. Goble Volleyball Court. The Goble family also established the Farrell L. Goble Endowed Memorial Fund for Volleyball, which will provide ongoing support for Independence Athletics, ensuring that his influence continues to inspire student-athletes for years to come.
Dan Johnson, Patricia Goble, Farrell Goble, and Suzy Johnson
Farrell with the 2022 undefeated girls volleyball team
Dan Johnson, Amanda Johnson ’03, and Suzy Johnson at the dedication
School Updates
New Positions in 2025
Independence introduced new positions to strengthen student support, spark innovation, and advance excellence across our programs.
Literacy Specialist
Now in its second year, the Literacy Specialist position continues to strengthen literacy development across all grade levels. This role supports students through targeted instruction that builds strong reading and writing skills while also collaborating with academic leadership and faculty to enhance curriculum, instruction, and school-wide literacy initiatives.
We are delighted that Kim Cavanaugh has assumed the role of Literacy Specialist, bringing her expertise as a former preschool center director and her reading endorsement from the University of Central Florida to further advance our students’ success.
School Counselor
Independence is excited to introduce its first School Counselor, a key part of our commitment to supporting the whole child. This position enhances our focus on students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being, helping each child develop the skills to thrive in the classroom and beyond. The School Counselor leads initiatives in social-emotional learning, helps teach Health and Wellness classes, provides short-term counseling, and supports students through both proactive care and responsive guidance.
We’re proud to have Tommy Brangs, an Independence alumnus, step into this important position. A familiar face on campus as a former Building Substitute and current coach of multiple sports, Tommy brings a deep understanding of our community and a strong background in counseling. He earned his master’s degree in elementary and secondary school counseling from Wilmington University.
Technology Innovation Teacher
The school is proud to announce the creation of the Technology Innovation Teacher position, a new role designed to elevate our students’ experience in technology, innovation, and STEM learning. This position will strengthen our commitment to fostering creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while supporting the continued growth of our design spaces and STEM initiatives.
Christian Cloud serves as the school’s first Technology Innovation Teacher and teaches technology classes from kindergarten through 8th grade. He brings a wealth of experience as an Assistant Head of School, Division Head, Director of Technology, and classroom teacher, and holds degrees from Florida International University and the University of Pennsylvania.
WE’RE PLEASED TO WELCOME TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS:
Clayton Hill P’32 and ’34
Sarah Lauzen P’29, ’31, and ’32
With Our
Appreciation
Dear Independence Community,
I am very pleased to share the 2024-2025 Annual Report for The Independence School. Thank you to all of our donors, event sponsors, committee members, and school volunteers as your support is essential to the success of our amazing school. Whether you’re volunteering with the IPA to strengthen our Independence community, securing silent auction items for the Annual Auction and Gala, or supporting The Fund for Independence to help fund school operations, we thank you!
Fundraising at Independence comes from a variety of sources, including Indy-sponsored events, grants from foundations, and tax-deductible donations, such as restricted gifts and donations. For the fiscal year 2024-2025, a total of $818,310 was raised, of which $275,911 came from The Fund for Independence. The Fund addresses the school’s most pressing needs— ranging from faculty support and facility maintenance to programs that enrich the educational experience—
basically the people, places, and programs that make Independence, Independence. Philanthropic donations have a direct impact on every aspect of school life, and all of these contributions are vital to maintaining our standing as a leading school in today’s competitive educational landscape.
Each new school year brings with it an enhanced vision of how we can continue to enrich the educational experience of our students and prepare them for what is next on their exciting educational journey. Independence’s dedicated faculty, staff, and community members continue to support and encourage one another to accomplish what is best for these students.
Thank you for your engagement, commitment, and confidence in all that we do every single day at The Independence School. We could not do this without your time, talent, and treasure.
Many thanks and much gratitude,
Michele C. Harra Director of Advancement and Enrollment Management
Thank You, IPA
The Independence Parents’ Association (IPA) provides essential programs and services that enrich the Independence community. Every Indy parent is a member, helping to build meaningful connections among students, parents, faculty, and staff and enhancing the Independence experience.
The IPA has raised thousands of dollars over the years through fundraising and outreach, supporting enhancements like field trips, speakers, programs, and yearbooks. Signature events include Soar Into the School Year, family Indy-O game night, ice skating, and the annual dodgeball tournament.
Faculty and staff also receive generous treats throughout the year as a show of appreciation.
We send a heartfelt thank you to Katie Grieco for her steadfast leadership as IPA President over the past two years. Her dedication to the school has created a meaningful and lasting legacy. We also extend our gratitude to the other 20242025 IPA leadership team members, Leslie Ferenz, Ian Farrell, Trupti Patel, and Jen Farabaugh—and to the many parent and grandparent volunteers who generously shared their time and talents to enrich our community.
2025-2026 IPA Officers: Ian Farrell (Vice President), Leslie Ferenz (President), Katelyn Rybicki (Secretary), and Jenna Tabb (Treasurer). Not pictured: Jen Farabaugh (Treasurer) and Nidhi Singh (Treasurer)
The Independence School
Independence Club
$10,000 AND UP
REPORT ON PHILANTHROPY 2024-2025
Aaron & Jean Martin Fund of the Chester County Community Foundation Anonymous (1)
Benevity Fund
DAFgiving360
Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. duPont IV
Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation Fidelity Charitable
Drs. Mark R. Fiss and Marissa Schnelle
Mrs. Ashley Quill Funk ’95 and Mr. Vance Funk
Mr. Thomas J. and Dr. Lexie A. Hanna
Mr. and Mrs. Francis R. Julian
Mr. Conrad Langenegger and Mrs. Sabrina K. duPont-Langenegger
Mr. and Mrs. Alan B. Levin
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Levin
National Philanthropic Trust
Nor’ Easter Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Perkins
Mr. Jeffrey Shahan and Mrs. Kimberly Criscuolo Shahan ’97
Mrs. Lisa Julian Spear ’94 and Mr. Mark Spear
The Happy Difference Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Andy Wilke
Mrs. Amelia Julian Wyant ’90 and Mr. Jack Wyant
Mr. Ping Xu and Ms. Boon Huei Loh Freedom Club
$5,000 TO $9,999
Dr. Barbara Albani and Mr. Ryan Haydu
Alpine and Rafetto Orthodontics
Dr. Mirko Bajlovic and Dr. Megan Cook Bajlovic BlackRock
Blake’s Corner Garden, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brevoort IV
Cafe Napoli
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Dann
Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists
Mr. Amish and Dr. Payal Desai
Mr. and Mrs. Sateesh K. Dola
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin J. Dombrowski
Mr. and Mrs. William Doroh
Mr. and Mrs. Philip S. Dragotta
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dragotta
Mr. E. Bradford du Pont Jr.
Dr. Matt Eichenbaum
Mrs. Bianca I. Fraser-Johnson and Mr. Michael J. Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Giffin
Mr. and Mrs. Robert V.A. Harra III
Mr. J. Kevin Heitzenroder ’85 and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Heitzenroder
Independence Parents’ Association (IPA)
JPMorgan Chase’s Good Works Employee Giving Program
Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Julian
Mr. Richard J. Julian Jr. ’93
Mr. Stephen E. Julian ’00 and Mrs. Colleen Dunleavy Julian
Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Koch
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Michels
Ms. Nicole Perkins ’01 and Mr. Clay Strickland
Mr. and Mrs. Mario Procope
Dr. and Mrs. Nick F. Quercetti III
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ramone
Mr. John L. Reed and Mrs. Anne North Reed
Dr. and Mrs. Donald Suh
Thanvi Dola Memorial Fund at DAFgiving360
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan D. Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Thomas
Turf Pro, Inc.
WSFS Bank
Spirit Club
$3,000 TO $4,999
Mr. and Mrs. George Brown IV
Dr. and Mrs. Mark J. Corso
Delaware Community Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Dominic DiFebo
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Downs
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J.A. Fraser
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gilmore
Ms. Brittany Ramone Gomez ’00 and Mr. Raymond W. Gomez
Mr. and Mrs. Joe M. Grieco
Mr. and Mrs. Chunhui Jiang
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel P. Johnson
Keen Compressed Gas Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Keen
Mr. David J. Kubacki and Dr. Grace Y. Kwon
Mrs. Sara Lyng and Mrs. Kristin Laughlin ’98
Master Seo’s Tiger Kicks Martial Arts
Mr. Anthony M. Medori ’80
Mr. Russell Michalak and Ms. Jennifer E. Smith
Drs. Nathan and Elizabeth Poleck
Mr. and Mrs. Luca Saggese
Mr. Hayoung Seo and Mrs. Mijung Choi
Mr. Jonathan White ’94 and Mrs. Kristi Kerrigan White
Mrs. Victoria Yatzus
Stars Club
$1,500 TO $2,999
Mr. and Mrs. Derek A. Anderson
Andrew N. Yatzus Fund of the Delaware Community Foundation
Anonymous (1)
Anthony Penna Charitable Fund of the Delaware Community Foundation
Archmere Academy
Dr. Charles C. Arensberg
Mr. Donald W. Ashwell
Dr. Jennifer and Mr. Michael Barlow
Dr. and Mrs. Leif-Erik S. Bohman
Mrs. Patti C. Brindley
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Burke
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Burris
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Burris
Cigna Healthcare
Hon. Nathan A. Cook and Mrs. Christine V. Cook
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Costello
Dr. and Mrs. John A. Courtright
Evergreen Waste Services, LLC
Exelon Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Randal Farabaugh
Mrs. Jane Fouracre
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fulton
Mr. Brian F. Funk ’94 and Mrs. Andrea Funk
Dr. Airelle and Mr. Joseph A. Giordano
Mr. Farrell L. Goble* and Mrs. Patricia A. Goble
Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A.
Ms. Amy Graham
Grey Fox Wealth Advisors
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Hall
Dr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Hershey
Mr. Tony Hill and Mrs. Janeen Hill
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Kacmarcik Jr.
Dr. Deep Kahlon and Ms. Mona Singh
Kerith Foundation
Mrs. Grace G. Kirk
Kathy and Joe Knox
Ms. Christine Koense
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Lauzen
Dr. Erin Macko and Mr. Gregory Macko
Mr. and Mrs. Keith R. Mayhew
Drs. Parham Moftakhar and Waimei Tai
Mr. Hongmu Pan and Mrs. Wei Huang
Mr. Gordon Perkins ’04 and Mrs. Stephanie Perkins
Portrait Club By Kelli Wilke
Drs. Wolfgang Radtke and Maria Elena Rodriguez Reyna
Roadhouse Restorations
Dr. and Mrs. Steven H. Rybicki
SAM DUNK 3v3 Basketball Tournament
Dr. and Mrs. William K. Schmidt
Service Unlimited, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shockley
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Slaton
Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Stevens
Dr. Jiancheng Su and Mrs. Ying He
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Suppe
Mr. Richard M. Swavely and Mrs. Angela V. George
Mr. Stanley Sykora
The Sykora Family Charitable Foundation
Vanguard Charitable
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Vrana
Dr. Harry Wang and Ms. Carrie Fang
Ms. Kerith Wang ’08
Dr. Sean Wang and Ms. Monica Ho
Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Wenger
Mr. Chaoran Xu and Mrs. Jingjing Li
Young Conaway
Mr. and Mrs. David Zerbato
Stripes Club
$1,000 TO $1,499
American Endowment Foundation
Ameriprise
Bayfront Engineering
Beauty Bar By Kristina Ruggerio/BBKR
Med Spa
Bessemer Equine, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Mark C. Borsello
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bree
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Burns Jr.
Drs. Edward J. and Stephanie Caterson
Citizens Private Wealth
Cook Family Dentistry, P.A.
Dewson Construction Company
Erin N. Macko DDS Family Dental Care
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Ferenz
Giordano & Gagne, LLC
Mr. Adam Goodman
Mr. David R. Grote
Mr. and Mrs. E. Thomas Harvey III
Mr. and Mrs. James Hicks
Mr. and Mrs. Ken Jones
Kirstie Donohue Photography
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Kolodczak
Kristina Gwynn Photography LC Aesthetics
Lyons Companies
Mr. and Mrs. David F. Lyons Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Michael A. Marinelli
Drs. Patrick and Jessica Matthews
Mr. and Mrs. George K. McDowell
Dr. Travis McKay ’98 and Mrs. Amanda McKay
Meadow Springs Farm – Hicks Brothers IV
Dr. Joan and Mr. Dave Neikirk
Dr. Meredith and Mr. Matthew Perny
Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Persoleo
Mr. James Pizzutto and Ms. Janis Julian Pizzutto
Dr. Michael J. Ryan ’80 and Mrs. Cindy Ryan
SB Real Estate, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Selk
Mrs. Donna Kirk Sentman ’80 and Mr. David Sentman
Mr. Jason Styons ’01
ViaDel Consulting
Mr. Haibing Zhang and Ms. Yun Shen
Red Club
$650 TO $999
AssuredPartners
Mr. Anthony Carrell
Mrs. Lauren Francis Colbert ’97 and Mr. Marshall Colbert
Corrective Chiropractic
Mr. and Mrs. Mark M. Dalle Pazze
Ms. Kimberly Farr
Drs. Ian and Kelli Farrell
Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Fullmer
Mr. Jeffrey Mangat ’98 and Mrs. Cynthia Mangat
Mrs. Heidi McDonough
Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Mitchell
Mr. Hao Ni and Mrs. Angel Tsai
Oakwood Valley Swim Club
Padua Academy
Mrs. Ashley White Palandrani ’95 and Mr. Gregory Palandrani ’95
Ms. Tina Palmer
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Piccirilli Jr.
Mrs. Jessica Czerwin Seward ’98 and Mr. Evan Seward
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip B. Slaton
Mr. Jinwen Song and Mrs. Haiyan Qin
TisBest Philanthropy
Mr. and Mrs. James Trait
White Club
$350 TO $649
Advanced Back & Neck Pain Center
Agreeance, LLC
Mrs. Shoshana Altschuler
Mr. and Mrs. James Arters
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
BCM Wealth Management
Mrs. Tracy Berryman Berger ’93 and Mr. Josh Berger
Dr. and Mrs. Kyle J. Bottorff
Brandywine Urology Consultants
Mr. and Mrs. George L. Brown III
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Burris
Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Calloway
COCA Art Gallery
Dr. Brian Cohen and Mrs. Leslie Cohen McGregor
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Colbert
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Cooke
Mr. and Mrs. Todd Coomes
CrossFit Reconstructed
Dann Marine Towing
Deerfield Golf Club
Delpa Builders, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Fallon
Mr. Christopher Fasick ’98 and Mrs. Anita Campbell Fasick
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ferenz
Mr. Frank Fiedler and Ms. Haiyan Weng
Dr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Glick
Mrs. Julie R. Goldston
Mrs. Kristen Grote
Mr. and Mrs. Gary X. Gu
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Guerin
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Handloff
Herdeg, du Pont & Dalle Pazze LLP
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hoeschel
Mr. Guohua Jing and Ms. Yu Yao
Mr. Jason Kramer and Mrs. Xinqiao Jia
Mrs. Mary Louise Kubacki
Mr. Lei Liu and Mrs. Jie Chen
Mr. Joseph Lombardi
Dr. and Mrs. Gary B. Lyons
Mr. Ilir Mandija and Mrs. Enis Borici
Mr. and Mrs. Paul McGregor
Mrs. Melanie Zinn Merritt ’97 and Mr. Nicholas Merritt
Dr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Michell
Mrs. Christine Julian Moritz ’91 and Mr. Garrett Moritz
Morton, Valihura & Zerbato, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Motta
Dr. and Mrs. David Nagurney
Mr. and Mrs. Will Neves
Mr. Zaiqi Pan and Ms. Yunqing Yuan
Drs. Mia A. Papas ’86 and J. Morel Symons
Mr. and Mrs. Shodhan Patel
Peter Kate
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pine
Pine Anesthesia Services, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. Pomeroy III
Dr. and Mrs. John Powell
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Puglisi
Mr. and Mrs. John Quinn
Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Raab
Mrs. Melissa Ross
Sanford School
Mrs. Rachelle Schindler
Mr. and Mrs. Sujit Singh
Spruce Hair & Co.
Tailored Home
The Bonadio Group
The Savannah Boutique BnB & Spa
The Wine & Spirit Co. of Greenville
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Toner
Tower Hill School
Mr. Thomas Uebler, Esq. ’95 and Mrs. Cameron Uebler
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Dr. Yuanchong Wang and Mrs. Na Liu
Ms. Ann M. Waring and Dr. Harry R. Sachs
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel W. Whitaker III
Wilmington Friends School
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence A. Zeccola
Mr. Shuliang Zhang and Mrs. Dan Ni
Blue Club
$160 TO $349
Abel Aesthetics
Aloysius Butler & Clark
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ambler
American Dance Academy
Anonymous (13)
Mr. and Mrs. David E. Anshen
Mrs. Anne M. Arensberg
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Berryman
Dr. Laura Hough Bianco ’94 and Mr. Joseph Bianco
Ms. Vitamarie Biddle
Mrs. Melissa Chandler Bilek
Blo Blow Dry Bar
Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Boone
Mr. Ryan Browning ’97 and Mrs. Danielle Browning
Buccini Pollin Group, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Burke
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cantera
Mr. Harrison S. Carpenter and Mrs. Shaivlini Khemka Carpenter
Constellation Matching Gifts Program
Mrs. Nancy Cordes
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Costello
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher DiBartolo
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis W. Doody
Empowered Wellness Studio
Endless Wags
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fairfield
Mr. Zhaoyang Feng and Ms. Jinyi Zang
Mr. and Mrs. William W. Fincher
Mr. and Mrs. Rey Garduno
Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Gregory
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Halbedl
Mrs. Rebecca C. Handloff
Mr. Adam W. Harris IV ’86
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton C. Hill
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hill
Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hite
Mr. and Mrs. Ward T. Holck
Mrs. Amy Holt and Mr. Matthew Holt ’98
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Horsey
Dr. Guoquan Huang and Mrs. Ning Chen
Mrs. Tanya Huntington
Mrs. Kelly Huxtable
Mrs. Mary Jane Kirby
Mrs. Moira Fasick Kostes ’01 and Mr. Rick Kostes
Mr. Chin-Chen K. Kuo and Mrs. Chiatzu Lin
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lario
Mr. Xiang Li and Mrs. Ning Zhang
Mr. and Mrs. Constantin Livanov
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Lorenzoni
Mrs. Marie A. Maks
MandMarblestone Group
Mathnasium of Pike Creek
Maureen’s Hair Salon & Day Spa
Mr. and Mrs. Craig R. McCloskey
Mrs. Stephanie McKay
Dr. Mary Ellen P. McNally
Michael Christopher Hair Salon
Ms. Rebecca L. Moylan ’92
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Nyabiosi
Mr. Joe Polansky and Mrs. Carolyn Quelly
Mr. and Mrs. Dante Principe Jr.
Mrs. Amy Hartzell Pszczolkowski ’83 and Mr. Douglas Pszczolkowski
Pure Barre Greenville
Mrs. JoAnn N. Quill
Ms. Jennifer Radke and Ms. Jean Campbell
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Radke
Mr. Steve Rapposelli
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Rispoli
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ross
Dr. and Mrs. John Roussalis
Salesianum School
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Saponaro
Sepax Bioscience
Dr. Robert Sepelyak
Mr. Paul M. Shearer
StretchPlex
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Tabb
The Tatnall School
Ms. Edith H. Townsend
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Walsh
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Warnke
Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program
Mr. and Mrs. Roger A. Wilke
Dr. Dahra and Mr. Bill Williams
Dr. Freeman and Dr. Susan Williams
Mr. and Mrs. A. Richard Winchester
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Wolhar
Dr. Fan Worley and Mr. Michael Worley
Mr. Jianhua Zou and Mrs. Xuelian Gao
Donor Club
UP TO $159
Mr. and Mrs. James H. Abbott
Adorn Goods
Mr. and Mrs. Teame Afeworki
Dr. and Mrs. Vivek Agarwal
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Altshuler
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Ambler
Mr. and Mrs. Jake Annable
Ms. Reilly Annable ’17
Anonymous (3)
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Archbell
Mr. and Mrs. S. Brooks Archbell
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Arcidiacono
Ms. Joanna H. Arensberg
Ms. Neely K. Awtry
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Axt
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Bair
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Balthis
Bar Reverie
Mr. and Mrs. Erik Barr
Ms. Adair Bartram ’14
BBC Tavern & Grill
Dr. Stacie Beck and Mr. Kenneth Libert
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bell
Ms. Adrienne L. Benevento
Mrs. Carol A. Bergner
Beyond Bright Services, Inc.
Dr. and Mrs. Donald T. Bond
Ms. Lauren Bond ’04
Ms. Ana Bowe ’06
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bozeman
Ms. Jeanne Bratten
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Brechter Jr.
Mr. Aaron Brown ’08 and Mrs. Kayla Wehry
Mrs. Michele E. Bruxelles
Buff City Soap
Mr. Frank C. Butts and Mrs. Janet Dougherty-Butts
Mr. and Mrs. John Calloway
Mr. and Mrs. Allan Camoirano
Mr. Matthew D. Cannon ’01
Mr. and Mrs. Damian J. Carlson
Mr. and Mrs. Norman F. Cartier
Mr. John W. Castle
Mrs. Marie T. Celano
Mr. and Mrs. Sean J. Chudzik
Mr. Cesar Colmenares Botero
Ms. Allison Conner
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Correale
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen B. Craft
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crowley
Mrs. Donna Cutrona
Mr. Yang Dai and Mrs. Jing Zhang
Dr. and Mrs. Hung Dam
Drs. Michael Dauner and Elham Behshad
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph DellAversano III
Dr. and Mrs. Fedele J. DePalma
Ms. Annette DiEdoardo
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel DiGiacobbe
Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Donovan
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dougherty
Mr. John Duffy and Mrs. Margarita Rodriguez-Duffy
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Duffy
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Evans
Mrs. Josée Faubert-Spence
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ford
Mrs. Julia Perkins Fox ’99 and Mr. Timothy J. Fox
Mr. Kelvin Fu, Ph.D. and Ms. Yongxin Wang
Mrs. Susana Garcia
Ms. Sarah Gilmore ’01
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Giordano
Mr. and Mrs. Benard Gisiora
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Gordon
Mr. Peter Gorton
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Gouge
Mr. and Mrs. Manish Goyal
Mrs. Tori M. Gravuer
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Greevy
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Gregg
Mr. and Mrs. William Grothaus
Ms. Georgia D. Haldas
Ms. Brinton Harra ’22
Drs. Jay and Cathy Harris
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hayes
Heart & Home
Mr. and Mrs. John Helmick
Mr. and Mrs. David Henninger
Mr. and Mrs. Jim E. Hershner
Mr. and Mrs. William E. Hicks
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Hoeschel
Ms. Tara Hoffner
The Annemarie O. Perkins Playground, generously donated by the Perkins family.
Dr. and Mrs. William A. Hohman
Dr. and Mrs. Mark J. Holliday
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin S. Hook
Drs. Vinay and Aparna Hosmane
Mr. Greg Hunt
Dr. Christi Hurt ’85 and Mr. Blake Rahn
Indulgence Jewelers
Mr. Gerald Ipapa and Mrs. Janet Nakuti
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Irvello
Mrs. Diane M. Jackson
Janssen’s Market
Mr. Rong Jiao and Mrs. Ping Sun
Mrs. Deb Johnson
Mr. Fraser Johnson ’23
Mr. and Mrs. James F. Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Julian
Kalmar Nyckel Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. K. Michael Katz
Kendra Scott
Mr. and Mrs. Chad Kessler
Wesley Kiefer ’30
Ms. Isabelle J. Kim ’23
Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Kimball
Ms. Colleen Kirby
Dr. Kathryn Sepelyak Kirsch ’01 and Mr. Jonathan Kirsch
Mr. and Mrs. Blair Kitching
Mr. Daniel Kitching ’01 and Mrs. Hannah Pretz Kitching
Mr. Drew Koense ’14
Ms. Katy Koense ’15
Drs. Krzysztof Kowal and Wen Li
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kowalski
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Z. Koziak
Dr. Heidi Kozic and Mr. Ian McConnel
Mr. Marc A. Kreider ’82 and Mrs. Valerie Kreider
Dr. Jag Kumar and Mrs. Shuba Gangaswamiah
Mr. and Mrs. Carl N. Kunz III
Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Langley
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. LaPenta
Mr. Christopher Latham and Mrs. Catherine Dean
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lawson
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Lazar
Mrs. Marianne Lazorick
Mr. Edwin Lee Jr.
Mrs. Gabrielle Gregory LeGrand ’05 and Mr. Nicholas LeGrand
Mr. Collin R. LeVan and Mrs. Kyleigh K. Gloska-LeVan
Mr. Caiguo Li and Ms. Dan Yang
Ms. Lingchin Liao
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Liberato
Mr. Deshen Lin and Mrs. Zhan Liu
Mr. Michael Livanov and Mrs. Irina Khaliava
Ms. Rose Maria Lombardi
Luna Divina Nail Salon
Mrs. Laura Mackey
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Maloney
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Manno
Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. Marinelli Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. McCord
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin McDonald
Mr. and Mrs. W. Nathan McDonald IV
Dr. John McDowell ’90 and Mrs. Nicole Kurz-McDowell
Dr. Noah McFoy ’12
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. McKeown
Mr. Sam McKeown ’19
Mr. and Mrs. John McMahon
Ms. Stacy McNatt
Mr. and Mrs. Gene Miller
Mrs. Margaret Ann Minihan
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Mitchell Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Monge
Mrs. Robin Moody and Mr. Jay Downing
Mr. Thomas Moore
Mr. and Mrs. David M. Morse
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Mullin
Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Murphy
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Murray
Mr. Michael J. Nally
Mr. Edgar H. Narmore and Mrs. Susan Flick-Narmore
Mr. David P. and Dr. Louise Reid Nichols
Dr. Elisabeth Croft O’Brien and Mr. Charles O’Brien
Dr. Erin Cox O’Leary ’92 and Mr. Dennis O’Leary
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Olinchak
Mrs. Avery Oliva
Mrs. Hilary Olner
Mr. and Mrs. Mitch Overstreet
Mr. Brian Pan ’19
Dr. Danielle and Mr. Johnathan Parsell
Dr. and Mrs. Dhruval Patel
Mr. John Penrod
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Perny
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy G. Petterson
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Piccirilli, Sr.
Mrs. Joanne M. Pohlen
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Pombo
PureBread Deli
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Quercetti Jr.
Ms. Jessica Rahn
Mr. and Mrs. J. Paul Raymond
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Reeder
Mr. Stephen T. Reid and Mrs. Kelly Morris
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Rispoli
Mrs. Louise Rispoli
Mr. Gavin M. Robinson ’24
Mrs. Jessica Rodriguez
Mr. Yifeng Ruan and Mrs. Yulin Zhang
Dr. Tae Sakamoto
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Samuels
Dr. and Mrs. Nathan L. Savitz
Dr. and Mrs. James N. Scarborough
Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Scarpone
Mrs. Mary Hylda Schwarz
Dr. Donnita M. Scott
Mr. Timothy L. Scott
Drs. Vincent See and Jennifer Ty
Mr. Matthew A. Shaw ’07 and Mrs. Paige K. Shaw
Dr. and Mrs. Scott D. Siegel
Mr. Howard Simmons
Mr. McCormick Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Stepek
Ms. Lisa J. Stone
Mr. and Mrs. John Strojny
Mr. and Mrs. Brad Swasy
Swigg Real Wine, Craft Beer, and Spirits
Ms. Kathy Sylvester
Mr. Andrew Tarburton ’84 and Mrs. Ann Parshall Tarburton
Ms. Kylie Tarburton
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew P. Taylor
Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Taylor
Mr. and Mrs. Louis D. Taylor
The Bath House
The Grand Opera House
The Pink Turtle
Mr. Stephen Thompson
Mr. Timothy P. Tomaszewski ’18
Ms. Brenda L. Tomme
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Toner
Mr. Nino Toscano
Mr. and Mrs. Brett Townsend
Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Townsend
Mr. Mark Tribuani and Mrs. Alyssa Goleburn
United Way of Central Indiana
United Way of Delaware
Mrs. Joan M. Valentine
Ms. Ginger Vines
Dr. Laura E. Vrana ’03 and Mr. Matthew Howard
W. L. Gore & Associates Matching Gift Program
Ms. Kathleen M. Walsh
Mr. and Mrs. Junyi Wang
Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Warren
Mr. Shuo Wei and Mrs. Yanqing Hu
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Wheat
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Whetzel
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond White
Mr. Ross Whitehead
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Wilson
Ms. Nancy Wissinger
Dr. and Mrs. Gary Witkin
Dr. Katie Woland and Mr. Daniel Woland
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Woodland
Mr. and Mrs. James Wright
Ms. Jasmine Wright
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wyatt
Drs. Jiarun Xiao and Jun Tian
The Patriots’ Patio, generously donated by the Koch family.
Mr. and Mrs. JT Yourinson
Mr. Bob Zhang and Mrs. Gang Liu
Mr. David Ziegler and Mrs. Julianne Adinolfi
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Zinn
Zyng Nail & Spa
A special thanks to the Class of 2025, whose 8th Grade Class Gift provided one picnic table and one park bench, now placed by the tributary.
Class of 2025 Gift
Samuel Ambler
Kathryn S. Axt
Levi W. Barr
George L. Brown V
Edward B. Caterson
Nate Cohen
Rhys Dam
Cecilia R. DePalma
Benjamin Eichenbaum
Sonu Gowda
Mihir Goyal
Henry Grogan
Wesley C. Guerin
Landyn Harra
Benjamin W. Harris
Amelia A. Haydu
Graham D. Hicks
Peyton Hoffner
Shaili R. Hosmane
Caroline S. Jiao
William Koch
Serenna Langenegger
Riyah Lazar
Raphael Lombardi
Mia E. Mangat
Alexis K. McDonald
Claire E. Michels
Eliza C. Nichols
Joseph Nyabiosi
Vincent Nyabiosi
Dylan Ross
Chase Siegel
George F. Spear
Brian Wang
Lauren Wenger
Charles R. Wyant
Declan J. Yourinson
Joseph Zhang
* Deceased
Accuracy is very important to us. If you feel that we have made an omission or error, please contact the Advancement Office at 302-239-0330 ext. 3 or email jgoldston@indyde.org
Event Sponsors
The Independence School would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to the event sponsors during the 2024-2025 school year. Each year, Independence hosts several fundraising events for the entire community, including the Auction & Gala and the Indy 5K and Color Us Kids Run. Based on level selected, sponsorships could include tickets for both events.
If your business or employer would like to be part of Independence’s events, please contact us. Our events provide marketing to a targeted audience, leading potential new customers to you.
Please consider becoming an event sponsor today. Contact Michele Harra via email, mharra@indyde.org, or by phone, 302-239-0330.
Leadership Sponsor
Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists
WSFS Bank
Star Sponsor
Anonymous (1)
Archmere Academy
Evergreen Waste Services, LLC
Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A.
Grey Fox Wealth Advisors
Keen Compressed Gas Co.
Master Seo’s Tiger Kicks Martial Arts
Service Unlimited, Inc.
Young Conaway
Patriot Sponsor
Alpine and Rafetto Orthodontics
Citizens Private Wealth
Dewson Construction Company
Erin N. Macko DDS Family Dental Care
Giordano & Gagne, LLC
Lyons Companies
SB Real Estate, LLC
Turf Pro, Inc.
ViaDel Consulting
Gaming Table Sponsor
Bayfront Engineering
Bessemer Equine, LLC
Cook Family Dentistry, P.A.
Blue Sponsor
Advanced Back & Neck Pain Center
Agreeance, LLC
AssuredPartners
Blake’s Corner Garden, LLC
Brandywine Urology Consultants
Dann Marine Towing
Bianca Fraser-Johnson and Mike Johnson
Herdeg, du Pont & Dalle Pazze LLP
Meadow Springs Farm – Hicks Brothers IV
Morton, Valihura & Zerbato, LLC
Padua Academy
Dr. Meredith Perny, Therapeutic Pain Specialist
Roadhouse Restorations
Sanford School
The Bonadio Group
Tower Hill School
Wilmington Friends School
Ping Xu, Law & Real Estate
Red Sponsor
BCM Wealth Management
Delpa Builders, LLC
Pine Anesthesia Services, LLC
Drs. Elena Rodriguez and Wolfgang Radtke
White Sponsor
Aloysius Butler & Clark
American Dance Academy
MandMarblestone Group
Abby and Craig McCloskey
Sepax Bioscience
Jenny Smith and Rusty Michalak
The Tatnall School
Stay Connected With Indy
Whether you’re near or far, represent Independence with a wide selection of apparel, accessories, and more. With the added convenience of shipping, you can have your favorites delivered right to your door.
Give Back to the School
Visit the online Indy
Gifts to The Fund for Independence directly impact every student in every grade. We invite donors to give to the areas of greatest need at our school, including faculty support, tuition assistance, facilities, and educational experiences and programs. Your participation is important, and every gift, regardless of the amount, is vital to helping us continue to provide and enhance the excellent education for which we are known.
Visit theindependenceschool.org/giving/make-a-gift or scan the QR code.
Class of
2025 Congratulations
8th Grade Awards
The latest Independence graduates are attending an impressive list of secondary schools, setting the stage for their continued success!
Archmere Academy
Saint Mark’s High School
Salesianum School
Sanford School
St. Andrew’s School
The Tatnall School
Tower Hill School
Each year at graduation, a series of awards are presented, each with specific criteria. The following were presented at the 46th Eighth Grade Graduation Ceremony on June 9, 2025:
Board of Trustees’ Award
Ned Caterson & Cecilia DePalma
Outstanding Academic Achievement Award
Rhys Dam & Caroline Jiao
The Helena R. Ashwell Award for World Language Excellence
Shaili Hosmane
The Linda Ellison Stapleford Science Service Award
Vincent Nyabiosi
The Rod Hammett Memorial Award
Amelia Haydu
Graduation Picture: Jennifer Burns, P’30 & ’32
Have a friend or classmate who should be receiving Spirit? Update their contact information here.
AUCTION GALA&
SavetheDate
Saturday, May 2, 2026 6-10 p.m.
Wilmington Country Club