Designated Gifts

Endowed Funds

• The Gordon H. Beckhart Fund

• Gloria G. Bogle Scholarship Fund for Day Students

• The Hoke & Grace Wilkie Brissenden Fund

• The Rebecca Charwat Hispanic American Scholarship Fund

• The Jeffrey Connor Fund

• The Ruth E. Craig Scholarship Fund

• Ann M. Crowley Scholarship Fund

• The John DeBolt Ernst Memorial Scholarship

• The Susan Lare Finke Fund

• Emmet McFadden Hayes and Virginia Wickham Hayes Scholarship

• Charles & Margot Soley Janeway Scholarship Fund

• The Clayton & Marion Jenkins Scholarship Fund

• The Anthony & Ruth Jordan Fund

• Norm Keiser Legacy Fund

• The John Hudson Knapp & Richard Knapp Scholarship Fund

• The Myra Koutzen Fund for the Arts   

• The Libby Moroff Leadership Program

• The Native American Fund

• The Powell Endowment Fund

• Donald Spencer Fund for Oakwood

• The Eric Springer Scholarship Fund

• The John E. Taylor Memorial Fund for Academic Excellence

• The Weekend Enrichment Fund

• The Frederick M. Yergan Scholarship Fund

• General Scholarship

• Model UN Program

• Capital Projects

For more information or to make a contribution to an Endowed (restricted fund) please contact Director of Development and Alumni Affairs, Amy Solis, at +1 (845) 462-4200 ext. 477 or asolis@oakwoodfriends.org to learn more!

The Gordon H. Beckhart Fund 

Established in January 2013 with an inspirational gift from Gordon H. Beckhart, class of 1940, the fund was created to support Oakwood Friends School faculty. Gordon appreciated the influence of his own teachers at Oakwood and had a lifetime commitment to Friends’ education. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $400,094 

Gloria G. Bogle Scholarship Fund for Day Students 

The Bogle family has established the Gloria G. Bogle Scholarship Fund for Day Students in honor of their mother who passed away on December 30, 2019. Gloria was a member of the class of 1943, parent of Barbara Bogle Feingold ’70, Julie Bogle Kratchman ’73, and Bill Bogle, Jr, ’76. She had the pleasure of seeing her grandchildren, Emily Bogle ’07 and Justin Bogle ’11, follow in their footsteps. All were day students. Gloria was also a faculty member at Oakwood for 16 years and knew the school from every angle. She remained an active and generous member of the Oakwood community throughout her life. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $43,844 Carol & William Bogle, Jr. ’76, Emily Bogle ’07, Barbara Bogle Feingold ’70, Julie Bogle Kratchman ’73 

The Hoke & Grace Wilkie Brissenden Fund 

Established in 2013 by Sarah Brissenden Kinlaw and Margaret Brissenden, the fund honors their parents, Hoke and Grace Wilkie Brissenden, class of 1943, and continues their lifetime commitment to Oakwood and Friends’ education. The fund will strengthen Oakwood’s endowment and provide annual income to support Oakwood students. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $163,562 

The Rebecca Charwat Hispanic American Scholarship Fund 

Established in 1995 by Rebecca Charwat ’95 and Martin and Eleanor Charwat, the Rebecca Charwat Hispanic American Scholarship Fund seeks first to provide financial support to a deserving student who comes from a Spanish speaking Latin American country. In the absence of such a candidate, income from the fund may be used for faculty professional development in the areas of Latin American literature and culture or for related educational purposes. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $64,155 

The Jeffrey Connor Fund 

The Jeffrey Connor Fund was established in 1993 in memory of Jeffrey Connor, nephew of longtime friend and benefactor of Oakwood Friends School Ralph Connor, and brother of Linda Connor ’63. The fund was established to support faculty professional growth and development. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $108,478 

The Ruth E. Craig Scholarship Fund 

Established in 1962 with a bequest from Ruth E. Craig, class of 1909, the fund supports students who have demonstrated extraordinary ability and commitment to learning. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $626,407 Jane Rahl Apson ’63 

Ann M. Crowley Scholarship Fund 

In June 2021, board member Patrick Crowley, Class of 1950, established the Ann M. Crowley Scholarship Fund in memory of his wife. The purpose of the Fund is to support rising seniors who would not be able to continue at Oakwood without financial assistance. Preference will be given to female students. Ann Crowley was a devoted member of the Oakwood community, attending reunions and supporting the mission of the school over many years. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $59,836 

The John DeBolt Ernst Memorial Scholarship 

Established in 1979 by Albert E. Ernst in memory of his son John DeBolt Ernst, class of 1954, the purpose of the fund is to provide aid to a returning student who has shown the most overall improvement in citizenship and scholarship during the past year. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $51,475 

The Susan Lare Finke Fund 

Established in 1989 to honor the memory of Susan Lare Finke, class of 1962, the purpose of the fund is to provide financial support to Oakwood’s Counseling Office, specifically in the areas of teenage emotional disorders and suicide prevention. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $21,213 M. Margit Winckler ’62 

Emmet McFadden Hayes and Virginia Wickham Hayes Scholarship 

Established in December 2021 by Virginia Hayes in memory of her husband Emmet Hayes, Oakwood class of 1951, income from this fund will be used to support scholarship assistance to students with financial need. Emmet was a loyal donor and active participant in the life of the school until he passed away in 2015. Ginny recognized the pivotal role that Oakwood played in Emmet’s life, especially following a difficult childhood. Emmet treasured his Oakwood classmates and the nurturing environment that helped unlock his potential and set the stage for a happy and successful life as an adult. Ginny is delighted to help provide the same opportunity to current and future Oakwood students. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $56,708 Virginia Hayes 

Charles and Margot Soley Janeway Scholarship Fund 

In May 2021, Charles and Margot Janeway, both members of the Class of 1955, established the Charles and Margot Soley Janeway Scholarship Fund to provide tuition assistance to students with financial need. Charlie and Margot met as students and describe their Oakwood experience as transformative in their lives. With this scholarship, they hope to offer a similar opportunity to future students at Oakwood. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $53,533 Charles and Margot Soley Janeway ’55 

The Clayton and Marion Jenkins Scholarship Fund 

In 1995, the school became the beneficiary of the estate of Marion S. Jenkins, a member of the Clintondale Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. In accordance to the provisions of her Will, income will be used for scholarship with preference to a deserving student from Clintondale Meeting. In the absence of such a candidate, income will be directed to another deserving Friend. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $85,811 

The Anthony and Ruth Jordan Fund 

This fund was established by Lydia Micheaux Marshall, class of 1967, in honor of her grandparents. The fund supports financial aid for African American students at Oakwood Friends. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $77,070 Anne Micheaux Akwar

Norm Keiser Legacy Fund

In the fall of 2020, a group of friends from the Class of 1967 started a conversation about honoring their former teacher, Norm Keiser, who played a pivotal role in their education at Oakwood and helped activate their social consciousness as students. By spring 2021, they decided to establish the Norm Keiser Legacy Fund to further the education of Oakwood students and the community in an historical and current understanding of Civil Rights in the United States. The purpose is to extend Norm Keiser’s vision and work towards social justice through special programming and faculty- student initiatives. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $78,253

John Anderson ’67, Lee Blask ’67, Walter Effron ’65, Christine Herrick ’67, Bob Hidell III, Nancy Leopitzi-Wawrla ’67, Jeffrey Mandel ’67, Lydia Micheaux Marshall ’67, Richard Powell ’68, Bonnie Raitt ’67, Barry Smith ’67, Carl Tannenbaum ’67, Janet Tenney ’67, F. Dewey Webster ’61, Gail Wild ’69

The John Hudson Knapp & Richard Knapp Scholarship Fund

In 2000, the school became the beneficiary of the estate of John Hudson Knapp, class of 1953. In accordance with the provisions of his Will, Oakwood established the John Hudson Knapp Scholarship Fund to provide for students with financial need. In 2019, John’s brother Richard passed away and left a bequest to be added to this scholarship fund. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $535,775

The Myra Koutzen Fund for the Arts

Established in March 2022 by Kathleen McGahran in honor of her wife, Myra Koutzen, Oakwood class of 1970, income from this fund will be used to enhance students’ experience and exposure to the arts. A life-long enthusiast for the performing arts, Myra was an early participant in the school’s Lighting the Way campaign with its focus on upgrading the school’s arts facilities and the renovation of its historic theater. The fund is a tribute to Myra’s dedication to Oakwood, her passion for theater and performance arts, and her deep care for the quality of our students’ education. Myra served on the Oakwood Board of Managers for 20 years, bringing her energy, keen intellect, and professional expertise to every area of school life. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $83,432 Kathleen McGahran

The Libby Moroff Leadership Program

The Libby Moroff Leadership Program was initiated through a grant from the Phyllis and Howard Schwartz Philanthropic Fund and generous gifts from family and friends in 2016. The endowed program will create a permanent tribute to the life and work of Libby Moroff ’54, former Board President and devoted friend of Oakwood. Libby was an exemplar of good leadership in

her volunteer work at Oakwood and devoted her adult life to furthering the principles of social justice and equality for all. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $110,759 Margaret Moroff

The Native American Fund

This Fund was established in 2017 by Jonathan Flaccus ’58 who was inspired by Oakwood’s celebration of Lakota Culture and the activism of Shai BlackBird ’18 from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. A leadership donor to Oakwood over many years, Jonathan demonstrated his life-long interest and concern for the rights of indigenous people with this new initiative. The purpose of the Fund is to support Native American students at Oakwood and

to strengthen our community’s understanding of Native American culture and heritage. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $71,540 Jane Shapiro ’70

The Powell Endowment Fund

Established in 2010, The Powell Endowment Fund was started with an inspirational gift from Richard M. Powell, class of 1968. The purpose of the fund is to strengthen Oakwood’s financial position for the future while providing a new source of income for the operating budget today.

The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $642,301 Chad Cianfrani, Richard Powell ’68

The Donald Spencer Fund for Oakwood

Established in April 2023, the Donald Spencer Fund for Oakwood was initiated with an exceptional gift from former Board President, Donald Spencer, father of Alyssa Spencer ‘13. The purpose of the fund is to support any purpose deemed to be of benefit to Oakwood at the sole discretion of the Trustees. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $1,768,261

The Eric Springer Scholarship Fund

Established in 2014 with a grant from the Falk Foundation of Pittsburgh, the fund honors Eric Springer, class of 1946, a distinguished alumnus with an exceptional record of supporting education and service to the community. Income from the fund will be used to help provide scholarship to students with financial need. The value of the fund on 6/30/24 was $105,730 Thomas Renouf ’48

The John E. Taylor Memorial Fund for Academic Excellence

Established in 1993 by Emily Lane Taylor, class of 1923, in memory of her husband John E. Taylor, income from the fund may be used as needs of the school are perceived by the head of school. John E. Taylor was a member of the Board and served as Oakwood’s Chief Financial Officer. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $51,740 J. Arthur Taylor ’50

The Weekend Enrichment Fund

This fund was established during the 1999-2000 academic year by an anonymous donor from the class of 1979. The purpose of the fund is to support programs and activities directly related to weekend life at Oakwood Friends. The fund supports opportunities for cultural and personal enrichment both on and off the campus which stimulates students’ imagination, spirits and

connections to the larger world. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $62,685

The Frederick M. Yergan Scholarship Fund

In the spring of 2016, Oakwood Friends School became the beneficiary of the estate of Frederick M. Yergan ’38 who died in January. Fred demonstrated his caring nature and devotion to Oakwood throughout his life as a leadership donor to the Annual Fund and a participant in regional alumni gatherings. He chose to extend his philanthropy into the future by including Oakwood in his estate plans. In discussion with his family, the School established The Frederick M. Yergan Scholarship Fund to continue Fred’s legacy of supporting Oakwood Friends School students with financial need. The value of the fund as of 6/30/24 was $114,613

General Scholarship

Rita Muckenhoupt James ’52

New York Yearly Meeting

Estate of Janet Stone ’46

Model UN Program

Joel Erlitz ’68

Perri Erlitz ’05

Capital Projects

Linda Laqueur