Giving

Endowments

Endowing a Fund

You may choose to endow a named fund while safeguarding the school’s financial health. 
 
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT

Named Student Assistance Endowment: $1,000,000
This fund endows the average of one tuition for one student in perpetuity.

Named Student Assistance Fund: $100,000
This fund endows all the extra costs beyond tuition to educate an Oakwood student in perpetuity.

PROGRAM SUPPORT

Named opportunities exist to endow academic departments or programs such as: DEIB, Athletics + Physical Education, STEAM, Visual Arts or Performing Arts, each of which is valued at $100,000 or more.

Named Fund to Support a Specific Department: $100,000

This fund endows costs related to running a specific department of the school.
To learn more about endowing a fund at Oakwood School, please email Nancy Leptuch Virrey, Director of Advancement or by phone at 818.732.3174.

Oakwood's Endowment Funds

List of 16 items.

  • Anita and Stanley Hirsh Minority Scholarship Fund

    Anita and Stanley Hirsh established this fund in 1978 to provide financial assistance for students from under-served populations.
  • Arpita and Brian Diamond Sustainability Fund

    Arpita and Brian Diamond established this endowment in 2021 to provide funds in support of sustainability initiatives at Oakwood School.
  • The Charles & Emilie Haas Fund

    Created in 1999 by the Board of Trustees to honor founding parents, Charles and Emilie Haas, this fund provides general operating support.
  • David Pianko ’95 Memorial Scholarship Fund

    Ira & Robin Pianko established this fund in 1996 in memory of their son David. This fund provides financial assistance for qualified students.
  • Gregg Wasserman Memorial Scholarship Fund

    This fund was created in 1980 in memory of Gregg Wasserman and provides financial assistance for qualified students.
  • Howard Kremen ’73 Memorial Fund, A Dance Endowment

    This fund, established by the late Sam and Anita Kremen, in honor of their son Howard, supports the Dance Department.
  • James Alan Astman Endowment for Teaching & Learning

    The fund has been established to honor Oakwood's revered Headmaster of 40 years and to sustain Jim's influence on his colleagues' professional growth and development.
  • Jessica Ryan Endowment for Education

    Created in 2022 by Sandy & Cheyney EC ’59 to preserve and promote Oakwood’s philosophy and model of progressive education that emphasizes hands-on learning, creativity, human rights, and peace in the spirit of founder Jessica Ryan.
  • Lily Burk Fund

    Established in 2009 by Deborah Drooz and Gregory Burk in memory of their daughter, Lily, this fund provides general operating support.
  • The Margo Long Fund for Financial Assistance

    Contributions to this endowment fund help to ensure the socioeconomic diversity of our school population.
  • Melody Joy Finnestad '82 Memorial Scholarship Endowment

    Charity Finnestad and Robert Kondrk established this endowment in 2018 to provide financial assistance to qualified students at Oakwood.
  • Michael Bancroft Goth ’83 Scholarship Fund

    This endowment, established by the late Bettina Bancroft in memory of her son, provides income for financial assistance programs.
  • O.N.E. Oakwood New Students Endowment

    Established by the Oakwood Alumni Association in 2010, this endowment provides financial assistance to new secondary school students, which will help ensure the socio-economic diversity of the school.
  • The Phyllis L. Gottlieb Endowment for the Arts

    The Phyllis L. Gottlieb Endowment for the Arts supports Oakwood’s visual and performing arts departments. The Board of Trustees established this fund* in Phyllis’ memory and in appreciation of her four decades of loving devotion to the school. As an Oakwood trustee, parent, and grandparent, Phyllis championed the visual and performing arts. Her countless visionary contributions to our campuses will benefit students for generations to come. 

    *The Oakwood Arts Endowment Fund was created in 1985. In January 2022, the Board renamed it to honor Phyllis Gottlieb’s leadership and devotion.
  • Rafelson Scholarship Fund

    In order to support minority students, this endowment was created in 1974 in memory of Julie Rafelson, 1964-1973.
  • Scholarship Endowment Fund

    Augments the school’s financial assistance budget and helps to ensure the socioeconomic diversity of our school population.