Donor Stories

Report on Philanthropy

This Report on Philanthropy chronicles the remarkable support that you have provided to the School during an extraordinary year.

Advancing Friends

The philanthropy newsletter, featuring members of our community who are energizing the School’s comprehensive campaign through their giving and volunteerism.

Recent Donor Stories

Sprint for the Future

Thanks to the tremendous outreach efforts of volunteers, faculty,
administrators, and staff, the journey of the Together We Shine campaign has been remarkable.

Read More about Sprint for the Future
For Decades of Service, We Welcome Helen Austern Colson ’53, P ’82, ’84, ’87 as Honorary Leader of Together We Shine

This year marks the 80th that she has been a member of the school community, and the depth and breadth of the roles she has played are unparalleled: student, alumna, volunteer, trustee, parent, senior administrator, campaign consultant, and even acting head of school. 

Read More about For Decades of Service, We Welcome Helen Austern Colson ’53, P ’82, ’84, ’87 as Honorary Leader of Together We Shine
Volunteers Lighting the Way

As we near the campaign’s finish line, we could never have reached our current success without the tireless support of more than 100 active volunteers.

Read More about Volunteers Lighting the Way

Why We Give

MONIQUE MCCLOUD-MANLEY AND KWAME MANLEY P’24 ’28

"Giving to the School was an easy decision for us: We wanted to have a lasting impact on this community, and we want more families, regardless of resources, to have opportunities to enjoy the Sidwell Friends experience. We are most excited about the School’s commitment to equity, justice, and inclusion. Sidwell Friends has been so thoughtful in the way it implements its values and vision. Funding the African and African American Studies Program allows current and future students to benefit from robust critical thinking and exploration. Given the racial history and current dynamics in our country, this program is vital for our children’s development."

BENJAMIN SILVERMAN ’02

"I want to give back to Sidwell Friends because Sidwell Friends gave so much to me. My values, goals, life choices, and countless other defining
characteristics of who I am today have been influenced by my time at the School. I hope my gifts accomplish two goals: supporting teachers and making the School as affordable as
possible. When alums step up, our giving helps ensure that Sidwell Friends attracts and retains the best educators and provides financial aid to students who need it. It is the combination of those two groups—passionate, engaging teachers and driven, caring students—that makes Sidwell Friends so special, and alumni get to make sure both groups have the financial support they deserve."

GAUTAM PRAKASH ’87

"I’ve been privileged to have had multiple relationships with Sidwell Friends—first as a student and then as a parent, donor, and trustee. I’ve been able to see the School from different perspectives over the past four decades, and perhaps what amazes me most is how the mission of the School has remained so consistent over those years. My wife, Anjali, and I feel fortunate to be able to support this mission, particularly through financial aid as the tuition level across all independent schools has grown significantly in the four decades since I was a student at Sidwell Friends. A values-based education is more important now than ever as we live in an increasingly polarized world, and I have full confidence that Sidwell Friends will continue to educate students to have the confidence and the credibility to speak truth to power; to shine a light on the wrong, the unfair, the uncomfortable; and to build a better and more inclusive world for us all."

KAI GANDY PARKER ’98

"As a Sidwell Friends student, I was surrounded by excellence: the best athletes, the best lunches, the best go-gos, and the best facilities. Most importantly, the best friends (like Chery Weaver, Natalie Randolph, Kenzo Hakuta, Kush El-Amin, and Jason Jeffery, who scooped me up with love,
showed me the ropes, and made me believe I was home) and the best teachers (like Rickey Payton, who helped me find my voice and gave me space to explore it).

What I found in Sidwell Friends was a world in which I could explore the deepest parts of my soul. It gave me the space to open my heart and truly know that I could think outside the box and create my own reality. Sidwell Friends made me. I could not be the physician, entrepreneur, and quirky, tree-hugging human I am today without it.

I want Sidwell Friends to continue in perpetuity and the way that happens is with proper funding to support strong financial aid efforts, salaries worthy of the committed teachers and administrators who receive them, and beautiful, modern, state-of-the-art building expansions. I am grateful to be in a position to share what I have to make sure Sidwell Friends thrives forever."

MARY BRYAN ’10

"I give to Sidwell Friends because I want more
students to be able to access the opportunities that the School provides. I feel so lucky to be a part of this community, and it’s a great way to stay in touch with my classmates. Sidwell Friends shaped and made me aware of the lens through which I view the world and gave me empathy for the lenses of others. It’s also where I met my now-fiancé and my very closest friends to this day."

Contact

Amanda Meter
Senior Director of Individual Giving
metera@sidwell.edu

Isabel Troncoso
Principal Gift Officer
troncosoi@sidwell.edu