Dear Friends,

     Welcome to this year’s Annual Report of Gifts to Friends Seminary. Reflecting on our accomplishments, I am struck by how deeply our community has strengthened its sense of connection. Together, we have advanced our shared mission across every corner of the School, guided by the enduring vision of a Friends education.

     Your generous support of the Fund for Friends has been essential to our work. The Fund for Friends is central to the financial well-being of our school, helping to bridge the gap between tuition and the true cost of a Friends Seminary education. Thanks to the contributions of 883 donors—including parents, grandparents, trustees, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, and staff—we raised $2,561,734.

     Alongside the Fund for Friends, our Endowment—valued at $44.9 million at the close of the 23-24 fiscal year—serves as a cornerstone of enduring support and impact. Notable achievements include the growth of the Judith Anderson ’66 and Jane Suntken Fund for Financial Aid and the Larry Carter Legacy Fund, which continue to provide essential funding to the School’s robust financial aid program. The Class of 2024 contributed significantly through the Senior Class Gift, creating the Class of 2024 Endowment for Extracurricular Activities with an extraordinary 96% participation rate and $239,411 raised. This generosity, and the generosity exhibited from donors to all 100 endowed funds, will directly support opportunities in the arts, athletics, curricular development, and financial aid, enriching student life for generations to come.

     This year we expanded our commitment to STEM and the performing arts. Thanks to careful planning and shared vision, we completed a major transformation of the Annex in just 16 weeks—far ahead of schedule—to open for the start of the school year. The renovated Annex now houses new physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science labs; additional math classrooms; collaborative workspace for faculty; and a vibrant performing arts space. 

     Thank you to our entire community—our Board of Trustees, parents, alumni, faculty, and staff—for supporting Friends Seminary’s mission and values. Special thanks to the Parents Association, and the volunteers from the Alumni Council, Benefit Auction Committee, Contemporary Art Committee, Fund for Friends Committee, and Lunar New Year Committee for their tireless efforts and leadership. It is through your generosity, volunteerism, and commitment that Friends Seminary continues to be a place of transformative learning and connection.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Robert “Bo” Lauder
Head of School