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Giving Back: Dick Hoffman 

I had the joyous pleasure of attending our 50th reunion.

 

It had been 45 years since I last attended a reunion, so it provided me with an opportunity to reconnect with my schoolmate family, rekindle friendships, and even heal prior hurts.

 

 

Over the past 50 years since my class graduated from Friends Select School, I have been what might be generously described as a “sporadic” donor.


However, recently, I had the joyous pleasure of attending our 50th reunion. It had been 45 years since I last attended a reunion, so it provided me with an opportunity to reconnect with my schoolmate family, rekindle friendships, and even heal prior hurts. One of my sons told me that I should consider the event quite monumental because after this life nothing can be guaranteed. Indeed, one of our classmates passed away just months before the reunion, and while the reunion occurred, we anxiously waited for news of another classmate who was going through a serious health crisis. So, the reunion has given me an important opportunity to reflect.  
   
I began at Friends Select in the old school building, left in the new school building, and then recently returned for Alumni Weekend to tour the totally new STEAM Building. I observed the physical changes at the school, but more importantly, through my numerous conversations with Michael Gary, Christine Jefferson, and current teachers, I felt inspired by the positive social and academic changes and confident in their vision and leadership for a vibrant future. In deciding where to donate money among the numerous and various academic institutions that have been a part of our family’s life, an overriding factor has been where it can make the most impact and difference. We’ve now concluded that making a legacy gift to Friends Select—with its surprisingly small endowment but with its lofty goals and dedicated, inspiring leadership—is the best match of need and impact. We have also decided that committing funds to the Named Scholarship Program that directly impacts the life of one current student offers the potential of producing a “gratitude” graduate, who I hope will not need 50 years to ponder the gift of giving back.  
 

 

 


 

Sat, 30 Nov 2024

Michael Gary Speaks: Fall 2024

By working together, we can provide future generations with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Wed, 20 Nov 2024

Integrating Green Spaces into Our Educational Curriculum

Philadelphia’s diverse green spaces are thoughtfully woven into programming at Friends Select School, providing students with hands-on learning experiences that leverage the natural environment for educational enrichment.

Tue, 19 Nov 2024

Making Major Strides as We Advance Friends Select

As the school looks to a future that includes continued increases in enrollment and
plans for a monumental transformation of the Parkway Building’s back lot, updates to Advance Friends Select ensure the school remains at the forefront of educational and institutional excellence.

Tue, 19 Nov 2024

Above Board: Lessons in Stewardship

With the feedback and support of the Sustainability committee and the administration, Friends Select's board of trustees enthusiastically and wholeheartedly approved the addition of Environmental Sustainability as the fifth pillar to Advance Friends Select this year. 

Mon, 18 Nov 2024

FSS Community Pantry: Serving Our Neighbors in the City

Friends Select School marked a significant milestone this year with the official launch of the FSS Community Pantry during the Family Association’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event.

Mon, 18 Nov 2024

Creating a Gender and Sexuality Curriculum for Lower School

An innovative lower school program is creating a foundation for understanding gender and sexuality for Friends Select’s youngest learners.  

Sun, 17 Nov 2024

Caring for Our Community: In Conversation with Recently Hired Employees

In the past four years, Friends Select has welcomed many remarkable employees who embody the school’s commitment to excellence in teaching and learning and dedication to its students and alumni. 

Sat, 16 Nov 2024

Long-standing PMA Partnership Empowers Students to Study Art More Deeply

A nearly three-decade-long partnership between Friends Select School and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) fosters a unique educational experience for ninth-grade students.

Fri, 15 Nov 2024

Deepening the Alumni Experience: Q&A with Martha & Ben

Earlier this year, Martha Eisenberg ’85, P’22, ’24 and Ben Behrend ’12 became co-presidents of Friends Select’s Alumni Association. 

Thu, 14 Nov 2024

Giving Back: The Squires Family

When Fred and Stephanie Squires P’22 enrolled their daughters, Amelia and Madeline, in Friends Select School for kindergarten, they started a thoughtful tradition that was rooted in their family’s values.

 

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