ANONYMOUS SCOTT & NATALIE BERNECKER KV & JENA LACKS

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East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation & Alumni Association Annual Report 2019-2020

ANONYMOUS

SCOTT & NATALIE BERNECKER

KV & JENA LACKS

JOE & KATY LEVANThank You to our 2019-2020 Sponsors

You can only have one: Rose’s caramel corn, an ice cream cone from Jersey Junction, or a Yesterdog. Which do you choose? Let’s go with Yesterdog with a Rose’s caramel corn chaser. But I love all three of the traditions and with the proliferation of chains, it’s great that each is local and has endured.

What was your path from East Grand Rapids to where you are now in life?My law practice in Washington DC is representing politicians, as well as corporations and individuals that engage in the political process. Growing up in EGR gave me unique political opportunities, starting with my going as a 4 year old (I don’t remember, but have a picture to prove it) to see President Ford vote in his hometown precinct, and later, while in high school volunteering on Congressman Paul Henry’s campaign (with hisdaughter as one of my debate partners). I also volunteered on Ronna Romney’s US Senate campaign when I was in college and have fond memories of her campaigning in Gaslight Village. At a more fundamental level regarding “path in life,” however, I believe that the reason so many East grads go on to lead interesting and successful careers is because the community as a whole values education and has high expectations.What specific thing did you learn in East that has enabled you to be successful?This one is easy. I spent most of my high school time focused on debating, and while I had some great partners (Stokes Young and Maggie Bergin) that helped lead the team to then record success, the driving force of the team was Coach Becky Knack. I’m confident that Mrs. Knack’s willingness to invest time and resources in the team was underappreciated at the time, but I now know

East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation & Alumni Association 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT2

VIRTUAL CUPOF COFFEE Charlie Spies ’91Charlie Spies, now a Member at Dickinson Wright PLLC in Washington DC, provides political law counsel to national politicalorganizations and campaigns, having served as election law counsel to the Republican National Committee, then CFO and Counsel for Mitt Romney’s 2008 campaign for president. He co-founded Restore Our Future, the largest conservative super PAC in history, and then Right to Rise USA (supporting Jeb Bush) in the 2016 election cycle. He frequently speaks on political and election law issues on Fox News, CNN, Fox Business Network and other national television and radio. He’s a graduate of the University of Michigan and Georgetown University Law Center, and has been married to his wife Lisa for almost sixteen years.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known then?For many families it’s a sacrifice to pay higher taxes to live in East, and parents are willing to do that because of the quality of the schools and community.

Do you stay in touch with many people from East Grand Rapids?I still have family in town and two nieces are now at the high school, which has made me start following high school sports again.

What advice do you have for young East alums who are just starting out? You have the benefit of families and a community that expects excellence and is able to provide the tools to succeed. Everyone will have challenges and high expectations can seem like a burden at the time, and personal and professional success will be defined in your own way, but at some point you will look back and know how blessed you were to go to EGR.

Who else would you like us to have a virtual cup of coffee with?From my class: Adam Herz, Jeff MacKeigan and Bruce Conely (to talk about his military service).Bonus question: What are you glad we didn’t ask you about? My win/loss record playing tennis…or whether I could swim faster than my sisters!

Want to read more? Visit egrsf.org/coffee.

For more infomation visit us online at egrsf.org 3

Try as we might, I don’t think anyone in education knows the answer to that question.

Ten years ago, as our school district was struggling to save vital programs from being cut because of budget shortfalls, I don’t know if anyone would have predicted the astonishing, groundbreaking enhancements we’ve seen in our schools over the last few years.

Not only were we able to preserve elementary Physical Education, Art, and Music, early literacy education, and the K-12 World Language Program, but we have also seeded new offerings including the Middle School Innovation Lab, the Gone Boarding class at the high school, our championship Robotics teams, the Science Olympiad program, and Lego League teams in our elementary schools.

At the same time, we’ve been able to introduce “old school” enhancements such as high-interest, multi-genre classroom libraries in all our schools and the March Madness Book Project in our elementary schools. Together, these programs are putting tens of thousands of books into the hands of our students, helping our children become lifelong readers and learners.

Truly, none of this would have been possible without the generosity of our community, and our shared commitment to the power of public education. All of those programs and enhancements were preserved, seeded, or supported thanks to donations to the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation.

Think about that. Even while East Grand Rapids was forced to make cuts, we were fund-ing innovative new programs. While other districts were closing schools, we were opening up new opportunities for our children. All thanks to you.

So where do we go from here? Again, no one knows for sure. There will be tough times and challenges ahead. There always are. But thanks to foresight, careful planning, and the Foundation’s Now&Forever campaign, with your help our schools will be ready to meet those challenges. Together, we’re investing in our students, because the future belongs to Pioneers.

Amy StuursmaExecutive DirectorEast Grand Rapids Schools Foundation

EXCECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

What’s Next?

EGRSF FOUNDATIONBoard of DirectorsJill Miller | President

Brian Schwartz | Vice PresidentDavid Hojnacki | Treasurer

Beth Skaggs | SecretaryNick AdamyTom Blower

Jennifer BruceXiangyu Chen ‘21

Stephanie DoublesteinDavid HallJoel IakiriSara Irwin

Rob KowalewskiRaenah Lindsey ‘20

Melissa MarshJenny McMahon

Megan MillerTrish ReidKelli SmithMeg Zerfas

Ex-officioDr. Heidi Kattula

EGRPS Superintendent

Brad LaackmanEGRPS School Board Member

StaffAmy Stuursma

Executive Director

Maria AllenAlumni Relations Coordinator

Rosanne MackAccountant

Carole McDonaldOffice Manager

Jay ForstnerCommunications Director

that what she taught with debate was the building blocks for both life and career success. The most important skill for debating is learning and under-standing both sides of issues so you can effectively advocate on either side. Now, almost 30 years after my high school, we live in a hyper-polarized world where people choose their news sources to affirm existing beliefs and rarely hear, much less learn, other sides of issues. It would be nice to have Mrs. Knack force Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow to argue the opposite positions also!

What were you like in school?Probably exactly what you would expect for someone who excelled on the debate team...

Did you have a favorite teacher or class? It’s tempting just to crib off my classmate Katie Michell’s answers to this question [Mr. Frazier and Mr. Letherby in middle school, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Froysland, and Mrs. Mitchell in high school] because we had many of the same classes and I appreciate the middle and high school teachers that she listed. I would also add Mr. Sink, who went above and beyond helping me with math and again Mrs. Knack with debate.

If you had to choose one moment in one location to serve as the signature moment of your East school experience, what would it be? Because I was so focused on debate it would have to have been the Harvard tournament. We were the first EGR team ever invited to the exclusive Harvard Round Robin...and bombed there. I still recall one of the other coaches snarking about how EGR shouldn’t have been invited, so it was a great sense of vindication when we then recovered and made the finals of the full Harvard tournament.

AnonymousJoe Aardema & Mary LucasMatt & Michelle AbrahamRay ‘71 & Kristin AbrahamAndrea AdamsNick & Shellie AdamyBrian ‘97 & Sarah ‘97 AdloffAshley Agerson ‘97 & Julia BeckerMatt & Alyssa AlbersThe Alguire FamilyMatthew Allard, ‘90Joel Allchin &Deanna Hoopingarner-AllchinBrett & Carlye AllenJaret Allen, ‘16Kyra Allen, ‘19Marty & Sue ‘56 AllenMike Allen, ‘84Steve ‘86 & Maria AllenTerri Burg Amann, ‘71Bryan & Molly AndersonChris & Leslie AndersonJerry & Betsy ‘76 AndersonKelsey AndersonSam & Joy AndersonBrad & Jen ‘00 AndrzejewskiJohn D. ArendshorstShannon & Erica ArmstrongScott & Elizabeth ArnoldGreg & Kristi ArtzPhilippe Assaf & Coeli FitzpatrickMike & MariBeth AvendtJeff & Anita AveryJack & Lauren Aylsworth

Chris & Emily BackusWade Bagnall & Elizabeth Fausone

Todd & Carman BainesDave & Katie Baker

Patrick & Sarah BakerStephen Baker & Lucy Shair

The Balon FamilyJohn ‘75 & Kathy

Jameson ‘78 BarbourChris & Kim Bardeggia

J. Spencer BarnesMemorial Foundation

Max ‘90 & Becky BarnesTony ‘87 & Gwen ‘87 Barnes

David ‘60 & Sibley ‘62 BarrettSam & Ben Basham

Jason Batts & Tami SytsmaNancy Batts

Holden BaudoBill ‘67 & Diane Baxter

Ryan & Sarah BeachJeremy Beard, ‘93

Kelly & Nicole BedoreChris & Emily Beggs

Andrew ‘92 & Jennifer BehlerBill & Amber Behrendt

Steve Belkin, ‘65Michael & Stacey Bell

Pat & Marcia BellGeorge & Charity Bennett

Christian & Susanne BentleyMargaret S. Benton, ‘72

Jeffrey Bergers, ‘73John & Pat Bergstrom

Bill ‘90 & Jenny ‘91 BergstromDavid Berles, ‘55—In honor of Mary Kay Berles, ‘57Mark ‘87 & Shelly BerneckerBob & Val BerneckerScott & Natalie Bernecker, ‘89Matt & Erin ‘91 BertkeJohn R. Bertsch, ‘61Beusse & Porter Family FoundationRoger & Marcia BeutnerGail BirdEmily BishopJason & Amy BishopKurt & Michele BishopMichael & Amy BishopThe Bissell FamilyJim ‘75 & Sharon BlackburnMartin & Catherine BlagdurnJonathan & Amy BlairChristopher & Analisa BlakleyChris & Laurie BlanchardCarla D. Blandford, ‘58Charles & Patricia BloomDan & Tarah BockheimLorraine BoerJohn & Lindy BollingBrett & Kim BoltThe Bombery FamilyMeredith Bonner, ‘08Bill Boorstein—In memory of Donna BoorsteinJoe & Kristen BorakStefano & Kari BordoliMatthew & Jennifer Borgula

4 East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation & Alumni Association 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT

2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | EGR Schools Foundation Endowment Fund Supporters

Tim & Kathy BornDrs. James & Joan Borst

Tom & Alexis BoydenMichael & Jennifer Boyle

Bill & Allison BradenShannon Brady

Mark & Amy BraggTodd & Bonnie Brandstadt

Benjamin & Adrianne BraunCaroline Breault-Cannon

Mike & Bethany BregenzerJustin Brenneman, ‘02

Scott & Emily BrewRick & Pat Brewer

Brett Brinker & Heather Slay ‘89Steve & Winnie Brinks

The Brouwers Agency, LLCCarl & Betsy BrownDan & Lynne Brown

Spencer & Noelle BrownDennis & Jennifer Bruce

James & Kathleen BruinsmaScott Brundage

Patrik & Lena BrundinJackie Burdick

Elle BurgessJohn & Bonnie Burke

Brandon & Elizabeth BurnetteJim & Mel Burns

Kevin & Julie BurnsSue Burns— In memory of

William J. Lee, ‘56Dirk ‘63 & Lisa ‘76 Buth

The Butler Family

The East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation’s Donor Roll Call recognizes those individuals, businesses and organizations that have supported the Foundation from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. This list also includes all supporters who made a pledge to our Now&Forever campaign through December 31, 2019. The Foundation’s Board of Directors gratefully acknowledges all who have generously supported our mission through their gifts. We also thank individuals who have secured matching gifts from their employers, as well as the employers who have supported their employees’ generosity through matching gifts. This list reflects all outright gifts and does not include participants in Foundation-sponsored events such as Sip & Support or golf outings.

THANK YOU


David & Carol Distel— In honor ofAlec ‘15, Justine ‘16 & Caroline ‘21 DistelMarty Ditkof, ‘75Brad ‘88 & Kim ‘89 DitmarKristine DiVitaChris & Sommer DockeryCindy Oosting Dodge, ‘80Alice Dodgson ‘55— In honor of the Michael Dodgson FamilyDennis & Amy DonohueJason & Stephanie DoublesteinRick & Traci ‘88 DouglasJim & Kelly DoyleAndrea DudleyRobert & Linda ‘65 DudleyNadav & Karen DujovnyEric & Lindsay DumaisTed & Claudine DuncanChad & Sara DupinChad & Gretchen DutcherMichael Dykstra & Margaret BaderRobert & Kathleen Yukon ‘70 EagerThe Eardley FamilyEGR Class of 2008EGR Class of 2018Gary & Suzanne EberleJohn & Steph EckleyJohn ‘69 & Louise ‘69 EdisonJohn & Penny ‘52 EdisonMaggie Edison, ‘08Patricia H. Edison, ‘45The Edleman FamilyKendra EdwardsAndrea EggertNnaemeka & Ngozi EgwuataMary ElderkinKelly Eldred & Pam StanleySue Spicer Elliott, ‘65Brian ‘78 & JoAnn EllisConstance Ellis

Frances Ellis— In honor ofKatherine Miller, ‘05

Michael ‘80 & Lynette EllisSusan Ellis

Jim & Harriet EngbersThe Enriquez Family

Kirk ‘85 & Kirsten EssenmacherMatt & Emily Eugster

Bruce ‘56 & Peggy Osier ‘56 Fairbanks

Hank ‘63 & Marcia FairchildKailey Faris

Tom & Kathryn FaturosDino & Katie Favale

Daniel Fechtner & Mei MahEzra FechtnerMax Fechtner

Domenic & Dee FedericoMichael & Jenny ‘87 Fee

Matt Feyen & Nicole HaglundDavid & Elizabeth Filkins

Jason & Emily FillJarett & Jessica Fitnich

Jeff & Katie ‘97 FlermoenOmar & Elizabeth Flores

Jens Forsberg & Martha EscobarBen Forstner, ‘18

Jay & Julie ForstnerSam Forstner, ‘14

Dan & Joanne FowlerTom & Mickie ‘46 Fox

Lynn & Alice FrancisSara Frank

Ashley FrayerCharles & Julie Frayer

The Fredrickson FamilyWilliam French ‘86 &

Jennifer DawsonCampbell ‘01 & Alice Frey

David & Judy Frey

Molly BuxtonMike ‘89 & Lisa ByamCharles & Lucy CaldwellBrian & Ann CallahanBrian & Sarah CalnanChris & Lisa CamffermanCarol Campbell, ‘81 David ‘86 & Britt CampbellMarie CanepaTom & Sarah CannonLaura Caprara, ‘85 Cathryn Butler Carmichael ‘75—In memory of Claudia Azkoul Walters, ‘75David & Jodi CaryChad & Cherrah CasserlyChris & Rona CaswellMatt & Sarah CavanaughDaniel & Michelle CaveraDavid & Angela ChandlerChris & Beth ChappusTodd & Amanda ChasseeRebecca ChavezNia ChenRoger & Sue ‘65 ChittendenJeff & Tamara ChristiansJason & Elizabeth ‘95 ChristophersonYiJia ChuKestutis & Ingrid CivinskasAdam & Kim ClarkLandon & Marissa ClarkJennifer Clary, ‘88Mike & Jodi ClayHarry & Michele CoffillBrian & Jennifer ColesThe Collins FamilyBarbara ConeTrina ConnellyPat ‘91 & Nancy ConnorCarolyn ConnorsPhil Conrad & JJ Loew

Andrew Conway ‘93—In memory of Terry ‘64 &

Julie ‘89 ConwayDan ‘58 & Linda Conway

Jeff ‘94 & Sarah ‘94 ConwayDave ‘57 & Nancy Cook

Thomas CookAndrew & Rachael Cooley

Joe ‘82 & Amy CorettiMeagan Cornett-WrightPatrick & Jade Coulston

Scott & Kim CountsDave & Dori Couvreur

Ryan & Amber CoxBrian & Jordan Craig

Greg ‘99 & Kim CraneCrescent Floral & Gifts

Michael & Mary Ann CreteRick & Pam ‘88 Cross

Scott CusterTodd & Kortne Custer

Custer, Inc.Erik Daly ‘00 & Jessica Bloom ‘00

Dustin & Jill DanielsBill & Margie Darooge

Brad ‘93 & Amy DaroogeGeorge ‘72 & Barbara Huhn ‘72 Davis

Collin & Nicole DawesDevin & Michelle ‘97 Day

Joe & Angie DayJeff & Jill Dean

Scott & Heather DeKorteRich & Liz ‘98 Della Croce

John & Mary DerschRob & Allison DeVilbiss

Mark & Lisa DeVriesSeth & Kate DeVries

Nikolas & Karen DickeJim & Steph Diepstra

Rebecca M. Dietz

LAST FALL, after more than two years of planning, organizing, and hard work, the final donations came in to push the cash portion of the Now&Forever campaign across the finish line. Together, our community met its goal and raised more than $6.4 million through Now&Forever. This bold, innovative effort creates a sustainable source of funding for our schools. More than 900 families, including more than 130 EGRPS staff members, contributed.

“Nothing on the scale of Now&Forever has ever been attempted by a public school district in Michigan,” says Foundation Executive Director, Amy Stuursma. “Raising more than six million dollars in cash pledges was an ambitious goal, but we are very fortunate to live in a city that understands the value of public education. This is a remarkable, community-wide success that will support our students and our schools now and for generations to come.”

Along with $2 million to be raised through planned giving, the funds raised will build the Foundation’s endowment to $12 million. When that number is reached, the growth and investment earnings will generate approximately $600,000 each year to benefit our students and our schools without reducing the principal amount. That means that over the course of students’ thirteen years in East schools— from kindergarten through high school graduation— the Foundation will contribute $7.8 million to their education.

“With this campaign, our community has helped secure the future of our schools,” Stuursma says. “We’ll be able to continue to offer educational opportunities we can’t even imagine today. This is a monumental accomplishment for East Grand Rapids and a pioneering achievement for public education.”


John M. Frey, ‘58 Tripp ‘99 & Lucy FreyKate FrillmannKelly FroehlichDan & Shelly ‘91 FullerThe GabacksMichael & Kristin GartrellThe Gasper Family—In honor of daughters Elli & NayaChristy GastAndre & Kristen GauriTed & Mary Louise GedraPakky & Lauren GerkinTom Getz & Margaret Burrows-GetzCasey & Nancy GillespieKevin & Katie GingrasSasko & Danche GjorgijevskiCraig & Rosalie GlowneyRick & Carol GodfreyMeg Goebel, ‘75Parin & Liz GohelSean & Stacey GoodmanTom & Kristin GootjesTim & Emily GorashkoChad ‘84 & Jennifer GouldDoris Cole Goyette, ‘55Jim GrabowBill & Linda GrahamHelen Fairbanks Graham, ‘81Justin Gray & Carrie WaltonJohn & Deanna GreenJoshua & Kristy GreenbergRalph Greene, ‘57 Thomas & Carrie GreenwayJonathan & Jennifer GreerKatherine Ford Gregg, ‘77Sharon GremelKristin GriffithMartin ‘90 & Erin ‘90 Grin

2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | EGRSF Endowment Fund Supporters continued

Dale & Linda GroganChristopher Gutek

Mike & Worth HagesThe Hagler Family

David & Jenny HallDavid & Elizabeth HammMarcia Hammerslag, ‘53

Brian & Karey HamrickMichael ‘63 & Sheila Hannah

Lynn HappelMichelle Harper

Bill Harris & Gloria TrentStuart ‘75 & Eleanor Hartger

Greg & Jane HazleAndy & Peggy Head

Jack & Lisa HealeyGlenn Hefner & Silvia Garbagni

Paul & Kerry HegeleLee & Linda HegstrandDavid & Nancy Hejna

Boyd & Jane HendersonBetsy Hall Herberick, ‘75

Mark & Tina HesslerGerry & Nancy Hickey

Brian & Marissa HicksChris & Beth Hill

Mary HillyardMichael & Metka Hingson

Tom & Sue Hoane—In memory of Jon Hoane, ‘88

David & Kim HoekstraMark ‘94 & Beth ‘92 Hoekstra

Mike & Stephanie HoekstraDirk Hoffius, ‘61

Mark ‘81 & Lisa HoffmanDavid & Susan Hojnacki

Peter & Allison HoulihanAmorak Huey & Ellen Schendel

John & Janyce Huff

Travis HughesLaura Huizenga, ‘76—In honor of Kenneth MaatmanGary & Cindy HumphriesStuart & Shannon HuntBrad & Karen HunterE. J. Hunter—In honor of Megan Miller John Hunting, ‘49Jen HutchingsJustin & Allison HuttThe Joel & Shannon Iakiri FamilyMargaret P. Idema, ‘67Fil & Elizabeth IorioWin ‘65 & Kyle ‘70 IrwinGraham ‘94 & Sara IrwinJason & Katie ‘96 IsraelsMike ‘54 & Roberta JacobsonRobert Jacobson, ‘89 Mark & Lauren JacobyJanae JancaDoug & Dawn JenkinsAaron & Nikki JohnsonErik & Lisa JohnsonGerri JohnsonGrace JohnsonAndy & Mary JohnstonTim & Lori ‘79 JohnstonJulian & Judith JosephKevin & Patty KabatSteve & Joee KamDavid & Nancy ‘75 KammeraadGlenn Karpf & Andi OwenNancy KastPeter & Heidi KattulaThomas KawelMary Ann KeelerMike & Sue KeilKeil Lasik Vision Center

Norman Keller—In honor of Scott Mitton

Dennis Kellermeier &Barbara Jourdan

Sean & Jenelle KelschJohn & Jessica Kemppainen

Chris KenwardChad & Paula Kerr

Theresa KeyesDave & Jenny Khorey—

In memory of Candy PrevetteTom ‘71 & Vicki ‘70 Kimball

Erika King & Robert BeaseckerAllison H. Kinney

Bob ‘82 & Sue KirchgessnerBrad & Michelle Kirk

Chip & Elizabeth KleinhekselRichard Klinkner, ‘55Chris & Amy Knape

Herbert & Glenna Knape—In memory of Teddy Knape, ‘03

Mike & Megan KnubleAllison Koetsier

Derrick & Karen KooistraKelli Kopen & Chris Calhoun

Chad & Andrea KosterRob ‘84 & Julie Kowalewski

Kenneth & Heather KrajewskiThe Kratt Family

Anne Lawford Krawczak, ‘60—In memory of the Lawford Family

Steven & Amie Jo KreitzerSteve & Mary ‘64 Kretschman

Melissa KriegMatt ‘04 & Alissandra ‘04 Kruer

Christian ‘84 & Susan KruppNicholas ‘00 & Layla ‘00 Kuhl

Katie KuiperStephen & Jamie Kusmierczak

POWERINGCOMMUNITY


CLASS OF 2023 FIRST DAY | LEADERSHIP & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Tom & Sally ‘85 Kyros FamilyBrad ‘94, Kotoe & Julie Laackman—In honor of Bonnie LaackmanHeidi Lacks, ‘07Kurt ‘02 & Jennifer LacksKurt ‘73 & Lori ‘76 Lacks Family—Jennifer Andrzejewski ‘00,Kurt V. Lacks ‘02,Katherine Tracy ‘05,Heidi Lacks ‘07Brad & Susan LaffreyRobert & Lucy LafleurKathy Muir Laidlaw, ‘59—In memory of Bill Muir, ‘54 Holly LampenJill Lampen Maria LaneuvilleThe Lang FamilyLindsey LantzKatherine LarsonDale & Shirley LauschTony & Heather LawrencePhilip M. Leech, ‘58Lucas & Joni LeeteLarry ‘65 & Mettie Metcalf ‘65 LeighAndrea LeistraJoe & Katy LevanBob ‘73 & Susan LevineDavid & Stacey LevittGreg & Tracey LewisRichard & Heather ‘92 LewisStev & Dawn LewisChuck & Jan LippertBlakeslee Benjamin Lloyd, ‘61Mike & Kathy ‘74 LloydJames ‘55 & Barbara LogieCasey ‘03 & Jami LongoChris & Sharon LongstrethScott & Elisabeth LoosMark & April Lothschutz

Dr. F. Raymer & Susan Lovell—In honor of the 3 Lovell children and

6 Lovell-Turner grandchildrenRandy ‘88 & Lisa Lovell

The Lowe FamilyPaul & Elizabeth Luce

Jurgen & Becky LudersGenie Lyman and the late Dick Lyman

Judson ‘71 & Lynn LynchDoug & Stacey Maas

James MacDonald ‘81 & Kit YoonMacDougal Family Foundation

Gary & Pamela MacDougalRandy & Marcia MacGeorge

Paul & Rosanne ‘83 MackBill & Amy Mackay

Jeff ‘91 & Shannon MacKeiganJohn & Rosemary MacKenzieJo Ann Monger Maentz, ‘56

Matt Mahoney & Melissa ConwayDonald Malcolm & Jean Magolan

Judie MalecThe Malewitz FamilyRaj & Marta Malviya

Leena MammenAlan & Hope Margherio

Ryan & Beth MarinLynne Boyles Marino, ‘77

Matt & Amy MarlowBill & Melissa Marsh

Matt & Christine MartinRebecca Martin

Scott & Becky MartinHezi & Ilanit Marx

Darrell & PK ‘74 MasonBenjamin ‘00 & Jessica Massie

Nancy J. MassinghamBenjamin & Sarah Masterson

Chris Matthysse &Kelly Clum-Matthysse

Randy & Amanda MillwoodAndrew Milnes

Joel & Melissa MitchellJohn Mitchell & Gina Ang

Scott MittonJeff & Allison ‘88 MontagueMarc & Charlene Montpetit

The Moo FamilyJohn & Ann Mooney

Whitney MooreThe Morant Family

Anthony & Polly MoreyDave & Joy Morgan

James & Carolyn MorseSteve ‘95 & Rhiannon Morse

Jim & Courtney MoskalBetsy Muir, ‘84

Dave & Sara MulderKristine S. Mulder, ‘71

Todd & Kelli MulderinkElisha Murphy

Patrick & Jean-Marie MurphyPaul Murphy & Leigh EickeBrian ‘93 & Kristie Murray

Honorio Valdes Murua &Tina Murua

Dean & Lisa NargiPaul & Valerie Nelson

Bob & Ellen NelsonThe late Marjorie Neubig

The Newsom FamilyThe Nguyen Family

Jack NicholsJamie & Venta Norris

Norris, Perné & French LLPTom & Diane Northway

John S. O’Brien, ‘75Joe ‘72 & Britt ‘86 O’Malley

Isidore & Cary Okoro—In memory of Ruth Corrine Hammer

Susan McCaffreyLarry & Julie McCahillPatrick ‘87 & Kate McCarthyAmy McCoy, ‘84Audrey McDonald, ‘15Cecelia McDonald, ‘06Ian ‘08 & Veronica McDonaldJames McDonald, ‘12Michael & Carole McDonaldPierce McDonaldRichard & Noel McGarrityKC & Pattie McGovernTerry McIlhargeyThe McInerney FamilyMatt & Katie ‘93 McIntoshAndy & Mandy McIntyreKevin & Nancy McIntyreKerry McKeeHeather McKinney-RewaJim ‘81 & Susan ‘82 McLainJohn & Jen McMahonPaul & Laura McMahonSteve & Jenny McMahonChris & Michele MeaderDavid ‘57 & Linda MehneyHank & Liesel MeijerJohn & Jane ‘79 MeilnerSpencer ‘07 & Kaitlin ‘07 MerpiSam ‘63 & Barb ‘64 MetcalfRandy & Hillary MeulenbergBob & Beth MilanowskiAnne B. Miller, ‘61Brian & Megan MillerLorie MillerMatthew ‘86 & Jill MillerNorman Stanley Miller, ‘61 Patrick & Katherine ‘05 MillerPete & Liz MillerSteve & Katie Millman


Scott & Lindsay OlssonMike & Cathy ‘86 OosseJack ‘56 & Margie ‘56 OostingOnder & Carol OrsThe Orsini FamilyColin & Leanne OsborneJohn & Ellen OsterhartLance & Kim OwensKris Pachla & Anne Marie CarsonTracy PackardDon & Melissa PadgettChris & Joan PanopoulosBrett & Dana ParentMatt & Kerry ParentAaron & Bess PaskvanGlenna Paukstis, ‘55—In memory of Jimmy GerkenHoward & Stacy PaulRobert PaulScott Peelen, ‘76Scott & Pam PenneyElliot Pennington & Jennifer WolfAndrew & Alison PeotMark & Amy PereiraMark & Barb PeriardDan Persinger & Claire WhitmanSteve ‘70 & Alicia PestkaRyan & Katrina PetersJames & Stephanie PhelpsKevin & Leslie PhilippsJoerg & Katharina PicardSteve & Joanne PlattTodd & Kelly PlawinskiKen & Shannon PontiusJim & Amy PouillonJohn Preston & Melissa VanderZydenTim ‘00 & Susan PriceMark & Becky PullenSteven Putt & Cheryl Van Til

2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | EGRSF Endowment Fund Supporters continued

The Pyper FamilyChris & Michelle Rabideau

James Racinowski ‘00 &Madonna Saia Racinowski

Cheryl RadeckiThe Raines Family

Jerrel K. Ralph, ‘49Mark & Lisa ‘93 Rapoport

Muhammad Rasoul &Sabina Hubjer-RasoulThe Ratchford Family

Michael ReaganMike & Betsy RedmanGreg & Carolyn Reese

Beth ReidMike & Trish ‘89 ReidRandy & Kris Renker

Ryan & Whitney RennerPhil & Deb Rewerts

Robert ‘49 & Margaret RiceBrian & Meg ‘93 Richards Paul ‘70 & Susan Richards

Rachel RiesBrian & Bridget Rieth

David & Molly RizorGeorge & Heidi Roberts

Karl & Stacy RobertsLarry & Sally Robson

Steve ‘80 & Amy RockwellKelsi Rode

The Rogers FamilyRobert & Cassandra Rood

Lisa M. RoseRusty & Laura Ross

Al & Kim RossiMichael & Betty Roth

Ed & Ann RoubalJeff & Lisa Royce

Dennis L. Ruffin, ‘57

Peter & Jessica RuppertGuillermo & Bridget SanchezJim & Rory SanfordBuck & Judy SaundersTim SaundersCynthia Savara, ‘75 Bill & Barb SaxtonJeff Schad & Marilyn LankferMatt ‘90 & Diana SchadTim & Cindy SchadHenry “Fritz” ‘62 &Karen ‘63 Schaefer— In honor ofMr. Bert Froysland, beloved EGREnglish teacherBruce & Marti Scherpenisse—In honor of their children & grandchildrenShelley SchmidtAnnie SchmiederJohn & Judy SchneiderBill & Shelly SchramMatthew & Margaret SchulteGary & Lorna Deaver ‘72 Schultz Joel & Julie SchultzeAndy & Kateri SchuttBrian Schwartz ‘84 &Elizabeth Welch ‘88Mark SchwartzSteven & Mary SchwartzJames ‘87 & Deb SearsRob ‘81 & Julie Sears— In honor ofRachel, Sophie & Sam SearsJohn ‘63 & Prim ‘64 SebastianMike Sebastian, ‘65Amna Seibold, ‘75Michael & Monica SekulichBrian & Racqel SelfJim & Mindy SeufertThe Seyferth FamilyNancy B. Seymour, ‘62

Tom & Kris ShannonBob Shapton &

Mary Reagan ShaptonThe Sharpe FamilyMary Ann Sheline

Tim & Ann SheridanThe Sherman FamilyRick & Stacy Shorey

Sherri Norian Shovers, ‘75Andrew & Tamara ShreinerMark ‘76 & Lisa ‘76 Shuart

Greg & Sara ShubelJon & Gretchen SiebersJim ‘66 & Sheryl Siegel

Todd Sippel & Angela DahlPhil & Beth SkaggsBrent & Diane Slay

Aaron ‘93 & Jill SmithAllan, Melissa, Keaton ‘17 &

Halsey ‘19 SmithChristopher & Kelli Smith

Danielle SmithDavid Smith ‘63 & Peggy Child ‘64

Jason & Latchezara SmithJay & Helen Smith—

In honor of Amy Stuursma, ‘89Bob & Colleen Smith

Sara Smolenski &Linda Burpee ‘74

Diana SnoeyerDave Snyder, ‘86—

In honor of all past & current studentsStephanie Socie

Rich & Abby SorotaDaniel Spear

John & Nikki Speer—In honor of Carlye Allen

Sean ‘94 & Anna SperlingCharles Spies, ‘91

POWERINGEXCELLENCE


2019 HEARTS OF GOLD FOOTBALL GAME

Jenell SpindleThomas StankewiczJoe & Jill StankowskiEric & Sarah StarckMatthew & Jennifer StaresAlbert & Joan Stauffacher—In memory of Irma Grace StauffacherJanet L. Stauss ‘65 TrustSusan Stearns—In memory of Linda KehmAndrew & Pamela SteersJohn & Katie ‘98 SteinMartin & Rachel SteinJohn & Jennifer SteinerKASOE Steiner FamilyBrian ‘96 & Amy SteketeeBrian Sterling & Carla BoydRichard & Mary StevensClay ‘89 & Kris StifflerKaren Henry StokesJim & Ashley StormsGeorge & Monica StoverTim & Sarah ‘97 StravelerDale StreeterScott & Angela StropkaiDale & Sharon StubbsKaren Steffensen Sturges, ‘58Jim & Ann StuursmaPeter ‘89 & Amy ‘89 StuursmaJudy SubarTim & Karen ‘86 SullivanMary Sunshine, ‘75 Keith & Meghan SwaymanStacey SzczepanskiEric & Stacey TannerCharles ‘58 & Joyce TappanPaul & Beth TaylorWill & Kelli TempletonMichael & Liz Terhorst

Chris & Teri TesserisCorey & Stephanie Thelen

Peter & Lisa TheutNick & Amy Thole

Andy & Kate ThomasCharley ‘87 & Janine Thompson

Winona TinholtThe Tippett Family

Todd & Mary ‘90 TjoelkerHannah Tobin

Mark & Marsha TompkinsStevee Tompsett

Rock ‘56 & Kathy ‘58 TonkelJeff & Julie Towner

Tom & Amy TownsendAdam & Gretchen Townshend

Dick ‘72 & Kathleen ‘73 TupperTJ & Sarah Turnage

Brett & Julie TurnerSteve & Denise Twinney

Dan & Anna TyrerCharles Ulrich & Laurie Dahlstrom

Lisa ValantyThe Van Dis Family

Alice Van EssOwen Van Winkle

Kevin VanceTanya Vanden Bosch

Chris VandenBerg ‘74 &Betsy Neubig

Shirley A. VandenBergThe Vander Molen Family

Brian VanderBeeNicole Vanderplow

Richard & Debra VanderZydenChris & Sarah VanDevenNate & Keri VanDrunen

Bradley & Julie VanHooseThe Vanorden Family

Casey & Lindsey WilliamsDouglas & Andrea Williams

Kyle Williams & Vanessa BradleyMatt & Trish Williams

Mike & LeeAnne WilliamsNeil & Dawn Williams

Andy & Erin WinkelCharlie Winslow & Judy Sopeland

Alex & Julie ‘96 WisemanThe Wisniewski Family

Dean ‘80 & Nell WittingSteve & Stacey Wojciechowski

Muriel D. Wolf—In memory of Richard N. Wolf, ‘50

Bob ‘92 & Tracy WolfordRobert & Susan Wolford

Dave & Jan WolletJohn Wondergem

John & Patty WoodhouseRobert C. Woodhouse, Jr., ‘72

John WoodsLaura Woolford

Douglas & Tamara WurlEric & Kathy Wynsma

Seth Yanik & Sherry SharrardPeter ‘79 & Lynn Yardley

Chris & Janice YatesBruce C. Young, ‘74

Sarah YoungsChad Zagel & Ellie Frey

Michael & Kathy ZagoBryant & Marcia Zanko

Amy ZdraveckyJoe & Katie Zemaitis

Ben ‘94 & Meagan ‘97 ZerfasKyle & Gloriana Zimdar

Brad & Fleur Zylstra

Aaron & Jennifer VanZeeNick & Amanda VeltingFernando & Katie VicenteEdward & Caitlin VolovlekScott ‘90 & Marni ‘90 VynTrent R. WadsworthBreanna WagenmakerJim WalkerStrick & Leanna WalkerThe Walson FamilyBryan & Angie WaltersDamian & Deanne WaltersThomas C. Wanty III, ‘77Elizabeth Warnshuis, ‘75Mark & Wendy WassinkKyle & Kristin WatsonMary K. WeadockTim & Lisa WeaverScott & Jennifer WebbCraig & Carmen WeigelEric & Courtney WeilerCarlos O. WeissJim ‘85 & Susan Weiss—In memory of Susan Emmons Nolan, ‘85 Brad Welch, ‘91 Charles B. Welch, ‘05James & Jane Welch FoundationVirginia M. Welch, ‘65Dan & Lynee WellsEric & Leah WendlingJohn H. WertTy & Kathy WessellChris & Jodi WestgateGeorge Whinery, ‘66Ben & Emily WhiteSteve & MeiLi WieringaMatt & Erica WikanderCharles Wilkinson—In memory of Patricia Wilkinson

POWERINGCREATIVITY


2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | Memorial Gifts

JEFFREY ARMBRECHT, ‘96Gary & Chris ArmbrechtPAUL E. BEARD, ‘96

Laurie BeardMOLLY CAVARA, ‘20

The Stuursma FamilySTEVE CHAMBERLAIN, ‘77

Tim Ainsworth, ‘77Tom Ainsworth, ‘77

Class of ‘77 classmatesDENISE M. DELANO, ‘85

Dennis ‘91 & Merritt DeLano-TaylorANDREW DENNEN, ‘69

Joy Dennen Scher, ‘60MATT FOUCH

EGRPS Teacher & CoachThe Bruce Family

Hannah Stuursma, ‘18RIC GADBOIS, ‘81Tom Ainsworth, ‘77RALPH GARLICK

Barbara ConeSUE GARLICK

Barbara ConeTom Ainsworth, ‘77JIM GRUEL, ‘78

Tom Ainsworth, ‘77ZACK HOUSE, ‘11

Martha ReamonHARRY, EVELYN &

CHUCK ‘64 LAWFORDAnne Lawford Krawczak, ‘60

FRANK LETHERBYFormer EGRPS TeacherAnn Louise Bushweit

Paul & Connie ChardoulChase Collins ‘63, John Collins ‘66, Chris

Collins ‘70, Liz Collins ‘78Barbara, Timothy ‘80 & Michael ‘82 Cone

Bob & Jeanine DaileyJoe Felkner

Friends & neighbors of Miami BeachRick & Carol Godfrey

Chester & Elaine GrantWin ‘65 & Kyle ‘70 Irwin

Cindy Koster, ‘89Frank S. & Anne M. Letherby

Nancy LetherbyScott & Vickie Lizenby

Ric & Lisa LoydChuck Novak & Gary Pritchard

Marilyn & Jeanette NovakJames Ogilvie

Peter ‘89 & Amy ‘89 StuursmaChuck & Lill Thompson

Beverly VanWeesBob & Barb Woodrow

RICHARD LYMANJim ‘56 & Betsy BartonBill ‘67 & Diane Baxter

David H. ‘55 & Mary Kay ‘57 BerlesBob & Val BerneckerGenevieve Bratschie

Mary CarringtonRoger & Lee Clark

Paul & Nancy ClodfelderLowell & Nell Dana

John & Penny ‘52 EdisonRobert & Rudean Fairman

David & Judy FreySuzanne Fuller

Meg Goebel, ‘75Bob & Diane Hall

Libby Headrick, ‘57John & Sarah ‘76 Jackoboice

Michael & Susan JohnsonTom & Margy JonesThe Knuble Family

Jon & Katherine ‘85 LimeRay & Susan Lovell

Genie LymanRobert ‘79 & Susan ‘79 Lyman

Jim & Carolyn MorseJack Nichols

Marcia OettingLinda B. Patterson

Barbara A. RichardsonKaren H. Stokes

Peter ‘89 & Amy ‘89 StuursmaRonald & Geraldine Urbanski

Edith G. VasuMark & Wendy Wassink

Mark & Allison ‘89 WhiteDick & Barbara Young

2019 DONOR ROLL CALLEndowment Fund Supporters

JIMMY GERKEN FUNDBob & Val BerneckerWayne BrownBrad ‘88 & Kim ‘89 Ditmar—In honor of the Snyder-Glendening weddingGreg McAleenan, ‘75Ryan McAleenan, ‘05Jacob Rabideau, ‘14John Steketee, ‘75Peter ‘89 & Amy ‘89 Stuursma—In honor of the Snyder-Glendening weddingTim & Karin ‘77 TurmelleNate VanderPloeg, ‘04Tom White, ‘76

LINDA KEHM KINDNESS COUNTSSCHOLARSHIP FUNDLakeside Elementary PTO

DR. WINIFRED W. MULDER &MS. KRISTINE S. MULDERMOTHER/DAUGHTER FUNDCarole McDonaldKristine S. Mulder, ‘71

MARJORIE M. NEUBIG FUNDFOR SCIENCE INSPIRATIONThe late Marjorie NeubigChris VandenBerg ‘74 & Betsy Neubig

RIDENOUR FUNDJulie Ridenour, ‘70

WE THE PEOPLE FUNDLuke & Stacie GriemsmanJeff & Allison ‘88 MontagueStephen Michael MooreJim & Marie PrestonStafford Smith & Ritsu Katsumata

SENSE &SENSIBILITY

High School Drama

CREATIVE ARTS FROZEN JR.

Elementary Musical


PATSY MARTINJohn Martin, ‘72

SHERMANMASSINGHAM, ‘40

Nancy MassinghamTOBY MCCARTHY, ‘77

Class of ‘77 classmatesJIM MCINERNEY, ‘63

Larry ‘65 & Mettie ‘65 LeighSam ‘63 & Barb ‘64 Metcalf

John ‘63 & Prim ‘64 SebastianRICHARD MOREY

EGR Admin Lead TeamEGR Board of Education

GRANT HIGHLIGHT8th Graders Attend Hamilton

Pete Miller, EGRMS social studies teacher, has been dreaming of sharing “Hamilton” with his 8th grade students for years. Together, Miller and the Foundation worked out a plan for families to share the cost of tickets when the show came to Grand Rapids. A grant of $9,558, funded by donors to the Foundation, made it possible. “It ties directly with a huge chunk of our curriculum,” Miller said. “Our job is to take something that might feel a little bit dry and make it relevant.” Miller said, “Everyone seemed to be blown away by the show. Even some students who wouldn’t consider a musical to be their thing still walked away with an awe that somebody created that from scratch.”Student Marley Shelton said, “I thought it was an amazing opportunity for all the 8th graders because we were learning about this time in history, so to see it come to life was amazing.” Eighth grader Riley Padgett thought the show was “Really exciting. It helped that we’d just had a unit about this period in social studies; I don’t know if I would have understood most of it if we hadn’t.”Miller provided another unique opportunity for the 8th graders. Mikey Winslow (EGRHS ‘04), a Hamilton cast member, came to the middle school the morning after the students went to the show to speak to the entire grade in the Learning Commons about his experience in the cast, his journey from East to Broadway, and his dance comeback after a total hip replacement in 2018. Winslow also reminded students that he had once been a student in the very same learning commons. “I was shy and middle school is hard,” he said. And then he encouraged them to pursue their goals step by step, seize opportunities to dance in their own lives, do their best, and be themselves.

MARJORIE NEUBIGEvie Bowers

Dennis & Denise CitronSusan VandenBerg Cupaiuolo, ‘68

John ‘69 & Louise ‘69 EdisonTwink Frey, ‘56

Tom ‘74 & Mary ‘75 FullerLe Valley Chevrolet Buick

GMC Truck Inc.Phyllis A. Maiale

Christian MatthewsBarbara Mayo-Johnson

Michael & Carole McDonaldHarvey Motulsky & Lisa Norton

Tom Northway & Diane St. ClaireMary E. Schaff

Margaret SheppardBrent & Diane Slay

Peter ‘58 & Joan SteketeePeter ‘89 & Amy ‘89 Stuursma

Tim & Karin ‘77 TurmelleChris VandenBerg ‘74 & Betsy Neubig

Shirley VandenBergDavid ‘67 & Beverly Verdier

Western Michigan University Haworth College of Business

Western Michigan UniversityDepartment of Accountancy

Aleicia WoodrickDick & Barbara Young

2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | Memorial Gifts

RANDY PHILLIPS, ‘78Tom Ainsworth, ‘77James & Kay Fuger

BOB PORTERFormer EGRPS CoachCharles Jennings, ‘57

DR. RICHARD H. SIDELLTom & Mary Sidell ‘61 James

PATRICIA SMITH, ‘60Steve Smith, ‘58

JAMES WILKINSON, ‘75Charles Wilkinson

PATRICIA WILKINSONCharles Wilkinson

RICHARD N. WOLF, ‘50Muriel D. Wolf

WE THE PEOPLEState Competition

POWERINGEDUCATION

Martha Teichner, ‘65Nick & Amy Thole Peter ‘72 & Jeanne UhlGreg & Deb WeaverDave & Stephanie ‘79 WhitfordBrad & Fleur Zylstra

$100 - $249AnonymousGary & Chris ArmbrechtScott & Elizabeth ArnoldLaurie BeardBeechwood School’s Out PartyPatrick & Marcia Bell—In honor of Matthew BellChuck & Pat BloomRen ‘55 & Cj BranderRick & Pat BrewerScott R. BrundageBrandon & Elizabeth BurnetteThomas & Sarah CannonCharlene M. Chadbourne, ‘61Jeffrey & Tamara ChristiansPaul & Barbara ClaessonGeorge & Mary Ann CoroneosDennis ‘91 & Merritt DeLano-TaylorRich & Liz ‘98 Della CroceDennis & Amy DonohueRichard ‘57 & Patricia DunwellPaul & Bridget FarrTom & Kathryn FaturosDonald & Carol FirlikMichael J. Fishman, ‘56Andrea Fotias, ‘75Robert Goodrich, ‘58Ralph Greene, ‘57Shelly GullettThomas ‘69 & Janis Hollingsworth

Charles Jennings, ‘57Hunter & Claudia Judson

Dennis Kellermeier & Barbara JourdanKelli Kopen & Chris Calhoun

Arnold & Kristin LeeNick ‘62 & Gail Leech

Philip M. Leech, ‘58Gregory & Tracey Lewis

Daniel Lorenz & Aletta VanderPlaatLisa Brown Lyman, ‘79

Paul & Rosanne ‘83 Mack— In honor of Peter ‘14,

David ‘15 & Thomas ‘17 MackJason ‘98 & Jennifer Madden

Jim McColl, ‘55Terence McIlhargey

Christopher & Michele MeaderWally Melson, ‘44

Sam ‘63 & Barb ‘64 MetcalfJack Nichols

James Ogilvie & FamilyKeith Paluska

Sheila PantlindLinda B. Patterson

Larry Prange & Suzanne KnechtRichard J. Pryce, ‘55

Mike & Trish ‘89 ReidJay Reminga, ‘83

Julie Ridenour, ‘70Larry & Sally Robson

L. Roland & Marjorie RoeggeKurt & Jodi Rushmore

Robert ‘53 & Karen ‘53 SchermerBill & Shelly Schram

Andrew & Kateri SchuttBrian Schwartz ‘84 & Elizabeth Welch ‘88

Steve & Mary SchwartzDanielle Smith

Joe & Katy LevanMacDougal Family Foundation

Jeff & Allison ‘88 MontagueAndrew Norden & Shanna TenClay

George & Heidi RobertsBuck & Judy Saunders

Bob Shapton & Mary Reagan ShaptonMark & Allison ‘89 White

Laura A. Young, ‘78

$250 - $499Tom Ainsworth, ‘77

Mark & Lynn Barger ElliottJeff Bergers ‘73 & Cindy Braak

Mike & Bethany BregenzerJack & Mary Lou ‘51 Campbell

Richard Chalker, ‘58—In honor of the Class of 1958

James & Courtney ‘97 CinglieStuart & Rita Citron

Phil Conrad & JJ LoewThomas M. Cook, ‘61

Gregory ‘99 & Kimberly CraneMichael & Mary Crawford

Dino & Katie FavaleRobert & Marie Griffin

Chip & Terry Hurlburt—In honor of Barbara Cone

Paul & Dee McGrawRichard K. Miller, ‘62

Marc & Charlene MontpetitJoe & Lisa Newhouse

Adam & Tricia OphoffChris & Joan Panopoulos

Howard & Stacy PaulSmith Roberts ‘94 & Jenny Berglund

Tim SaundersAndrew & Logan Schmidt

$5,000 OR MOREJohn M. Frey, ‘58John Martin, ‘72Hank & Liesel MeijerMeijer, Inc.

$2,500 - $4,999Terri Burg Amann, ‘71Dan ‘58 & Linda Conway

$1,000 - $1,999Gary Graeff & Kim KrauseTom & Mary Sidell ‘61 JamesThe Lingwood Aguayo FamilyBill & Melissa MarshChris & Michelle RabideauDiego Rojas & Lindsay SnyderDr. & Mrs. Larry D. Snyder Rich & Abby Sorota

$500 - $999William E. Alt, ‘70David H. Berles, ‘55—In honor of Mary Kay Berles, ‘57John & Janet Boyles— In appreciation for the wonderful education their three children experienced in the EGR school systemThe Bruce FamilyFred & Kathleen BurkhartPhilip C. Chamberlain, ‘55—In honor of the Class of 1955Erik Daly ‘00 & Jessica Bloom ‘00Michael & Jenny ‘87 FeeRick & Carol Godfrey— In honor of Emily Bergstrom & her class of 2019 classmatesScott & Mary GorslineMichael ‘63 & Sheila HannahBrad & Karen HunterErika King & Robert BeaseckerThe Larsen Family

2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | EGRSF Annual Fund Supporters

4 Winter 2019 | For more infomation about EGRS Foundation’s grant program visit egrsf.orgEast Grand Rapids Schools Foundation & Alumni Association 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT12

CLASSROOM LIBRARIES

5For more infomation visit us online at egrsf.org 13

Steve ‘58 & Barb Smith Peter ‘89 & Amy ‘89 StuursmaKeith & Meghan SwaymanScott ‘90 & Marni ‘90 VynCharles WilkinsonThe Wisniewski FamilyMichael & Robbyn WnekMuriel D. WolfBruce C. Young, ‘74Glen Young, ‘55Rodger J. “Skip” Zwemer, Jr., ‘67

$20 - $99Diane Alt, ‘70Tom & Deb AnkneySam & Ben BashamRoger & Cindy BeraRoger & Marcia BeutnerBarbara ConeEGR Class of 2019John & Stephanie EckleyHarvey Fixler, ‘62Betsy FleetwoodOmar & Elizabeth FloresJill Fouch & the late Matt FouchLynn & Alice Francis Sharmon Elizabeth Frantz, ‘67Denny ‘59 & Mary Ann GrayT. Gregory James, ‘69Julian & Judith Joseph Sarah Porter Jury, ‘69Anne Lawford Krawczak, ‘60Andrew LawlorRichard & Heather ‘92 LewisBrad & Emily LordenArend & Nancy LubbersMatt & Amy MarlowJohn Martin, ‘72

Nancy MassinghamMichael & Carole McDonald—

In honor of Pierce McDonaldSharon McKee, ‘62

Dick Morrill, ‘40The Oosse Family

Vince & Natalie OwenSteven ‘70 & Alicia Pestka

The Potter FamilyRobert & Janette ‘52 Reid

Joy Dennen Scher, ‘60Hannah Stuursma, ‘18

Courtney ThomasCandace Titus

Mark & Marsha TompkinsDennis & Carroll Velie

Kristen Von Doersten, ‘94Julie Dooge Waite, ‘78John & Carroll Wiener

UNITED WAYDONORS

AnonymousCarlye Allen

Catherine BlagdurnSteven Brinks

John BurkeHeather Carlson

Sara EdlemanJill Fouch

Brad FreiburgerDoug Jenkins

Betsy KrattAnthony Morey

Tim SaundersMarjolijn van der Velde

Dean Witting, ‘80

MATCHING GIFTSAmazon Smile Foundation

AstraZeneca PharmaceuticalsAvanade

AXA FoundationBank of America Foundation

Benefit MobileCDK Global, LLCDell Technologies

Delta Air Lines FoundationFLIR Systems

GE FoundationGenentech, Inc.

MedtronicNovartis

PayPal Giving FundPfizer Foundation

Salesforce.orgSteelcase FoundationTEGNA Foundation

Total Quality LogisticsTravelers

Unist, Inc.VMware Foundation

Wells Fargo FoundationWorkday

HONORARY GIFTSIn honor of Dave Mehney’s

80th birthdayRichard ‘57 & Patricia Dunwell

Jim & Carolyn MorsePeter ‘89 & Amy ‘89 Stuursma

GRANT HIGHLIGHTColumbia University Teachers College

“My experience at Teachers College was both affirming and inspiring. Their approach to teaching and learning is data-driven and allows for teacher and student choice, which is powerful. I already have implemented several strategies and practices into my teaching that have increased engagement in reading and writing. I can’t wait to build upon this foundation so that all students may benefit from my learning at Teachers College.”

—Sara Edleman, EGRHS Teacher

“Teachers College provides the best professional develop-ment I have had in my 22 years of teaching. It not only provides practice and modeling for how we work with the students by having us go through the sessions as a student would, but it provides the current and relevant research behind why it is so effective.”

—Jill Smith, EGRMS Teacher

“I left Teachers College feeling energized and inspired. The sessions at the Book Clubs for Middle School and High School Institute were engaging, informative, and useful. I know my students will benefit from what I’ve learned.”

—Erika Iannuzzi, EGRMS Teacher

1959

CLASS OF 2019 | GRADUATION DAY

There were more than a dozen reunions in 2019, a record-setting year for the East Grand Rapids Alumni Association. The gatherings ranged from the class of 1949’s 70th reunion in July all the way up to the class of 2014’s 5th reunion over Thanksgiving weekend.The number of reunions held last year is evidence that the Alumni Association is making great strides in connecting East alums no matter where they live or how many years have passed since they graduated. Already, there are eleven reunions planned for 2020, with more being scheduled every month.

2020 REUNIONS

All that is in addition to the alumni content on our website, which includes Class News and the popular “Virtual Cup of Coffee” alumni profiles. This spring, Alumni Relations Coordinator Maria Allen will once again hold an Alumni Happy Hour in Florida. The second annual event will be Wednesday, April 8 from 5:30-7:30pm at the North Palm Beach Country Club. More events at other locations are in the works.Homecoming will be another chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Stop by the Alumni Tent Friday, September 25 at the football game for refreshments, East swag, and more. Join us!Finally, in November, the Community Service and Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner will honor longtime EGRPS Custodial Supervisor—and East legend—Bruce Towne, along with CDR Bill Krissoff, MD, Medical Corps, United States Navy (Ret.), an orthopedic surgeon who honored his fallen Marine son Nate in an extraordinary way. After Nate was killed in action in Iraq, Dr. Krissoff, at age 60, decided to walk away from his thriving practice to join the United States Navy Medical Corps. He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, caring for injured soldiers. Tickets will be available on our website (egrsf.org) later this spring. Get yours early. This event is expected to sell out quickly. If you’d like to organize an Alumni Happy Hour in your area, email Alumni Relations Coordinator Maria Allen at [email protected].

Want more alumni news? Visit www.egrsf.org/alumniAre you getting the Pioneer Post quarterly alumni newsletter in your email?Send a message to [email protected] to be added to the mailing list!

East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation & Alumni Association 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT

ALUMNI NEWS | Reunions

14

POWERINGTRADITION

1949

1957

1969

1984

1947Doreen (Collins) Carbaugh 1948Barton Hamilton1949Robert Campbell1950Barbara (Friend) Van EssClifford Mitts, III1951R. Parke Collins1952Karen (Hagstrom) Dopke1953Nancy (Lawyer) Barrows1955John WardropJames Freeman1956L. Peck Green1957Jean (Whyte) Wilson1958Carla (Hudson) Miller1959Ross Stephens1960Thomas McAllister1961Bruce Meyer, Sr.1963James McInerney

1964Mary Gwen Warnshuis

Jack BarrowsJudith (Wyer) Ekkens

1965Gracia Blanchard

Linda Sutton1969

Andrew Dennen1974

Shelly (Ayars) MickamWilliam McCormack

1977Stephen Chamberlain

1978Randall Phillips

1981Eric ‘Ric’ Gadbois

Mark KayThomas Ditmar

1984Darcy (French) Hoppman

1996Greg Williamson

2004Robert Wisniewski

Former EGRPS StaffMatt Fouch

Dale LancasterFrank Letherby

Jeane SwartHelen Wade

ALUMNI NEWS | In RemembranceWe extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the following alumni and former EGRPS staff who died since our last publication. They will be greatly missed.

We apologize for any errors or omissions. Please help us stay informed by calling us at (616) 235-3535 or emailing to [email protected].

For more infomation visit us online at egrsf.org/alumni 15

1949 (7/25)1955 (9/17-18)

1965 (9/11-12)1970 (9/25-26)

1975 (TBD)1980 (9/25-26)

1990 (TBD)1995 (7/11)

2000 (8/1)2010 (TBD)

19891979

1989

2014

POWERINGPERFORMANCE


2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | 2019 Sip & Support Sponsors

$2,500AnonymousBright FormatCDK Global, LLCThe Brad Ditmar TeamNorris, Perné & French LLP

$1,500CIBCFounders Brewing CompanyHoekstra Transportation, Inc.K.V. & Jena LacksJoe & Katy Levan - Varnum LLPMiller JohnsonNew Mill CapitalValleau, VanDeven & Massie Dentistry for ChildrenVisbeen Architects

$1,000Pat & Nancy ConnorJoel & Shannon Iakiri

Keil Lasik Vision CenterMeijer, Inc.

Rose’s on Reeds Lake

$500David & Mary Kay Berles

Scott & Natalie BerneckerTom & Alexis Boyden

Dennis & Jennifer BruceDave & Nancy Cook

Mark & Lauren JacobyNick & Amanda McVay

Brian & Megan MillerMatthew & Jill MillerTim & Denise Myers

Brian Schwartz & Elizabeth WelchThe Sippel Family

Phil & Beth SkaggsThe Thole Family

Jack & Jennifer Zinser

$250Erik Daly & Jessica Bloom

José Babushka’sK3NOW

Barbara KellerLolë Grand Rapids

Reagan Marketing +Design, LLC

Tim & Cindy Schad

SUPPORTERSDave & Dori CouvreurScott & Mary Gorsline

Last year’s Sip & Support spring friend-raiser marked the second year we’ve gathered at the EGR Community Center to celebrate our schools. After ten years of Hurrah! parties, we created Sip & Support in 2018 as a partnership between our schools, our city, Gaslight businesses and our community as a whole. Our schools are an enormous part of what makes East Grand Rapids such a wonderful place to live. Hurrah!, Sip & Support, and now Recharge! give all of us an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones while supporting our schools’ tradition of excellence.

GRANT HIGHLIGHTMindful Moments In Music

Many afternoons at the high school, an enthusiastic group of special education students can be found marching, singing, smiling, and tapping their drumsticks to the beat at Cardio Drumming, a unique after-school activity funded by a grant from the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation.The grant supports both the high-energy, after-school Cardio Drumming Club and the more mellow, in-class Mindful Moments music programming for MOCI (ModerateCognitive Impairment) students. Both weeklyprograms are led by musician John Nowak, EGR ‘11, and both harness the power of music to enhance social-emotional learning, fine motor control, spatial awareness, and focus.“During mindful moments in music, any worries about other school work, or interactions with other students, tend to disappear,” Nowak says. “Those are replaced by this activity that’s positive and fun.”


2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | 2019 Gerken Open SupportersEvery spring, the EGR Team Boosters and the Foundation join together for the Gerken Open at Thousand Oaks Golf Club. The Gerken Open supports the Boosters and the Jimmy Gerken Fund, which was established to remember Jimmy and ensure that athletics and co-curriculars—the activities Jimmy loved most—remain an integral part of our students’ education. The Jimmy Gerken Fund also pays for student activities during Kabookie Week, keeping Jimmy’s memory alive while encouraging students to continue to experience personal excellence, just as Jimmy would have wanted.

The 2020 Gerken Open will beWednesday, June 10, 2020.Register online to play or be

a sponsor of the event at egrsf.org.

Thank you to all our 2019 sponsors! $1,500

AnonymousScott & Natalie Bernecker

Brad Ditmar Team, Keller Williams Realty

Fox AcuraHoekstra Transportation, Inc.

Hope Network FoundationLEAD Marketing

Meijer, Inc.Miller Johnson

S. Abraham & Sons$500

Law Offices of Sean Patrick CoxTwo Men And A Truck / GR North

$250 Competitive Edge

Fredrickson Supply, LLCGeckobrands

Grand Rapids Label Co.John & Lindel Hoff

LaFleur & Godfrey, Inc.Micro Kickboard

Northstar CommercialRonda Auto Centers

StifelSUPPORTERS

Josh BruwerMike & Megan Knuble

Scan this QR code below with yoursmart phoneto watch thisprogram inaction!

Louise Neesley

Deanna Allchin . . . . . . . . . . . The Israels FamilyMichael Arthur . . . . . . . . . . . The Albers Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie ConnorKaelynn Benham . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lexi WisemanJenny Bergstrom . . . . . . . . . Madelyn CampbellMeredith Bonner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sam ConnorSteven Brinks . . . . . . . . . Olivia Miller & FamilyHolly Brownley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellie BrandstadtJohn Burke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Albers FamilyMary Buzalski . . . . . . . . . . . . The Albers FamilyCaroline Cannon . . . . . . . . . Madelyn CampbellAndrea Eggert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cai LewisMary Elderkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie ConnorTim Farmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie ConnorJill Fouch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Israels Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anabel Miller & FamilyAshley Frayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryson Steketee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lucas Parent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will ParentKristin Griffith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Britt SteketeeErin Grin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Kimball FamilyErin Harmon . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jackson Brandstadt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie ConnorMatt Harold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie ConnorMary Hillyard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reece Mellish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anabel Miller & FamilyJanae Janca . . . . . . . . . .Vince & Natalie OwenDoug Jenkins . . . . . Michael & Mary CrawfordNancy Kast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucca BordoliThomas Kawel . . . . . . . . . . .Jackson BrandstadtHolly Lampen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sam Connor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Addie Lewis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Miller & FamilyLindsey Lantz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sam Connor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Israels Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vince & Natalie OwenChristine Mapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie Connor

Amy Marlow . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Miller & FamilyKatie McIntosh . . . . . . . . . . . The Albers FamilyKerry McKee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louisa FilkinsHeather McKinney-Rewa. . . . . . . . . . Kyra AllenNatalie Meadows . . . . . . . . .Jackson BrandstadtSocorro Mercado-Blackport . . . . . . . . Kyra Allen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jackson BrandstadtKaitlin Merpi . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Albers Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellie Brandstadt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ella WisemanCheryl Radecki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4th grade class. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyra AllenPatrick Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jackson BrandstadtKatie RietKerk . . . . . . . . . . . . The Albers Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mitchell StuursmaCassandra Rood . . . . . . . Olivia Miller & FamilyShelly Schram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sam Connor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Israels FamilyDanielle Smith . . . . . . . Anabel Miller & FamilyChris Stabile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Albers FamilyStacey Szczepanski . . . .Vince & Natalie OwenWinona Tinholt . . . . . . . . . . . The Israels FamilyScott Titus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyra AllenMary Tjoelker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucca BordoliStevee Tompsett . . . . . . . . . .Meredith WisemanKevin Vance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyra Allen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anabel Miller & FamilyTad VandenBrink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyra Allen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jackson BrandstadtKatie Vicente . . . . . . . . . . . . Madelyn CampbellCarmen Weigel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyra Allen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reece MellishBill Westers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie ConnorLaura Woolford . . . . . . . . . . . The Albers Family

2019 DONOR ROLL CALL | Appreciation Star Award SponsorsGifts to the Foundation were made to honor stars in our school community. Below is the list of gifts made during 2019 recognizing a special teacher, staff member or school employee. Thank you to the many contributors and to the many outstanding staff members who make East Grand Rapids Public Schools a great place to learn!


POWERING THE FUTURE


2019 DONOR ROLL CALLClass Reunion Gifts

Reunion gifts are a great way for East alumni to give back to the schools and community that gave them their start. Different classes plan their gifts in different ways. We can help figure out the best way for your class to organize its gift. Every gift is appreciated, and you can decide the best way to do it for your group. Thank you for supporting the schools that helped make you who you are!

CLASS OF 1984 | $2,245Mike Allen

Larry BridgeKaren Simon BuddeWayne Christiansen

John FullerCarole Clodfelder Hammerslag

Julie Zinser HorlingsMelissa Moore Janes

Re KnackDana Lubner

Betsy MuirKristin Barrett Selvala

Class of ‘84 gift

CLASS OF 1989 | $1,677Jennifer Murphy KubicPeter & Amy Stuursma

Allison Hall WhiteClass of ‘89 gift

CLASS OF 2019 | $1,141Class of ‘19 graduation gift

CLASS OF 1959 | $1,880Joan Brink BergsteinssonTory Gold BuchenBrooks CorlMary Ralph DeanDorothy Albers DousePolly Sweet HeavnerKaty Meyer HillaryKaren Olsen HoltPhyllis KravitzBob Kress Kathy Keller Laidlaw Margaret LenzJohn LillieStewart MacIntyreHolly Holt PalmerMargaret RoblingSusie McBride SebastianGillian Martin SorensenJim ThomsonJudy Henry Vana

CLASS OF 1964 | $595Jill Golden Baltzer

Suzy CookRichard Coombs

Gregory E. V. DodgsonPatrick Fox

Mary Whittier GoreClarissa Pond Hesner

Mary Cornelius KretschmanMichael Montgelas

Susan Whittier

CLASS OF 1979 | $1,333Missy Canepa AgnelloMichael Boeschenstein

Mark FinkelsteinRandy Ford

Flip GoodspeedJohn Hoff

Stacy Sawyer HunterKaren Lundeen Kurgan

Rick MarvinStacy Fetty Montgomery

Jeff ShullPeter Yardley

Class of ‘79 gift

GRANT HIGHLIGHT | Gone BoardingA little over a year ago, East Grand Rapids High School art teacher Terry Szpieg wrote a grant request for more than $21,000 over three years from the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation. Szpieg wanted to start a class at the high school called Gone Boarding, in which students would design and build their own skateboards, surfboards and snowboards.The Foundation Board took the leap and approved the grant, but nobody knew if enough kids would be interested in it to make it worthwhile. So when students were given the opportunity to sign up for Gone Boarding last spring, and 157 students said they wanted to take the class, Szpieg knew he had a hit on his hands.Twenty seniors were selected to take the inaugural Gone Boarding class. Szpieg is thrilled to see how it’s taking shape. “This class is so much fun,” he says. “It’s new. It’s different. It’s exciting!” Gone Boarding enables students to learn real-world STEAM concepts including physics, drafting, and aerodynamics while designing and building their own boards. “This class can have a far-reaching impact by getting kids involved,” Szpieg says.

On any given day, the class is a hub of activity, with teams and individuals at different stages of their projects. “The kids are really enjoying the class and they’re putting

a lot into it,” he says. “I’m just so glad we have the support of the schools and our community to make this possible. And it’s only going to grow from here. The

grant is for first semester this year, next year, and the year after that. Long term, this is going to make a huge difference in students’ lives.”

Thank you to the members of the Louise Neesley Legacy Society REN BRANDER ‘55

LINDA KEHM*LOUISE HITT NEESLEY*

MARJORIE NEUBIG*PETER AND JOAN SECCHIA

RICH AND ABBY SOROTAJANET L. STRAUSS*

Every donationto supporteducation isan investmentin the future.

“As a member of the East Grand Rapids community, Louise recognized the importance of education and understood the value of our schools and the impact the Foundation can have on our public schools. By making the Foundation part of her estate plan, Louise demonstrated her understanding of how important our schools are to our community.”

—Amy Stuursma Foundation Executive Director

If you have any questions about the Louise Neesley Legacy Society, or any aspect of planned giving, pleasecontact us. We’d be happy to talk to you about making a lasting investment in our community and our children’s future.

Funding school programs gives students of today and tomorrow every opportunity to succeed. A donation made through planned giving takes that investment in the future one step further. Planned giving to the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation is an investment in education for generations to come.

When individuals name the Foundation in their estate plans, they become part of the Louise Neesley Legacy Society.

For more information, please contact Amy at (616) 575-9906 or [email protected]*deceased

THANK YOU to our Foundation office volunteers in 2019! Kim Bardeggia | Bethany Bregenzer | Pam Penney | Mari Persons | Amy Rockwell

Documents

ANONYMOUS SCOTT & NATALIE BERNECKER KV & JENA LACKS