Thank You!
Check out our new Annual Giving Guide! Please give generously to the Shaker Schools Foundation’s Annual Giving Appeal. Through philanthropic support from our community, SSF will continue to support the extraordinary work of Shaker Heights City Schools. Together, we can give every child access to a great education and a bright future!
Shaker Schools Foundation
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Foundation makes a difference in the lives of Shaker students each and every day by supporting academics, enrichment, fine arts programming, STEAM innovation, student travel, and more. Established in 1981, the Shaker Schools Foundation was one of the first in the nation to raise funds for a public school system. Since that time, we have raised more than $3.5 million to support the mission of excellence, equity, and exploration that sets the Shaker schools apart. Your support can make the difference for today’s students and for generations to come.
Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend
HOMECOMING 2018: THANK YOU HELPING US CELEBRATE HOMECOMING
September 28 & 29
The Shaker Schools Foundation and Shaker School’s Alumni Relations would like to thank the entire community for coming out to celebrate Shaker at the many Homecoming and Hall of Fame events on September 28-29, 2018!
We are especially grateful to the eight newest inductees into the Shaker Alumni Hall of Fame. On Friday, September 28th, they addressed students at an assembly at the High School and then met with smaller groups of students with similar interests to share their expertise and words of advice. Read some of their inspiring remarks in the Shakerite article. The inductees were honored at a dinner at Shaker Country Club on Saturday night.
Shaker neighbors, families, alumni and community members enjoyed a Friday night event at the Dealership on September 28th and a family festival and winning football game by the Shaker Raiders on Saturday, September 29th. Go Raiders!
EIGHT INDUCTED INTO THE SHAKER SCHOOLS ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
Dr. Abby Goulder Abelson, ‘72, chair of the Cleveland Clinic Department of Rheumatic & Immunologic Diseases and president of the Rheumatology Research Foundation; Michael Green, ‘80, founder and CEO of the Center for Environmental Health; David A. Hansell, ‘71, commissioner of Child Welfare Services for New York City; Judy Harris, ‘66, senior counsel and past managing partner of Reed Smith, who also served in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and at the Federal Communications Commission, and is a mental health advocate; Aaron David Miller, ‘67, vice president for new initiatives, distinguished fellow and director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a CNN global affairs analyst; Kathy Roth-Douquet, ‘82, attorney, author, military family advocate, and CEO of Blue Star Families; Jamil Smith, ‘93, renowned journalist and senior writer at Rolling Stone Magazine; and Abdul Williams, ‘90, film writer and winner of the 2018 NAACP Image Award for outstanding writing for the BET miniseries, “The New Edition Story.”
Our Impact
Keeping the Arts Front and Center
In 2017, the Shaker Heights High School chamber orchestra was invited to compete in the National Orchestra Cup Competition at Lincoln Center in New York City, where they earned second-runner up. The Shaker Schools Foundation provided travel scholarships to several players, including Maverick Wilson, Class of ‘17. “The Foundation made it possible for me to go on this trip, as well as travel to Europe with the orchestra when I was a sophomore,” says Maverick.
Learn more about how those experiences opened new doors for Maverick and led him to study international business in college.
Building Community with Shaker’s First Class
The Shaker Schools Foundation helped to secure major funding for Shaker’s First Class, the District’s full-day, two-year PreK program that serves a diverse cohort of families. Using the International Baccalaureate program, Shaker’s First Class builds community and provides enriching experiences for the students and their families. “The rich content and diversity in the class were very important to us,” says parent Barbara Fedor. “It’s more about understanding the world around them, not just memorization.”
Learn more about how Shaker’s First Class is enriching Shaker’s youngest learners.
Your Support Matters
Innovation Fund
Gifts to the Innovation Fund support STEAM initiatives for Shaker students throughout the District at every grade level. Your support provides hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, using 3D printers, lasers and other emerging technologies.
Annual Fund
Gifts to the Annual Fund provide much-needed operational support that enables the Foundation to raise money for the Shaker Heights City Schools. Recent examples include the purchase of the Planetarium’s Star Machine, the Innovative Center for online learning, and instruments for the band program.
Legacy Fund
The Legacy Fund is a permanent endowment to provide long-term, substantial support to the Shaker Schools in the areas of academia, arts, technology, health and fitness, and special initiatives. Bequests, trusts, other planned gifts, and outright gifts are welcome.
More Ways to Give
The Shaker Schools Foundation also welcomes individual contributions in any amount for the following: Donation in Memory or Honor, Special Projects, Endow a Seat.