Giving

Endowment

The Bush Endowment

The endowment is an important part of the school’s overall fiscal year performance. Our donors’ commitment to the endowment supports the school’s vitality and solidifies their legacy with the school. The total value of the Bush endowment as of June 30, 2022 was $23,588,753. 
An endowment is considered an indicator of the financial health of an institution. We are pleased to honor the generosity of donors to the endowment fund. The Development Office shares the status of the Bush endowment with donors, and the fund(s) they contributed. Each year, benefactors receive a financial report as well as a story, an experience or project related to their fund.

The endowment is held, managed, and invested under the direction of the Board of Trustees of the School.  In 2020, the Board invested 20% of the Endowment, currently about $6 million, in ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) funds. This move represents an alignment of the School’s values with the fund investments. Total spending of the funds for any given fiscal year will be capped at five percent (5%) of the average market value of the funds, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Trustees based on a recommendation of the Finance Committee of the Board.
Thank you for visiting this page. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Bush Development Office at development@bush.edu.

Endowment Funds

List of 38 items.

  • Alan Turing Endowment for Computer Science Instruction

    Gabe Newell and Lisa Mennet, and their children Gray Newell ’16 and Luc Mennet ’18, established the Alan Turing Endowment for Computer Science Instruction in 2013 to provide funding for computer programming courses in the Upper School. Over time, and as technology evolves, the specific use of the fund may change to support instruction in new and emerging areas in the disciplines of computer science and technology.
  • Build Bush Phase 2 Faculty Endowment Fund

    In 2001, The Bush School and The Board of Trustees embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign and raised philanthropic support for new facilities, the endowment, enhanced programs, and other proper Board-designated purposes.
  • Celebrate Bush Faculty Compensation Endowment Fund

    In March 2002, contributions to the Fund-an-Item at Celebrate Bush: The Art of Teaching made by parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and other friends established a permanently restricted endowment to support the compensation of Bush teachers. Income from the Celebrate Bush Faculty Compensation Fund provides support for faculty salaries.
  • Class of 1965 Memorial Fund

    This endowed fund was established in 2006 by the members of the Helen Bush School Class of 1965 to honor and memorialize the class and its members. The Class of 1965 Memorial Fund provides support for faculty enrichment opportunities. (1) Monies will be made available for faculty enrichment every year based on the formula described in the school’s endowment spending policy. (2) The exact use of the available funds will be determined by the Director of Finance and Operations working in conjunction with the Head of School. (3) The members of the Class of 1965 will receive a report from the Development Office each year detailing the fund’s earnings and use.
  • Endowment for Athletic Excellence

    This fund was jointly established in 2008 by The Bush School and anonymous founding donors. The Endowment for Athletic Excellence provides the athletic department with additional resources to support its programs.
  • Fay Frederick Padelford Fund

    Philip S. Padelford established this unrestricted fund in 1993 in memory of his first wife, Fay Frederick Padelford, a mother of four Bush alumnae and a member of the Board of Trustees for many years. This endowment honors her deep involvement in the life of The Bush School and is made possible by contributions from Philip and other members of the Padelford family. Income from the fund is used at the Head of School’s discretion to support the areas of greatest need at The Bush School.
  • Fred A. Dust Technology Fund

    The permanently restricted Fred A. Dust Technology Fund was established in 1996 in recognition of Fred Dust’s significant contribution to the development and integration of technology in the educational program at Bush during his tenure as Head of School (1987 to 1996). Income from this fund supports technology projects.
  • Fund for Socio-Economic Diversity

    The permanently restricted Fund for Socio-Economic Diversity was established in 1996 by friends of The Bush School to support financial aid for students from middle-income families.
  • Gardner Nettleton LeCorcq Endowment Fund

    Martha Nettleton Gardner ’36 and her sister, Jane Nettleton LeCocq, established this permanently restricted fund in 1971 to provide scholarship grants. Income from the fund supports financial aid for students selected by the Head of School or a committee appointed by them.
  • General Endowment

    The School began an ambitious capital campaign in 1997, a portion of which went to this general endowment fund. The income generated from the General Endowment is unrestricted as to purpose.
  • George W. Taylor Faculty Endowment Fund

    This permanently restricted fund was established in 1977 in memory of George W. Taylor, who taught at The Bush School from 1972-1976. The fund honors George W. Taylor, a much admired faculty member, whose name has become synonymous with excellence in teaching in the Bush community, and it acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Bush teachers today by providing support for faculty sabbaticals.
     
    Upper School Art Teacher and Art Department Chair Marilyn Smith is the recipient of 2021-2022 George Taylor Sabbatical. Marilyn will took her leave in the spring. 
  • Gerlich Fund for Faculty Salaries

    The Gerlich Fund for Faculty Salaries was created in 1999 through the gifts of Katharyn A. Gerlich to support the compensation of Bush teachers. Income from this permanently restricted fund is used to provide funding for faculty salaries.
  • Goldmark Memorial Fund

    The Goldmark Memorial Fund was established in the months following the Goldmark family’s tragic death in 1985 in memory of Chuck, Annie, Derek ’92, and Colin ’94 Goldmark. The income from this permanently restricted fund supports student financial aid.
  • Helen Ryan Wyman Memorial Endowment

    The Wyman family, including Ann (Chi Chi) ’64, Deehan (Dee) ’65, and Virginia ’67, established this endowment in 1998 as a memorial to their sister Helen (Class of 1966). Income from The Wyman Family Endowment Fund provides support for maintenance and improvement of the lower campus.
  • Jeri Lee Cunningham '71 Endowed Scholarship Fund for the Performing Arts

    The Jeri Lee Cunningham '71 Endowed Scholarship Fund for the Performing Arts was established in honor of Jeri Lee Cunningham ’71 who attended Bush from seventh to twelfth grade and passed away before the age of nineteen. Jeri was active in the Bush school community, especially in the performing arts. The fund is intended to provide financial support and give preference to those students who demonstrate a verified need for financial assistance and an interest and ability in one or all of the following in order of preference - ice-skating, dance, or music.
  • Julie Henke Dahlgren ’54 Endowment for Leadership

    Established by Donald Dahlgren and his children in 2011 to honor Julie's role as a student leader at Bush in an effort to prepare Bush students to take leadership roles in making the world a better place after they graduate.
  • Larsen Fund for Excellence

    This permanently restricted fund was established in honor of the School’s fourth Head of School, Leslie I. Larsen, and his wife Nancy to provide scholarships to students whose talents strengthen the community, salary supplements to attract outstanding teachers, and funding to provide external experts to visit campus. Les Larsen was the Head of School from 1972 to 1987.
  • Marjorie Chandler Livengood Scholarship Endowment Fund

    This permanently restricted fund was established in 1967 in appreciation of the contributions Mrs. Livengood made to the school as its principal (1948 to 1967) .  Following her death in 1980, the Board of Directors designated a portion of the grant received from the Culpeper Foundation for this fund.
  • Mary Lou Ellis Earling Education Endowment Fund

    This fund was established by the Ellis family in 1984 in memory of Mary Lou Ellis, mother of former Bush French teacher Bob Ellis. The purpose of the Mary Lou Ellis Earling Education Endowment Fund is to provide financial support for faculty members who lead international trips at The Bush School.
  • Meta Johnson O'Crotty Memorial Scholarship Fund

    This permanently restricted fund was established in memory of Meta O’Crotty (1924-1994), legendary Bush teacher for thirty-seven years. Her love of language and literature, staunch independence, and infectious sense of humor touched many lives. Income from this fund provides support for student financial aid.
  • Peggy O'Neill Skinner Endowment for Curricular Innovation

    The Peggy O’Neill Skinner Endowment for Curricular Innovation was established in 2011 at the behest of a group of Bush alumni on the occasion of Peggy Skinner’s retirement from The Bush School after almost 40 years of service. Income from this endowment supports future interdisciplinary and multi-divisional (K-12) classes and projects, following Peggy’s wish to expand these opportunities beyond Upper School science classes.
  • Percy L. Abram Fund for Inclusion, Equity, and Justice

    This endowment fund was established in the midst of a global health pandemic and social justice uprising, both of which spotlight the deep-seeded racial inequities in the United States. It was also established six years into the tenure of Head of School Percy L. Abram for whom the fund is named. The Marcotte Solimano family has been inspired by his leadership, intellect, integrity, and authenticity - all critical traits to lead The Bush School in educating the next generation in service to lasting and just change.

    This fund supports diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, strategies, and curriculum and is intentionally designed to give Bush’s Head of School the discretion to identify relevant priorities that offer pathways to societal transformation.
  • Person Family Music Endowment

    This permanently restricted fund was established in 2009 by Mina Brechemin Person ’64 in honor of the Person family. Income from The Person Family Music Endowment provides support for the music program at The Bush School.
  • Ragen Family Scholarship Fund

    This permanently restricted endowment fund was established in 2006 by Brooks and Suzanne Ragen to support financial aid at The Bush School. Funds will be awarded annually to an applicant or existing student whose scholarship, aptitude, and potential leadership skills suggest that the student would be a productive member of The Bush School and the Seattle communities. Monies will be made available from the fund every year according to the school’s endowment spending policy.
  • Robert S. Corkran Wilderness Endowment Fund

    This endowed fund was established through the gifts of many alumni and friends of The Bush School on the occasion of Rob Corkran’s retirement in the spring of 2006. Income from the fund provides support for the operating costs of the school’s wilderness program, including but not limited to financial support for students who cannot otherwise afford to participate in wilderness trips, equipment, and other operating expenses.
  • Sally Abbott Kitchell '68 Memorial Endowment

    Established in Sally's memory, its income is used for the enrichment of arts and literature at Bush by bringing individuals distinguished in those fields to lecture at the school, either to the students during the day or to evening gatherings of the larger community.
  • Sally Ryan and Sally Pritchard Endowment for Drama

    This permanently restricted fund was established in 1999 by John and Sally Ryan and their sons, Jeff ’91, Will ’93, and Ben ’97.

    Following the death of Sally Pritchard in 2022, the Ryan family amended the fund to honor the impact of both Sallys on the Bush Drama Department. Sally Ryan and Sally Pritchard were friends who shared a devotion to the Bush community as a haven for artistic growth and expression.  

    All gifts made to The Sally Ryan and Sally Pritchard Endowment for Drama provide supplemental funding for theatrical productions across divisions.
  • Sheffield and Patricia Phelps Fund

    Sheffield and Patricia Phelps established this permanently restricted fund in 1977 to support the student financial aid program. Shef Phelps was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1959 to 1975. Additional contributions were received in Patty’s memory following her death in 1990.
  • Sis Pease Endowed Financial Aid Fund

    The Sis Pease Endowed Financial Aid Fund was established in honor of Sis Pease’s retirement from the Board of Trustees in 2007. Income from this permanently restricted fund provides support for student financial aid. The generous contributions to the Sis Pease Endowed Financial Aid Fund, have provided a legacy that honors the work of Sis Pease at The Bush School. This fund has received a multitude of gifts from Board members, faculty, parents, and alumni.
  • Technology Endowment Fund

    This fund was created with funds contributed to the 2001: A Bush Odyssey Fund-an-Item by parents, faculty, staff, alumnae/i, and other friends to support the use of technology at The Bush School.
  • The Drs. Blanche Sellers Lavizzo and Philip Lavizzo Fund for Financial Aid

    To increase access for students and families whose finances are a barrier to attending The Bush School. The Lavizzo Fund for Financial Aid (Fund) will support financial aid to students for tuition and other school-related expenses.

    Background: As a member of The Bush School Class of 1972, Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey believes in the quality of a Bush education. Her parents, Dr. Blanche Sellers Lavizzo and Dr. Philip Lavizzo, instilled the value of quality education for all at an early age. Risa is now memorializing her parents' care and commitment to education by establishing an endowment fund in their name. 

    Drs. Lavizzo left an incredible legacy in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest through their careers in medicine, but their stories are deeply rooted in education and justice. 

    Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey's pediatrician mother, Dr. Blanche Sellers Lavizzo, and surgeon husband Dr. Philip Lavizzo left medical practices in New Orleans, Louisiana, to pursue their careers in the Northwest.

    Dr. Sellers Lavizzo was the first African American woman pediatrician in the state of Washington. She arrived in Seattle in July 1956 and began her pediatric practice in the Central District. She served as first medical director of the Qdessa Brown Children's Clinic, a program of Children's Hospital. Her presence and commitment to quality care with dignity was always a source of comfort to concerned parents. 

    Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 11, 1925, she was a friend and schoolmate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Her father was the owner of one of Atlanta's largest black funeral homes. She graduated from Spelman College in 1946, and from Meharry Medical College in 1950. In 1975, she received a Masters in Public Health from the University of Washington. 

    An active force in the black community, she served on the board of the Girls Club of Puget Sound and as president of the Seattle Chapter of Links, Inc., a national black women's service organization. She contributed her time to many other community organizations including the Seattle Urban League, United Way of King County, and numerous health organizations. 

    Dr Lavizzo-Mourey's father, Dr. Philip V. Lavizzo was born in 1917 and was one of the first Board Certified African American doctors to practice surgery in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee and initially practiced medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Philip Lavizzo was hired as an assistant surgeon in the United States Public Health Service in Seattle. 

    In 1956-1957, Dr. Lavizzo served on the education committee of the Seattle Urban League. In 1965, he was appointed chairman of the personnel committee of the Seattle King County Economic Opportunity Committee (EOC) Board, the local government. The King County EOC managed a range of anti-poverty programs and initiatives in the area. Also in 1965, Dr. Lavizzo became one of the eleven founding members of the Alpha Omicron Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. 

    Although both Blanche and Philip Lavizzo were committed to education and public service, both died prematurely and never saw the ways their investments in Risa's education especially the decision to enroll her in The Bush School paid off.
  • The Dylan Young '88 Fund for Possibility

    Established in 2015 to provide financial aid to students with physical limitations. Dylan Young '88 trained and competed in wheelchair track and won a gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, going on to compete in wheelchair rugby, tennis, crew, and sailing.
  • The Endowment Fund for Financial Aid

    The Financial Aid Fund was established in 2015. The generous contributions to the Financial Aid Fund are permanently restricted to support student financial aid at The Bush School.
  • The Frank Magusin Head of School Discretionary Endowment Fund

    The Frank Magusin Head of School Discretionary Endowment Fund was established in 2013 to honor the legacy of Frank Magusin who served as Head of School from 2000 to 2014. Income from this fund is allocated at the discretion of the current Head of School, enabling the Head of School to make targeted investments in new and innovative programs and to direct support to areas that further The Bush School’s mission.
  • The Ian Fair Fund for the Methow Campus

    In memory of Ian Fair, The Bush School and Ian’s loving family and friends have established The Ian Fair Fund for the Methow Campus. To honor Ian’s vision and dedication, the Fund supports the integration of wilderness, cultural, and immersive experiential learning for students of The Bush School and the Methow Valley. Ian envisioned a unique and powerful opportunity for students from the east and west sides of the Cascades to engage with and learn from one another in the magic of the Methow Valley – a place Ian cherished and called home. Those involved with the program will carry forth his vision and infectious enthusiasm for teaching, the community, and the great outdoors. In his role as program coordinator, Ian was hired to launch an experiential and project-based curriculum on the new campus. Ian was the perfect partner to build bridges, generate big ideas, and share the beauty and wonder of the places and people of the Methow Valley. With passion, experience, and a generous heart, Ian immediately connected with students, colleagues, and the community to pave the way for a program to deliver on the school’s bold promise of sparking in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.

    The Ian Fair Fund for the Methow Campus
    Michaela Precourt 
    Methow Campus Program Manager | The Bush School
     
    In the 2020-2021 school year, programming at the Methow Campus had to be reenvisioned, as was the case with other areas of experiential learning through the COVID-19 pandemic.
     
    Part of our work on the Methow Valley Elementary Family and Community Engagement committee in 2020-2021 was to address equity of access to summer camps and other out-of-school opportunities.  With the shift of many organizations to online registration, there was a very real barrier for families who didn’t have reliable internet access, in addition to the cost of these programs.  Working with the Counselor and English Language Learner Liaison at Liberty Bell High School, we pre-registered seven students for summer camps at The Bush School whose tuition was paid through The Ian Fair Fund for the Methow Campus.  They enrolled in Art in Nature, Fly-fishing, and Orienteering with amazing instructors.   
     
    Not only did these seven students have experiences that introduced them to new skills and strengths, the camps was richer due to their presence.
  • The Russell and Melonee Horowitz Scholarship Endowment

    Russell and Melonee Horowitz and their children Melañia '22 and Mila have established The Russell and Melonee Horowitz Scholarship Fund in March of 2014, as a commitment to making a Bush School education accessible to students regardless of their financial circumstances.
  • The Simon and Max Kreielsheimer Endowment Fund

    This was created when The Kreielsheimer Foundation awarded a grant to the School's General Endowment fund. Max and Simon Kreielsheimer attended Bush from 1948 to 1955; their youngest sister, Olivia, joined them when she entered Kindergarten in 1949 and was a student during the 1950's. The Fund's unrestricted purpose is to support the mission of The Bush School.
  • Wang-Zhu Chinese Language Program Fund for Mandarin Studies

    Established in September, 2020 the purpose of The Wang-Zhu Chinese Language Program Fund for Mandarin Studies is to support the Middle School and Upper School Mandarin language programs for at least the next 10 years at The Bush School. The goal of a comprehensive Mandarin program is to provide students the opportunity to study throughout their Middle School and Upper School years, gaining an appreciation and proficiency of the language and culture.
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 735 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.

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