Giving Back: Lon and Bonnie Greenberg GP’25, ’27

Former Friends Select grandparents and longtime supporters of the school, Lon and Bonnie Greenberg GP’25, ’27 recently made a significant contribution to create an endowment fund for SummerSessions, a facet of the Advance Friends Select: Transformation Campaign.

Their support for Friends Select’s summer programming started during their first meeting with head of school Michael Gary, upon his arrival at FSS. “Even as a new resident of Philadelphia at the time, Michael recognized the school’s unique position on the Parkway,” Bonnie said. “Here is a school that has so many of the city’s greatest cultural and scientific institutions in its immediate vicinity.”

The couple was particularly taken by Michael’s mission to reach beyond the school’s boundaries into neighboring communities whose children might not have the financial means to attend Friends Select. “We thus became supporters of and contributors to SummerSessions to help bridge the gap between the advantages of a Friends Select education and the challenges of a beleaguered public school system,” Bonnie said. “Our hope is that other private schools learn from Friends Select and replicate its summer program across Philadelphia.”

The flagship summer programming of Friends Select, SummerSessions uses the school’s resources and partnerships, along with its connections to the city and other local institutions, to offer curricula that takes place both inside and outside of the classroom. The SummerSessions program offers academic classes that enable students to advance in math, science, world languages, and the arts, as well as experiential learning inspired by the interests and passions of FSS faculty through courses like Podcasting 101, Urban Photography, Webcomics Workshop, and more. 

By opening SummerSessions to students from the Philadelphia area, children from underserved communities have opportunities to participate in classes they might not typically experience, placing them in a better position to excel. Many SummerSessions courses have been specifically designed with these students in mind. For example, Algebra I in Spanish, led by middle school math teacher Satoia Wright, is taught exclusively in Spanish and was created to support Spanish-speaking students from other schools in the city. For a younger audience, Gathering of Young English Language Learners invites students in pre-kindergarten to 7th grade to work on speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English. The course was created to support students who are learning English or want to practice their skills.

Creating an endowment for SummerSessions with contributions, like Lon and Bonnie’s, enables Friends Select to welcome additional Philadelphia-area students who are interested in taking classes at the school but might not have the means to afford a Friends Select education. “As a private school with a public purpose, it is our goal to make a world-class education accessible to the children in the Philadelphia area,” said Michael. “One way we can live into being a school in the city and of the city is to share our resources with the families who are living right here, particularly families in public schools. Friends Select is perfectly situated to help students from other schools through SummerSessions.”

Although Lon and Bonnie’s grandsons, Ben and Zach, now attend schools closer to their home, Lon and Bonnie continue their dedicated support of Friends Select. “Clearly, we believe in the values of Friends Select as they apply to all children who attend,” Bonnie said. “There is a happiness that permeates the premises—it appears on the faces of students and teachers alike—that proves learning can be a joyful experience.”  

If you would like to contribute to 
the Advance Friends Select: Transformation Campaign, please contact chief development officer Email and Call Christine Jefferson.