Together, We Grow: Join the Momentum Behind the Mighty Oak Fund

As Honorary Chairs for this year’s Mighty Oak Fund, we are grateful for the support many of you have already shown. This year’s goal is $350,000. We know this is a big number, but with this incredible community of supporters, it is absolutely achievable!

As we approach Thanksgiving and Giving Tuesday on December 3rd, it’s a time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for. Oakhill and the impact of the education provided here for our grandchildren are high on our list. This fund contributes to providing an exceptional educational experience for Oakhill students and essential resources for our faculty and staff. The dollars you contribute are meaningful in creating the experience we all want for Oakhill students.

October was an exciting month of giving for the Mighty Oak Fund! The Call-a-Thon showed not only the genuine dedication of the volunteers who made the calls but also the immense generosity of our community. Thanks to the amazing match opportunity provided by the Perkins Family, we exceeded the match goal and brought our total to over $186,000!

In this spirit of collaboration, we were thrilled to partner with another Oakhill family, grandparents Bob and Susan Selby, proud grandparents of Finley Hessemyer (4th grade) and Quinn Hessemyer (1st grade), to amplify the impact of matching dollars. Together, we’ve gathered an additional $50,000 in matching funds to inspire and empower our community to give. This means every dollar you donate right now will go even further. It’s an incredible opportunity to maximize the power of your gift, and we have no doubt that this community can and will make it happen.

To all of our fellow grandparents: there is something so special about seeing your grandchildren thrive. Your support is not only a gift for their education but also an affirmation of your children’s decision to choose Oakhill as the foundation for your family’s future generations. That’s pretty extraordinary. Your contribution is a legacy that shapes not just your grandchildren’s lives but also the community and values they grow up in.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to complete our $350,000 goal by year-end? Please consider joining us in making a gift before the semester ends. Together, we can cross the finish line in record time and ensure Oakhill continues to provide the exceptional educational experiences that make this school so special.

With gratitude for Oakhill,

Karen and Mark Mathes

Make a Gift Online

Don’t forget: Gifts made by December 31 are eligible for 2024 tax deductions. Take advantage of the $50,000 match and make your gift go twice as far today!

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Why We Give: A Family's Oakhill Journey

As we reflect on our journey with Oakhill Day School, it’s incredible to see how much this school has become part of our family. Eleven years ago, after a Kindermusik class, Oakhill alum parent Elizabeth Cuzner encouraged us to visit. From the moment we toured, we were hooked. Our eldest son, Will, began his Oakhill journey in preschool, and now, all three of our boys — Will (7th grade), Jack (3rd grade), and Sam (Prekindergarten) — are thriving in this nurturing and inspiring environment.

Although we explored public school for elementary years, we found our way back to Oakhill for Middle School, seeking greater academic challenge and rigor. What we rediscovered was more than that — we found a community that felt like home. Initially, we wondered if a smaller school could provide the same breadth of opportunities as a larger one, but Oakhill surpassed our expectations. From clubs and activities to hands-on learning, our boys have access to experiences that enrich their education and ignite their passions.

Oakhill’s inclusive sports programs have also been a highlight. Every student gets a chance to play, improve, and compete in a way that keeps the focus on fun. Beyond athletics, opportunities like Will’s involvement in the student ambassador program and National Junior Honor Society have prepared him for leadership roles and instilled values like accountability and service.

Because of these experiences, we are confident our boys are being prepared for high school and beyond. Oakhill’s commitment to academic excellence, character-building, and personalized support ensures they are growing into confident, capable young people.

These are just some of the reasons why our family supports the Mighty Oak Fund. We believe in the transformative power of this community and the opportunities it provides. By contributing to the fund, we can help ensure every Oakhill student has the same exceptional experiences.

Join us in making a difference. Together, we can keep Oakhill extraordinary.

The Edmondson family’s journey with Oakhill Day School began 11 years ago, when alum parent Elizabeth Cuzner recommended a visit after a Kindermusik class. From their first tour, they knew Oakhill was the right fit. Their eldest son, Will, started in preschool, and now all three boys — Will (7th grade), Jack (3rd grade), and Sam (Prekindergarten) — are thriving in Oakhill’s nurturing and inspiring environment.

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Thank You Donors!

Mighty Oak Fund Donor Roster
(updated 11/25/24)

Current Mighty Oak Fund Total: $188,094

 

Legacy Society ($50,000 and up)

Josh and Brittany Perkins
 

Founders Club ($25,000 - $49,000)
 

Circle of Excellence ($10,000 - $24,999)

Josh and Shannon Smith

Robert and Susan Selby

Lambert Tomeldan and Maria Nguyen
 

Head of School ($5,000 - $9,999)

Chris Onik and Molly Rothove

Ron Gregg and Michelle Dew

Papa and Grandma Morris

An Le and Tan Nguyen

Brian and Collin Lovitt

Drew and Krystal Pittenger

Bobbie Mathes
 

Pride Pack ($1,000 - $4,999)

McConnell and Associates

Scott and Cyndi Davidson

Sam and Cori Katzman

Amy Hood

The Baldwin Family

Jake and Stephanie Kleyh

Smith and Elizabeth Manion

Jared and Mary Mathes

Kevin and Suzanne McCanles

Ryan and Bridgette Mitchell

Kevin Ong and Amanda Lam

Tammy Wright and Chris Jay

Bryan and Rebecca Plemmons

Sarah and Julia Weindruch

Aaron Ross and Anne Wheeler

Peter and Maggie Newhouse

Kevin and Michelle Shekleton

Michael and Courteney Williamson

Josh and Amanda Kroman

Doug and Gayle Grego

Jerry and Linda Hurst

Joe and Elizabeth Edmondson

Jeff and Janessa Hurst

Thomas and Hilary Onik

Jason Parson

Kent and Heeok Peterson

Mitesh and Neena Patel

Nick and Carissa Wegner
 

1947 Club ($500 - $999)

Anonymous

Mike and Jackie Meilink

The Fernandez and Moss Families

David and Marcy Driskill

Brad and Kristin Forsen

Justin and Laurel Mathes

Mick and Kelly Freyermuth

Zane and Taylor Myers

Jeff and Audra Olson

Elaine Scheidecker

Ryan and Laura Schmidt

Richard and Kathryn Dodson

Matt and Alyssa Kimbrough

Nate Poundstone

Susan Saunders

Terri Ferris

The Verwers Family

Melinda Kadel

JC and Jennifer Cox

David and Jamie Travaglione

Jared and Pamela Cohen

Ben and Cassie Musfeldt

Shannon Hessemeyer and Shannon Selby

Ryan and Genevieve Vicary

Kevin and Nicole White

Fast Enterprises

Chris and Jenny Henry
 

Teal and White ($250 - $499)

Kathy Trager

Chris and Dorothy Beckham

Robert and Joy Jackson

David and Kathryn Barone

Trent Alison Mordhorst

Christopher and Allie King

Randy and Mary Hill

Carter Bruns

Kit and Angie Lacey

Brent and Erin Carver

Jeremy and Erica Scott

Mary Sue Smith

Bob and Gola MacDonald

Ronald and Carol Giddens

Cory and Katherine Alsip

Bryant and Lauren Ash

Johnny Bui and Amy Le

Ashley Lackey

Sunny and Jana Kumar

Matthew and Haley Haar 

Joshua Wood

Christian and Tori Jones

Stewart and Lisa Johnson

Brian and Christine Park
 

Friends of Oakhill ($1 - $249)

Dave and Sandy Clarkson

Jase and Mindy Thompson

Mary-Kathryn Wert

Philip Vollenweider and Maria Vollenweider Diaz

Jill Arganbright and William Young

Johnathan and Angela Compton

Margaret and Ty Sarver

Mike and Janet Holloway

Jeremy and Stephanie Lafferty

Lisa Manley

Janelle and Mike Crouse

Don and Sharon Phillips

Micah and Sarah Tenner

Shelby Robinson

Kaylyn and Taylor Clevenger

James and Laura Pearce

Ann and Forest Bertoldie

The Egbert Family

Jeffrey Holmes and Cody WalkerHolmes

Cameron and Jessica Love

Huy Tran and Nghi Ta

The Ely Family

David Pittenger

Martin and Becky Clemis

Daniel and Kristin Smith

Chris and Erin Stout

UMB Bank *Matching Gift

Lucas and Stephanie Youngblood

Glenn and Nancy Surber

Dale and Amie Robertson

Michelle McDaniel and Andrew Wert

Sherri and Jeff Gannon

Lacy Compton

Swasey and Jena Brown

Daniel and Donna Weindruch

Nicholas and Lena Rodriguez

Greg and Tiara Palmer

Joe and Connie Manns

Victoria Rudolph

Larry and Jo Hill

Quentin and Dena Cole

Alex and Michelle Boyd

Bredgett and Shaun Capilitan

Heidi Hulé

Eyob and Mallory Alemayehu

Matt and Katie Brunkhorst

Wyatt and Summer Craven

Bill and Tara Johnson

Sarah Schaaf

Raymond Kung and Eve Soo

Craig and Katie Parker

Mike and Abby Pavlisin

Michael Devitt and Stacey Stowers-Devitt

William and Riga Sutherland

Khanh Tran and Hoang Le

Brett and Geneice Warga

Joseph Quijano and Lauren Winstead

Denton Koon and Logan Cox

Anna Amelia Clemmons

Erin Frank

Justin and Nicole Fallein

Brett and Elaine Smith

Tim and Hayley Ziegler

Shawn and Tondee Lutterman

Jeff and Amy Harlin

Erik and Kim Krawchuk

Calan and Sarah McConkey

Brett and Nikki McElwaine

Cody and Molly Spoon

Jamie Robinson

Sam and Melaina Hagan

Peter Mesh and Andrea Fontana

 

Add my name to the list!

If you do not see your name listed, or if it is not listed as you would like, please contact Sherri Gannon to ensure we have accurate information for the annual report. We appreciate your generous support and want to make sure that we recognize your gift correctly.