Giving

SJR Foundation

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About the SJR Foundation Inc.

The SJR Foundation Inc. was incorporated in 1998 as a successor to the SJR foundation, which was created in 1962 to administer any property and assets that may be conveyed to the Foundation by the School or by friends of the School. The SJR Foundation was established to manage funds endowed to the School for the provision of scholarships and financial aid (bursaries), maintaining our beautiful campus and supporting ongoing education and classroom enrichment throughout the School. The Foundation ensures the Capital is preserved and earns investment income to provide a reliable and sustainable annual allocation to the School. Gifts made to the endowment are held by the SJR Foundation and remain at SJR in perpetuity. 

The endowment funds, which are administered by the Directors of the Foundation, currently exceed $12 million. Three different funds make up the Foundation's holdings:


List of 3 items.

  • Campus Sustainability Fund

    providing funding for projects to renew facilities and grounds
  • Financial Aid Fund

    supporting SJR's Financial Aid Program (Needs Based Financial Aid and Scholarships)
  • Innovation Fund

    providing funding to support ongoing training, education and academic enrichment for students and faculty

Creating an Endowed Fund

A minimum contribution of $25,000 is required to support the creation of a non-scholarship named fund. $100,000 is required to create a scholarship fund.

Scholarships
With the creation of a scholarship within the Academic Endowment, one $500 scholarship may be created, with the remaining allocations from the fund going towards financial aid.  The criteria for merit-based awards will be established in consultation with the donor and the School’s academic administrators and will align with the School’s Vision, Mission and Values. 

Non-scholarship endowments
The donor may elect to have 100% of the allocations related to the fund used for financial aid,  the campus renewal endowment or the innovation fund.   
 

Heidi Birchard, Past Foundation Board Chair

Thank you to all donors past and present who have contributed endowment capital to the Foundation. Your donations will continue to benefit students at the School year after year.

Board Chair

Ms. Maria Pewarchuk

Directors

Mr. Rob Cunningham ‘83
Mr. Mackenzie Kirouac '11
Mr. Andrew Knox '91
Mr. Jonathon Woolley
Ms. Celyna Yu '15

Officers

Ms. Maria Pewarchuk - Board Chair
Mr. Andrew Knox '91  - Vice Chair
Vacant - Treasurer
Mr. Mackenzie Kirouac '11 - Secretary

Ex-Officio

Dr. Tracie Afifi - SJR Past Board Chair
Ms. Leney Richardson - SJR Board Chair
Mr. Jason King '05 - SJRAA Representative
Mr. Jim Keefe - Head of School 

Advisors

Ms. Christina Barwinsky '86 - Director of Advancement
Ms. Jillian Lamothe - Deputy Head, Finance and Operations
St. John’s-Ravenscourt School was founded in 1820 principally to serve the children of the Selkirk settlers. By 1834 there were forty students, evenly split between boys and girls. SJR has inevitably grown and changed over the years since, though its success throughout has been unimpeachable. We have graduated 18 Rhodes scholars, for example, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted patronage and established a scholarship in her name in 1981. Today the programs are as strong as our reputation. A strong academic program is paired with an equally strong attention to the values of stewardship, ethical leadership, and excellence in all areas of academic, social and athletic life.