This endowment funds fellowships, which offer an invaluable educational opportunity for select Ransom Everglades students in honor of the eponymous and legendary Ransom Everglades faculty member. For 63 years, Mr. Bowden served Ransom Everglades as an inspirational teacher of English, gifted educational administrator, valued advisor to the head of school, and most importantly, mentor to thousands of students and faculty. From his start at RE in 1955 and until his death in 2018, Mr. Bowden’s unabashed love of language and literature and his passionate advocacy for the humanities provided the intellectual foundation for generations of students. In June 2016, a generous endowment gift by Jeffrey Miller '79, who studied under Mr. Bowden, created the endowment that funds the fellowship program.
Darrow Dutcher Hodges ’63 created an endowment with brothers Arthur ’69 and David in memory of their sibling Douglas Vogt Dutcher ’80. Income from the fund will help to support equity and justice initiatives at Ransom Everglades, which include programs to raise awareness, develop cultural competency and celebrate diversity in all of its forms.
REACH Community Fund
Established in 2012 by the Shepard Broad Foundation, this fund provides income in support of all activities that are sponsored by Ransom Everglades' REACH (Ransom Everglades Athletes Can Help) program, with a priority interest in those activities that make use of the Aquatic Center's Broad REACH pool.
STEM Endowment Fund
Funded by a current family, the STEM Endowment Fund shall support STEM enrichment programming.
Charles E. Seitz III ’73 and the James Deering Danielson Foundation laid the groundwork for many others to follow by formally establishing the Michael Stokes Endowment Fund for Outward Bound in 2012-13 on the occasion of the former faculty member’s 50th-anniversary relationship with the school, as well as the 30th anniversary of the North Carolina Outward Bound / Ransom Everglades program. It was Mr. Stokes who developed the first experiential wilderness group education program at North Carolina Outward Bound. Mr. Stokes passed away in 2021, at the age of 81. He spent 48 years at Ransom Everglades before his retirement in 2010, and his impact at Ransom Everglades School was remarkable.
This endowment was established in 2002 to support the Summerbridge (now Breakthrough Miami) operations.
Flavia Tomasello and John Tsialas established this fund in 2021 to ensure their son’s memory would inspire generations of Ransom Everglades students and to put in place a program that would teach compassionate leadership and skills, and guide students long after they departed RE’s campuses. A generous gift from the Tsialas family along with many donations from those who loved Antonio provided funding for the endowment.
Albir-Sarmiento Family Faculty Summer Study Endowment Fund
The Albir-Sarmiento family created the first faculty summer study endowment fund to provide resources for teachers to attend educationally enriching trips during summer breaks. These opportunities not only serve to expand on the teacher’s knowledge in their subject area concentration but also to bring their newly expanded knowledge and perspectives to the classroom.
Awner Family Professional Development Endowment Fund
The Awner family created a faculty professional development endowment fund to provide resources for teachers to participate in educationally enriching conferences, seminars and classes throughout the school year or during spring/summer breaks. These opportunities not only serve to expand on the teacher’s knowledge in their subject area concentration, but in addition, they serve to bring their newly expanded knowledge and perspectives to the classroom.
Dan Leslie Bowden English Chair Endowment Fund
Thanks to the generosity of alumni and in particular the extraordinary generosity of the Ansin Foundation in 2008, the Dan Leslie Bowden English Chair Endowment Fund was established in honor of legendary English faculty member Mr. Dan Leslie Bowden. To further Mr. Bowden’s legacy and ensure that RE can continue to attract such eminent educators, former students, parents and friends established the first Ransom Everglades School faculty endowment chair. Today, it is known as the Dan Leslie Bowden English Chair and is presented to an English teacher in either the middle or upper school, as determined by the nominating committee.
Buermann-Rogers Faculty Endowment Fund
This endowment was conceived by Eric Buermann ’69, Linda Rogers Buermann ’72, Kurt Buermann ’64 and Craig H. Rogers ’77 to honor their respective parents, Dr. and Mrs. August Buermann III and Mr. and Mrs. Walter S.C. Rogers. Mr. Rogers served as a trustee of Everglades School in the 1960s. Eric Buermann served as a member of the school’s faculty from 1973-74, Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1995-98 and is a Life Trustee. The fund provides resources for faculty to enhance their professional talents through study and experiences outside the classroom.
Critt Butler Faculty Professional Development Endowment Fund
This endowment was created by the Bales-Ryan Family to honor Critt Butler, who embodied the principles of Honor and Excellence upon which Ransom Everglades School is built. A great school depends upon master teachers with a passion for their work supported by inspired leadership and resources for their continuing professional growth. The fund helps to provide those resources. Critt Butler, in his work in development, counseling, and robotics coaching, always kept faith with his students, did whatever needed to be done, and went out of his way to support those whose lives he has touched.
Chinese Faculty Endowment Fund
This endowment was established in 2010 by an anonymous donor to help underwrite the salary of a full-time Chinese teacher.
Faculty Support Endowment Fund
Founded in 2004-05 during the Centennial Campaign, this endowment supports funds for salaries, benefits and professional development.
Edward E. Ford Foundation Fund
This endowment was founded with a grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation, for faculty professional development, grades 9-12.
The Fort Family Endowed Faculty Fund for Visual Arts
The Fort Family Endowed Faculty Fund for Visual Arts shall provide annual financial assistance to one or more faculty members in the Visual Arts department (Middle and Upper Schools) who apply for and are qualified to receive professional development funding in their area of expertise. This Fund shall provide funding to Visual Arts faculty members for professional growth opportunities that will expand their knowledge and skills as educators and mentors to RE students. Additionally, funds may be used for related equipment needed in the Visual Arts department to enhance the curriculum.
The Ann Goesel Mathematics Chair Endowment Fund
Ann Goesel started as a substitute teacher at Everglades School for Girls in 1966 and used her quick mind, warm heart and dry wit to educate and nurture RE students and staff for 46 years. Ms. Goesel continues to be involved with the Ransom Everglades community as a faculty emerita. Former students, parents and friends established the first faculty chair to honor Ms. Goesel in 2007. Today, it is known as the Ann Goesel Mathematics Chair and is presented to a math teacher in either the middle or upper school, as determined by the nominating committee. In 2010 and 2018, the Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation provided grants to help establish and fund this endowment.
Green/Grossman French Faculty Endowment Fund
Drs. John A. I. Grossman and Jacqueline Green established the Green/Grossman French Faculty Endowment Fund to strengthen Ransom Everglades’ ability to provide the highest level of instruction for this traditional liberal arts subject. This fund allows educational opportunities for Ransom Everglades students studying French and the teaching faculty both on and off campus that might not otherwise be available.
Innovation Endowment FundC. Ming Zhao and Liping Xu established this endowment in 2023 to support innovations by school faculty and staff that will allow RE students to be more competitive and more successful in academics and the college selection process. Innovations may be in educational programs, course and curriculum design/reform and college counseling and advisory, for example.
Patrick and Kristen McMahon Faculty Endowment Fund
Patrick and Kristen McMahon established this endowment in 2024 to provide the funds to the school to support cost of living expenses for faculty members.
Mendelson Family Endowment Fund
The Mendelson family understands the importance of supporting the faculty in any endeavor and established this endowment in 2008. With the belief that it is truly the teachers who make the difference in a student’s education, the Mendelsons created this fund to empower the faculty to inspire RE students and make a difference in the community.
John Phillip Penn Faculty Professional Development Endowment Fund
This endowment was created by his daughter Georgia Penn Noble ’74, her husband Carlos Noble and their children Rebecca ’07 and Juan Carlos to honor her father who believed that faculty should also be lifetime learners. The fund provides resources for teachers to participate in educationally enriching conferences, seminars, and classes throughout the school year or during spring/summer breaks.
Curtis Peterson History and Social Sciences Endowment Fund
In 2005, the RE community was shocked by the untimely death of beloved middle school social studies teacher Curt Peterson. The 2004-05 school year was his eighth year teaching at the school. The Gadala-Maria family, which had four children at RE during the school year, created a lasting testimonial to his exceptional teaching talents and dedication to his students with this endowment fund.