Focus on Friends: The Advancement Team

Philanthropy is the cornerstone of the Friends Seminary community. Generations of families have cared for and continue to love our school through their gifts of time, expertise, and financial support. This generosity sustains the heart of our mission and strengthens our ability to nurture every student in spirit and intellect. We are deeply grateful for the support that keeps our community strong each day.

As we enter the season of giving, we are reminded of the power of philanthropy all around us, from National Philanthropy Day in November to Giving Tuesday in December. These moments invite us to reflect on what it means to give, to serve, and to belong. At Friends, philanthropy is more than a financial contribution; it is a shared practice of care that sustains our Quaker values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. It connects generations and affirms our collective responsibility to “bring about a world that ought to be.”

This month, we turn our spotlight on the Advancement Team, a group of seven professionals whose work ensures that the generosity of our community translates into meaningful opportunities for our students. Each team member brings a unique path to advancement work, yet all share a passion for relationship-building, storytelling, and connecting purpose to action. Beyond fundraising, the team fosters community: they celebrate milestones, steward gratitude, and create spaces where every family and alumni feels that they belong.

Outside their work at Friends, the members of the Advancement Team embody philanthropy in their own lives. They volunteer in their neighborhoods, mentor emerging professionals, and serve causes that reflect their values. Their reflections on the meaning of giving highlight how deeply this work is personal and grounded in purpose.

1. Cristina Artis, Executive Assistant & Advancement Associate: “When stewardship guides our work, gratitude becomes our strongest form of communication. Every endowment report or thoughtful message is a chance to show donors that their giving truly matters.”

2. Christopher Chrzanowski, Database Manager: “Data is the backbone of every donor's story. My role helps ensure every act of generosity is honored, recorded, and remembered.”

3. Marjorie Jean-Paul, Director of Institutional Advancement: “Philanthropy, to me, is an act of love. It is planting seeds of gratitude today so future generations can flourish.”

4. Michael Mudho, Director of Alumni Relations: “When alumni give back, they’re not just making a donation, they’re giving an endorsement for the school they once attended. My role is to keep donors connected and engaged with their alma mater.”

5. Rebecca Holmes, Senior Associate Director of Institutional Advancement: “Philanthropy comes from Greek roots meaning "love of humanity" and in Advancement our work is very much a labor of love! Like generations before us, we strive to inspire donors to make gifts that bring dreams to life.”

6. Ashley Shaw, Director of Events: “When we gather in joy and gratitude, we give more than we realize—together we build a generous and connected community.”

7. Ashley Warmack, Director of Fund for Friends: “I see philanthropy as participation and our collective voices with every person, every gift, every act of kindness strengthening the circle of community at Friends.”

 

As we celebrate this season of gratitude and generosity, we invite all members of the Friends Seminary family to join us in honoring the impact of philanthropy, here at school and in the world around us. Together, we affirm that philanthropy is not a department, but a shared practice of care, belonging, and hope that defines who we are as a Friends community and it connects us in the necessary work of caring for our school for generations of students.