Claudia Hamilton and Jon Hlafter P’31, P’32

Orange Fund volunteer, Orange Fund donors

We fully understand the importance of the Orange Fund’s role in ensuring the School has complete funds for all the extras beyond the curriculum that ECFS provides.

In just over one year at ECFS, we have found a community in which Beatrice and Cecilia truly feel a part. Joining during a non-traditional entry year could have been challenging, but the ECFS community welcomed us so warmly that we immediately thought we belonged. We genuinely feel that we have found the perfect school for every member of our family — one that meets the varied interests of our very different children and one with a parent community in which we feel at home. The faculty have a clear dedication to their students, and we have been so impressed with the projects designed for the curriculum — it is evident that the learning is deep and multifaceted.

We fully understand the importance of the Orange Fund’s role in ensuring the School has complete funds for all the extras beyond the curriculum that ECFS provides. We feel there should be no barriers to accessing ECFS and are proud of the amount of financial aid the School offers — the most in the tri-state area! Gifts of any size, when combined, have a far greater impact than one might realize. It’s easy to understand how a considerable gift has an effect, but cumulative smaller gifts have a profound impact as well!

Crystal Eng Won P’25

Orange Fund Co-Chair, ECFS Athletics coach, Orange Fund donor, Loyal Oaks Society member of 12 years

Supporting ECFS became a natural instinct; we want to ensure that this incredible environment continues for future generations.

The impact of ECFS on our family has been profound, centered on the sense of community and belonging that Jade has experienced. From her very first day, we felt embraced by the warmth and love that radiated from not only the students and their families but also the dedicated educators and administration.

One moment that truly stands out is the winter holiday assembly in Kindergarten. Watching Jade and her classmates passionately sing the Ethical Culture School song was a defining experience for me. Their joy and enthusiasm, knowing the lyrics by heart, filled me with a sense of awe and connection. At that moment, I knew we had found our home.

Our family’s philosophy is that love inspires care, and that’s exactly how we feel about ECFS. The smiles on Jade’s face, whether when she talks about her friends, her teachers, mentors, or her coaches, remind us of the joy this school has brought into our lives. Supporting ECFS became a natural instinct; we want to ensure that this incredible environment continues for future generations. As Co-Chair of the Orange Fund, I’m excited to share our story and spread the love that ECFS has given us.

Nelson Sanchez ’07

ECFS faculty, Fieldston Alumni Network Leadership Committee member, Orange Fund donor

ECFS shaped not only my academic journey but also my personal values, and I am committed to giving back to ensure future generations benefit from the same experiences.

My experiences at ECFS as both a student and teacher have profoundly shaped my life and career path. As a student, I valued the unique approach to education that encouraged critical thinking, self-reflection, and ethical problem-solving from a young age. As an Ethics teacher and Service Learning Coordinator at ECFS, I have grown to deeply appreciate both the sense of community and the School’s commitment to fostering ethical development in students. Working with students on service learning initiatives and delivering the Ethics curriculum has allowed me to witness firsthand the transformative power of education. The lasting relationships I’ve built with colleagues, students, and families are among my most cherished memories.

My decision to support ECFS stems from a deep sense of gratitude for the School’s impact on my life. ECFS shaped not only my academic journey but also my personal values, and I am committed to giving back to ensure future generations benefit from the same experiences. I continue to give because I believe in the mission of the School and its importance in shaping thoughtful, responsible citizens. 

For those considering supporting ECFS, I encourage you to reflect on the role the School has played in your own life. Whether it’s the lessons learned, the relationships formed, or the personal growth experienced. Supporting the School is a meaningful way to ensure that its values and mission continue to thrive for future generations.

Sasha Nicholas ’96 and Steven Caputo P’30, P’32, P’37

Orange Fund volunteer, Orange Fund donors, Loyal Oaks Society members of 25 years

My sense of how fortunate I was to have had such a joyful and inspiring high school education prompted my first donation.

When I was a student, ECFS helped me flourish, gave me a core sense of ethical commitment, and instilled in me the belief that I should find ways to improve the world around me. My sense of how fortunate I was to have had such a joyful and inspiring high school education prompted my first donation.

When I headed to college, my father told me that I should contribute annually to every school I ever attended. The size of the donation wasn’t important — what mattered were the gestures of support and gratitude.

I’m honored to be a part of the Loyal Oaks Society. It’s especially fun attending Loyal Oaks events now that my kids are at ECFS — it gives me a chance to talk to them about the importance of giving back.

Ravindra and Shruti Sarma P’35

Leadership Council Ambassador, Orange Fund donor

When we all give together, we strengthen ECFS and ensure that every student has access to the best possible opportunities.

We wanted to join a school that was not only academically strong but also offered a nurturing environment to support Aarav’s social and emotional growth — a place where he could form meaningful friendships and our family could feel part of a community we had missed during those isolating pandemic years. ECFS fosters a warm, close-knit community, which we believe has been possible thanks to the supportive, welcoming environment created by Aarav’s teachers and the entire ECFS staff, who nurture not only Aarav’s academic growth but also his social and emotional well-being.

We chose to support ECFS because of everything the School has given to our family. Every morning, Aarav wakes up excited to go to school — eager not to miss a single day or even a single minute. To us, this speaks volumes about the unique environment ECFS creates, one that inspires students to engage fully in their learning. We feel incredibly fortunate to provide him with this world-class, well-rounded education. At the same time, we recognize that many bright and deserving students may lack the financial resources to access this opportunity. This is why supporting the Orange Fund is so important to us. We believe it strengthens the ECFS community and exemplifies the School’s mission.

At ECFS, Aarav is encouraged to pursue his passions while being challenged to think deeply, broaden his perspectives, and grow in ways we never imagined. Our advice to other parents considering supporting ECFS is to give what you can, regardless of the amount, and to remember that every contribution counts. High participation reflects our shared commitment to our children’s education and reinforces the values of community and inclusion that ECFS embodies. When we all give together, we strengthen ECFS and ensure that every student has access to the best possible opportunities.

Shiu-Kai Chin ‘71

Orange Fund donor, Loyal Oaks Society member of 20+ years

My first gift to ECFS was to say “thank you” for the lessons of lasting value in ethics, structure, discipline, and perseverance.

I value two things most about my ECFS experience: the constant, consistent lessons in ethics, and the structure, discipline, and perseverance I learned from coach Alton “Smitty” Smith, who coached me in track and soccer, starting with freshman relay. ECFS’s lessons in ethics were of lasting value throughout my professional career at GE’s Electronics Laboratory, the Air Force Research Lab’s Defensive Information Warfare Branch, and Syracuse University. In April 2024, I was shocked to learn I had been awarded Syracuse University’s Chancellor’s Medal, the university’s highest honor.

My first gift to ECFS was to say “thank you” for these lessons. I continue to give to honor ECFS for welcoming my father, Wah Fook Chin, ECFS Class of 1940, and his “American mother,” Ms. Bertha Munn, who took him in as her ward and got him into Fieldston. Dad credited Ms. Munn and ECFS for changing his life. He came to the United States at 9 years old from China in 1930 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II with forward units of the Chinese infantry in the China Offensive. In March 2024, Dad and other Chinese American World War II veterans were awarded Congressional Gold Medals — the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress — for their service. None of the good in my life would have happened without Dad, Bertha Munn, and ECFS.

Everyone has been helped in some way by other people. You can never pay it back — you can only pay it forward. Remember those who taught and helped you. We are all better because of them.