From The
Chief Development Officer
In the Oaks Christian School community, we ask for gifts to our ONE Oaks fund, support for capital projects that enhance our school’s facilities, and participation in special events that build community while supporting the depth and breadth of our student population through financial aid. This report recognizes and acknowledges the generous contributions made to advance all aspects of our amazing school during the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
Investing in our people - hardworking students, amazing teachers, and dedicated staff - was a focus of our approach to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant investments in the classroom, infrastructure, and staffing, while ensuring safety and student learning, in person, remained paramount.
In the following report, you will see names of the parents, grandparents, students, alumni, and friends who dedicated nearly $3 million of their philanthropic dollars to support Oaks Christian School during the 2020-2021 year. Many of our generous partners give year after year. Charitable gifts received during the school year continue the legacy of support that began with the founding of Oaks Christian School nearly 22 years ago.
We are so thankful for your leadership, support, and partnership in Christian education that is forged through these gifts.
It is a blessing for me to serve as a member of the incredible faculty and staff, experiencing the amazing programs in the middle school (as a parent of a sixth grader) and directing our family’s charitable giving to Oaks Christian School.
In the coming weeks, months, and years, we will grow and partner together to strengthen our school for the students of today and tomorrow.
Thank you for your support!
Eddie Moore, Chief Development Officer
Community is the fruit of our capacity to make the interests of others more important than our own. ~Henri Nouwen
An unexpected partnership
When it was time for our son, Matthew, to enter middle school, we knew there were many good options in the area.
We were looking for a school that was strong academically, offered a wide variety of opportunities for our children, and would allow them to blossom in arts and athletics.
We quickly learned that Oaks Christian would give us so much more: something we didn’t know we were looking for—an unexpected partnership in the shaping and molding of our children.
Our son, Matthew, and daughter, Rebekah, both play soccer and have enjoyed exploring courses like film production, dance, ceramics, photography, and intro to global leadership. These courses, taught by Christian teachers who are not only excellent at teaching, but modeling a life given to Christ, have been a huge blessing to our family. While we considered other schools that would suit our children’s academic strengths and extracurricular interests, it was the spiritual focus that really drew our attention to Oaks Christian.
We were a bit naïve about the importance of having a village around us to help shape our children’s character and faith. Oaks Christian teachers are helping our children become the followers of Christ and lovers of learning that we always hoped they would become. The teachers are definitely our favorite aspect of Oaks Christian!
Another highlight of the school which we didn’t expect, but has been a complete joy to our family, has been the incredible sense of community.
We have volunteered extensively and been a part of many parent community groups, and the friendships we have formed run deep. It is a joy to serve at Oaks Christian. We feel like we belong here!
We are happy to give to Oaks Christian to support the teachers, the programs, the students, and the future of this school that has already given our family so much.
- The Kims: Rebekah, Matthew, Jean, and Charles
Thank You for Your Gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure
The Heart of a doctor
Alum Spearheads Kids Cancer Run
Brandon Gettleman, OCS Class of 2011, is a third-year medical student at the University of South Carolina, aspiring to be an orthopedic surgeon. But he isn’t waiting for a diploma or verified initials behind his name to start helping those with medical challenges. Despite an arduous class schedule and nighttime clinical rotations, he and fellow classmate, Kirklen Petersen, carved out time to organize Run with All Your Heart 5K which raised over $20,000 to fund children’s cancer research.
If I was going to put time and effort, I wanted it to be something I found valuable and interesting. For me, it was a way to be involved in the community, and something that could be impactful and continue on once I leave. - Brandon Gettleman
Every Gift Matters
We are grateful to our steadfast donors for your generous support in the 2020-2021 school year. These contributions directly impact our students by enhancing funding for all our programs in our college-preparatory instruction in all grade levels. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy in our gift reporting which runs from July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021. Thank you!
ONE Oaks Diamond Level ($50,000 and above)
ONE Oaks Platinum Level ($25,000 - $49,999)
ONE Oaks Gold Level ($10,000 - $24,999)
ONE Oaks Silver Level ($5,000 - $9,999)
ONE Oaks Cardinal Level (2,500 - $4,999)
ONE Oaks Nation Level (Gifts to $2,499)
Every Gift Makes a Difference!
Thank You Volunteers
Giving goes beyond dollars at Oaks Christian School. Many parents served on our campus during the 2020-21 school year and we are so thankful for the countless hours you spent giving of your time and expertise.
After serving for 13 years as the Volunteer Coordinator Ginger Kohler retired at the end of the 2020-21 school year. We are thankful for Ginger and her contributions to the team.
We are excited to now have Teri Kupfer in the role of Volunteer Coordinator. There are many ways to get involved at OCS and we invite you to reach out to Teri to learn more: tkupfer@oakschristian.org.
ways to give
You can make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of our students! All gifts to Oaks Christian School are vital to the advancement of our mission. We are deeply grateful for your support as we strive to provide a quality, comprehensive Christian education for our young men and women.
- OCS Website
- In Person or Mail: 31749 La Tienda Drive, Westlake Village, Ca., 91362
- Contact Us Directly: 818.575.9204
Maximize Your Gift
Corporate Matching Gifts: many employers will match gifts to support a non-profit.
Stock Gifts – Donate shares of appreciated stock which can result in significant tax advantages.
Planned Gifts – Please contact Chief Development Officer Eddie Moore at emoore@oakschristian.org for information on the benefits of planned giving.
Meet the Team
Administration 2020-21
Rob Black, Head of School
Mike Parkinson – Chief Operating Officer
Kris Thabit - Chief Financial Officer
Eddie Moore – Chief Development Officer
John Huffman – Vice President of Admissions
Dr. Matt Northrop – Associate Head of School, Academics
Dee Dee Mayer – Associate Head of School, Spiritual Life
Cozy Darby – Senior Director of Administration
Karen Coyle – High School Principal
Garett Freeman – Middle School Principal
Stewardship Report
The annual Stewardship Report is a publication of Oaks Christian School, under the auspices of the OCS Advancement Department and OCS Marketing Department. All rights reserved.
Maria Cowell – Director of Marketing and Communications, Editor, Graphics
Blanca Schnobrich, Graphics
Contributing Photographers: The Kim Family, The Price Family, Brandon Gettleman, Savanah Knapp (Class of 2024), Marcus Choi, Maria Cowell, Blanca Schnobrich
31749 La Tienda Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91362
Credits:
Created with an image by RonaldCandonga - "job office team"