Supporting Her at Hun
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of girls and women at The Hun School of Princeton, we invite you to join fellow alumni and friends by supporting the School with an unrestricted gift to the Hun Fund or a gift designated to your individual interests.
Spotlight on Female Donors
Lynn Breen
Since joining The Hun School community as a parent of three children who graduated in the early 2000s, Lynn Breen has always been committed to giving back to The Hun School. While her children attended Hun, she was an active member of the Parents’ Association, and served as its chair for three years. She later served as a member of the Board of Trustees for nine years, was elected as Trustee Emeritus in 2017, and still serves as a member of the Board's Education Committee.
Together with her husband, Ed, Mrs. Breen has been a longtime leadership donor. Most recently in 2019, the Breens gifted $5 million dollars to The Hun School, the single largest gift in School history. The newly opened Breen Performing Arts Center bears her family’s name and is a testament to the support and dedication she has extended to the School. Over the years, the Breens have supported several major campus projects including the Wilf Family Global Commons and Athletic Grandstand.
Betty Wold Johnson
As the widow of Robert Wood Johnson III, the grandson of Robert Wood Johnson, co-founder of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, Betty Wold Johnson had the ability to make an impact. She was a renowned philanthropist and made significant contributions to the arts and education all of her life, but in the last few years, she chose a place very close to home to support—The Hun School. Mrs. Johnson raised her five children in a home just two houses away from The Hun School. She and Head of School Jon Brougham shared a passion for education, and after their friendship and a shared passion for civics blossomed, she presented the School with seed money for The John Gale Hun Program for American Civics. Several years later and after seeing its success, Mrs. Johnson endowed the program with a seven-figure gift.
Mrs. Johnson’s generosity did not end with the program’s endowment. In October 2019, she donated her family home at 108 Edgerstoune Road, along with its antiques and elegant contents, to the School. It was her wish that the home serve as the residence for Hun’s Head of School; Mr. Brougham and his family have lived there since 2020.
Rakiyah White '13
As a clothing designer, Rakiyah White ’13 spends her days bringing color and fashion to life, but there is one thing she ensures is always buttoned up—her annual contribution to The Hun School. Ms. White has been a loyal donor every year since her graduation. “Giving was instilled in me from a young age,” she explains. “It’s not about the amount—it could be five dollars—but giving something is better than giving nothing.”
The School’s mission of preparing students to thrive in an ever-changing world resonates with her, as she experienced it firsthand. “Hun helped my parents and me when I was here. It’s such a blessing to give back to the School that gave me so much.”
She also believes the new designations appeal to Hun alumni and friends. She has been motivated to designate her contributions to support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Hun. “As a woman of color, I want my gift to help impact those coming behind us.”
Whether a particular fund interests you or if you prefer your donation to go where it is most needed at that time, Ms. White encourages others to participate, “even if it’s something small.” Imagine if everyone gave something small…it adds up to something big.
Danner Schmunk Riebe '79
Danner Schmunk Riebe ’79 Does it All as an Alumna, Former Employee, Dedicated Volunteer, and Generous Donor
Her sister was thriving at The Hun School, but Danner Schmunk Riebe ’79 was content playing sports and attending high school in Hopewell, New Jersey. She didn’t plan on changing schools–that is, until her parents nudged her. “For me, it was the best thing,” she says.
Mrs. Riebe enjoyed playing sports and school, and Hun showed her that balancing the two was possible. She thrived in the classroom and on the playing field, wrote for the newspaper, and worked on the yearbook. She was also half of the first all-female student council ticket, serving as vice-president. “Hun does that for you. It allows you to pursue things you didn’t even know you wanted to do.”
Her experience as a student had a lasting effect on her. When she was asked to join the Hun’s admissions department upon her graduation from Lafayette College, she jumped at the chance to return. She also taught human anatomy and physiology. She left when her children were born and her family moved to Hong Kong, but the School’s influence never dissipated.
After returning to the United States, Mrs. Riebe has been an active alumna, serving in a wide variety of roles as a committed volunteer and has been a member of the Board of Trustees for seven years. Five years ago, she decided to offer Hun’s life-changing experience to a deserving young woman and established the Schmunk Scholarship. “It’s about giving someone else the chance,” she explains. The scholarship is not focused on academics or sports, since Mrs. Riebe wanted the recipient to be “that all-around kid.”
“It’s not about a certain GPA or specific college acceptance,” she says. “Hun gives you a chance to be you.”
Funds Celebrating Women and Girls
The Subramoni Family Scholarship
Raja Subramoni ’88 and Meena Subramoni ’98, along with their mother, Dr. Jaya Subramoni, established a four-year scholarship in 2020 in honor of their late father. The scholarship is awarded to a female day student of color. The first recipient enrolled as ninth grader in 2021-2022. "I'm very grateful to be the first recipient of this scholarship. It definitely provided an opportunity to continue private school education....It has motivated me to focus even more as a young woman of color on educational opportunities in my future."
The Dianne Somers International Program Fund
For George Koh ’71, having his daughter, Yvonne Koh ’09, halfway around the world would have been much harder but for the dedication of one woman: Ms. Dianne Somers. Ms. Somers, who retired in June 2021, was the director of International Programs at Hun for forty-two years. She was a teacher and counselor, but more importantly served as a surrogate mother to students far from home. Together, the Kohs have established The Dianne Somers International Program Fund, which supports international students by underwriting the program and its activities.
The Michelle Bonacci Marks '89 Leadership Endowment
The Michelle Bonacci Marks '89 Leadership Endowment was established in 2013 through the generosity of family and friends in memory of Michelle Bonacci Marks '89, whose commitment to excellence in athletics, academics, and leadership exemplified the School's highest ideals. Income from the endowment supports an annual speakers’ series aimed at providing skills, perspectives and experiences to both inspire and support Hun School girls and their potential as leaders at the School and beyond.
More Ways to Get Involved
Young Women’s Leadership Cohort
One of the most coveted opportunities for girls at Hun is a small, little-known leadership program of twenty girls called the Young Women’s Leadership Cohort. Students are nominated by faculty in the 9th and 10th grades. Once enrolled, the participants spend two years engaged in evening workshops and activities designed to identify and hone their personal leadership styles. The nominated students are then folded into a robust leadership training program, and set on a path of skill development, networking, and breaking barriers.We are actively recruiting supporters to endow this program. Contact Alexis Brock for more information.
The Hun Fund
Gifts to the Hun Fund impact every student, every day. A healthy annual fund is essential to the operations and growth of our School, and we hope to inspire more alumnae to make a gift to the Hun Fund in honor of this milestone year. Every gift, at any level, is important in advancing the priorities of the School and ensuring that our students thrive in an ever-changing world. Contact Jenn Harris, director of the Hun Fund with questions.
Designated Gifts
Continued growth requires committed resources. Endowed funds and capital gifts provide a reliable source of income and allow the School to continue investing in the excellence of its campus, faculty, and student opportunities. These gifts help provide a stable foundation and strengthen our mission for generations to come. Whether a financial aid fund, dedicated program support, a gift to help create a new facility, or an estate gift, restricted gifts make an immediate and lasting impact. For more information, contact Alexis Brock.