Van Otterloo $1M Gift Supports New Tuition Scholarship
Shore is the recipient of a $1 million gift from The Van Otterloo Family Foundation. Made in honor of longtime Head of School Larry Griffin, who retires in June, 2017, after 30 years, the gift establishes a new endowed fund that will enable Shore to meet the financial assistance needs of one additional student each year. The Lawrence A. Griffin Endowed Fund will provide financial assistance each year for a student whose family would not otherwise be able to afford a Shore education.
Erin van Otterloo, Executive Director of The Van Otterloo Family Foundation, said, “In keeping with the mission of the Foundation, we are pleased to honor Larry’s legacy with this gift to Shore. We feel confident that this gift will make an impact in the lives of students and families right away. One of the goals of this gift is to encourage and inspire alumni and families to support Shore generously in honor of Larry and financial aid, so we can make an even bigger impact in the lives of future students.”
Based in Marblehead, The Van Otterloo Family Foundation seeks to make outstanding and lasting education accessible to people from all backgrounds. It was founded in 1997 by Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo, generous North Shore philanthropists and internationally renowned collectors of Dutch and Flemish art. The van Otterloos have known Larry Griffin and his wife Cathy since the Griffin family arrived at Shore Country Day School in 1987. As President of the Board of Trustees from 1987-1990, Eijk worked closely with Griffin to envision Shore’s future. Rose-Marie served on the Board of Trustees from 1992-1998, and both have served in leadership roles at Shore for the past 30 years. Two of the van Otterloos’ sons are Shore graduates—Nils ’90 and Sander ’91—and three of their grandchildren are current students there. Sander van Otterloo has been a faculty member at Shore since 2002, and is the school’s Director of Secondary School Counseling.
Recalling their longstanding connections to Griffin and Shore, Rose-Marie van Otterloo said, “Eijk and I have known Larry and Cathy for three decades, and we cannot think of a better way to honor Larry’s legacy and dedication to education and the greater Shore community. We are grateful for his strong leadership, his instinctive understanding of children, and his lasting friendship.”
“As I look toward retirement,” said Larry Griffin, “this gift comes as a wonderful, welcome surprise, from generous friends whom I admire. Together the van Otterloo family, through years of service, leadership, and generosity, has transformed Shore. We are indebted to them for their investment and vision.”
Shore’s Director of Advancement, Jody Johnson, said, “This magnificent gift comes at a time when generations of Shore families and friends want to celebrate and honor our Head of School and make a difference in the community. The van Otterloos’ support will allow us to admit one additional student next fall, and augment our financial assistance program immediately.”
Shore welcomes additional support for the Lawrence A. Griffin Endowed Fund through gifts of all sizes via the school’s website: www.shoreschool.org.-
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Eijk and Rose-Marie van Otterloo
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Head of School Larry Griffin with wife Cathy and black Labrador Charlotte
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Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other programs.