Support Shipley

Volunteer Opportunities

The Shipley community has a wide range of ways for parents and alumni to share their skills and ideas.

For Parents

List of 8 items.

  • Join an Event Committee

    There’s a role for everyone and an event that’s right for you. Whether you have a few hours to spare or can take on a leadership role, our events depend upon volunteers to support these events that raise funds to support Shipley students and academic programs.
     
    To learn more about the events below, contact Melissa Keiper, Associate Director of Constituent Engagement.
     
    The largest fundraising event of the year, Spring Auction generates funds that further enhance the Shipley educational experience. Traditionally held in Yarnall Gymnasium, the event includes silent and live auctions, food, live music, and lots of fun.

    This all-day tour of private gardens is held in a different area each year. The committee plans and hosts the tour, which includes a luncheon with selected vendors and Shipley’s Garden Boutique.

    Garden Guide (May)
    If you’d like to get involved with Secret Gardens in a different way, please consider volunteering to be a Garden Guide! Guides do not need any garden-related knowledge and help us on the day of the event in 3-hour shifts.

  • Shipley Blooms Crew

    Join other plant enthusiasts and help beautify Shipley’s walkways with seasonal container gardens. No experience necessary!
    Contact: Sarah Sterling, Associate Director of College Counseling and Educational Horticulture Coordinator

  • Encourage Parent Giving

    Each year, every parent is asked to support Shipley through Annual Giving. You can help Shipley increase dollars raised as well as participation by contacting other parents and asking them to join you in supporting the School. Outreach is initially conducted through letter, with follow up made by phone and/or email. Contact: Dan Dougherty, Director of Annual Giving  or Kristin Schwoebel Associate Director of Annual Giving

  • Shipley Ambassadors

    Shipley Ambassadors reach out to the greater community (and potential new families) to tell their Shipley story and use word of mouth to help market the School to others.
    Contact: Rafhia Foster, Director of Enrollment

  • Parent Testimonial

    Tell others why you support Shipley! Testimonials can be two-to-three sentences or two-to-three paragraphs, and they are generally featured both in print and online.
    Contact: Melissa Tassoni, Director of Marketing

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Various groups have been formed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across Shipley's campus: the Lower School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Family Committee; the Middle School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Family Committee; and the Upper School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Family Committee. 
    Contact: Sheri Rider Jobe, Interim Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • Parent Coordinators & Lower School Section Parents

    You can help facilitate effective communication between school and home, and work to build a volunteer community. In Lower School, there are also Section Parents who are managed by grade-level Parent Coordinators.
    Contact Division Head for more information:
    Lower School: Timothy Lightman
    Middle School: Shane Kinsella
    Upper School: Kris Ryan

  • Share Your Love of Books

    The Lower and Middle School Book Fairs, which take place in the spring, benefit the library. A large selection of books from the students’ summer reading lists, best-sellers, and books for the entire family are available.
    Contact: The Lower School or The Middle School Coordinator

For Alumni

List of 12 items.

  • Class Agent

    As a Class Agent, you represent the School in your efforts to promote alumni engagement and encourage financial support from members of your class. Class Agents also play a vital role in keeping classmates connected by maintaining and promoting communication.
    Contact: Dan Dougherty, Director of Annual Giving or Kristin Schwoebel, Associate Director of Annual Giving

  • Guest Speakers & Student Mentoring

    There are a variety of opportunities to work with students in a classroom setting. Shipley students love to hear (and greatly benefit from) your real-world perspective in an area they are considering as a career. Teachers in all grades welcome guest speakers to support their curricula.
    Contact: Ali Schwartz ’10, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

  • Alumni Mentoring

    If you are interested in connecting and sharing your knowledge with a college student or young professional, please consider becoming a mentor by contacting Ali Schwartz ’10, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

  • Host an Alumni Weekend Class Party

    Each year, 15 reunion classes (5th - 75th!) celebrate their milestone Shipley reunion with a special party on the Saturday of Alumni Weekend. The Shipley Alumni Office is always looking for alumni who want to be involved and can offer their homes or another venue to help their class celebrate.
    Contact: Ali Schwartz ’10, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

  • Encourage Alumni Giving

    Shipley depends on the philanthropic gifts of alumni, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, faculty and staff, friends, and others. Each year, Shipley sends solicitations asking for support from the alumni community. With an alumni body of more than 5,000, your help would be greatly appreciated. You can volunteer to encourage alumni to give, share your story about why supporting Shipley is important to you, call fellow donors to say "thank you," or sign a solicitation letter to add a personal touch. Whether you have thirty minutes to spare or several hours, your help will make a difference!
    Contact: Dan Dougherty, Director of Annual Giving or Kristin Schwoebel, Associate Director of Annual Giving

  • Shipley Admissions Ambassadors

    Shipley Ambassadors reach out to the greater community (and potential new families) to tell their Shipley story and use word of mouth to help market the School to others.
    Contact: Rafhia Foster, Director of Enrollment

  • Alumni Book Club

    Our Alumni Book Club, led by alumna and former colleague Lura Coleman Wampler ’56, meets every 6 to 8 weeks throughout the year.
    Contact: Ali Schwartz ’10, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

  • Shipley Blooms Crew

    Join other plant enthusiasts and help beautify Shipley’s walkways with seasonal container gardens. No experience necessary!
    Contact: Sarah Sterling, Associate Director of College Counseling and Educational Horticulture Coordinator

  • Join an Event Committee

    There’s a role for everyone and an event that’s right for you. Whether you have a few hours to spare or can take on a leadership role, our events depend upon volunteers to support these events that raise funds to support Shipley students and academic programs. To learn more about the events below, contact Melissa Keiper, Associate Director of Constituent Engagement.
    The largest fundraising event of the year, the Spring Auction is a one-night event that features both a live and silent auction. Volunteers help in a variety of ways; including, but not limited to, marketing, decor, event planning, and acquisitions.
    The all-day tour of private gardens is held in a different area each year. The committee plans and hosts the tour, which includes a luncheon with selected vendors at Shipley’s Garden Boutique.
    Secret Gardens - Garden Guide (May)
    If you’d like to get involved with Secret Gardens in a different way, please consider volunteering to be a Garden Guide! Guides do not need any garden-related knowledge and help us on the day of the event in 3-hour shifts.

  • Provide Goods or Services

    Shipley's Spring Auction is the largest fundraising event of the year - with both a live and silent auction as part of the evening. Donate experiences, services, or goods to be sold to the highest bidder! 
    Contact: Josie Burri, Director of Philanthropy

  • Alumni Attendance Committee

    Serve on the attendance committee for a virtual alumni event. We would love to have you help us with event attendance by reaching out to fellow Shipley alumni!
    Contact: Ali Schwartz ’10, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement 

  • Alumni Data

    At Shipley, we strive to have the most up-to-date data on our entire alumni community. Alumni data volunteers can work from anywhere in the world to help update the Shipley database by encouraging other alumni to update Shipley when they move, change jobs, get married, or have children.
    Contact: Ali Schwartz ’10, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement 

  • The Spring Auction

    Friday, April 22, 2022

    This April, the Shipley community will hold The Shipley Spring Auction—a unique fundraising experience to benefit the students and faculty at Shipley. Traditionally held in the Yarnall Gymnasium, this event includes silent and live auctions, dinner, live music, and fun. 

    Get more information about The Spring Auction.

  • Secret Gardens

    Wednesday, May 11, 2022

    Tour gorgeous pre-selected gardens all-day with the Shipley community. Gather friends and join us for this special event next spring.

    Get more information about Secret Gardens.
814 Yarrow Street
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Phone: 610-525-4300
Fax: 610-525-5082
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.