Shaker Heights, OH — Head of School Ann V. Klotz announced today that Laurel School received a $2 million legacy gift from Kim Sherwin, a Laurel alumna from the Class of 1957. Among her many interests and passions, Ms. Sherwin was deeply committed to the public purpose of private schools and to the education of girls. Her generous gift will serve these two areas in a variety of ways.

“Kim was a lifelong champion of education and a long-time supporter of Laurel School’s mission,” said Head of School Ann V. Klotz. ”Her gift is of tremendous significance not only to Laurel girls but also to our larger Northeast Ohio community.”

Laurel plans to allocate the bequest in ways that support Ms. Sherwin’s vision for Laurel through the support of key programmatic efforts—public programming and research—while also supporting the school’s most pressing capital needs.

Her gift will support the creation of the Ruhlman Family Center, a new multi-use building at Laurel’s Butler Campus in Russell Township. The Center includes a flexible space for creative teaching and interaction, including art, technology, science and more. This space will affectionately be named “Kim’s Hive” in honor of Ms. Sherwin and her devotion to education and to Laurel.

It will also support Laurel’s Center for Research on Girls, an endeavor close to Ms. Sherwin’s heart, as well as the development of programming focused on the public purpose of private schools.  From its founding fifteen years ago, LCRG was of special interest to Ms. Sherwin, who understood that prioritizing girls’ social and emotional wellbeing is a way to ensure academic achievement.

Ms. Sherwin was an avid traveler and patron of the arts. She was known for her humor, intellectual curiosity and generosity, and was a lifelong philanthropist who made an impact on dozens of area organizations involved with causes ranging from economic development to education to public broadcasting.

Ms. Sherwin served on the board of the Citizens League of Greater Cleveland evaluating candidates for office. In addition to her support of Laurel, Ms. Sherwin was a big supporter of Hannah Perkins. In 2019, she was honored with the Hadden Award for her embodiment of the Hanna Perkins mission, and dedication to helping improve the lives of children across the region.

Ms. Sherwin’s niece Kelly Sherwin graduated from Laurel in 1999 and now teaches History in the Upper School.  Her grandniece, Elliot, is a student in Laurel’s Early Childhood program. Her brother, George, served on the Laurel Board of Trustees for many years.

### 

Founded in 1896, Laurel School is a nationally recognized school for girls in Kindergarten through Grade 12, with a coeducational Early Childhood School. Its mission is “to inspire each girl to fulfill her promise and to better the world.”