The Lippman School celebrated its 50th Anniversary with an event that attracted more than 170 community members on March 14th.

 

The evening’s theme, “Honoring Our Past, Experiencing Our Present, and Growing Our Future” was illustrated as guests toured the school, viewed slideshows featuring pictures from the past, saw current classroom projects, and learned about plans for the future.

Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic joined the festivities, and City of Akron Communications Director, Stephanie York read his “Lippman School Day” proclamation just before dinner in the Schultz Campus for Jewish Life Auditorium. 

 

 

 

Guests also enjoyed a champagne toast, and viewed a video greeting from Honorary Co-Chairs, GOJO Industries, Inc. CEO Joe Kanfer, and his wife, Pam Kanfer who has been a teacher at The Lippman School for more than 30 years. The video also included a greeting from their daughter, GOJO Vice-Chair and Lippman alumna, Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, and her husband, author, Josh Rolnick, who were also Honorary Co-Chairs for the event. The school is named after Joe Kanfer’s uncle, the late Jerome “Jerry” Lippman, who founded GOJO.

 

 

Pam Kanfer and students late '70s 

The school, which was originally named Hillel Academy, opened in September, 1965. It was renamed The Jerome Lippman Community Day School in 1989, and became The Lippman School in 2010. (For pictures pictures and video clips from the past 50 years, click here.)

 

Alumni, parents, staff,  and community members browsed a chance auction for opportunities to win gifts including an Apple iPad Mini donated by National Container Group of Cleveland, an Akron Rubber Ducks VIP package, and an Akron Police Adult Ride-A-Long package.

 

To help raise funds for the school and to give back to the community, sponsors are donating 50 trees to the City of Akron, and 50 trees to Israel. In Akron, the trees will be planted in mid-April at city parks including Forest Lodge, Hardesty Park, Schneider Park, and the Glendale Steps. 

 

 

Major Sponsors include the Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation, Akron Children’s Hospital, Evie Chestnut, Herb and Dianne Newman, Lippman School Board President Trish Crane, and her husband, Dr. Stephen Crane. 

 

The fundraiser is ongoing, and has so far raised more than $40,000 for programs such as the school’s unique and innovative cultural exchange program with the Northern Cheyenne Nation, and technology upgrades in the school library.

 

 The Lippman School offers a globalized K-8 independent school education unsurpassed in the Greater Akron Area. It features small classes, carefully  selected teachers, and a fast-paced curriculum. With value added character development, international perspective and a robust sense of community,  students easily connect with their peer group and gain confidence through a sense of belonging.