September 2026
For many years, my family has felt deeply connected to Oakwood. My wife, Tara, and I have served on committees, participated in the PGO, supported athletics, and pitched in wherever we could. Along the way, we have developed friendships and experienced firsthand the sense of community that makes Oakwood such a special place.
As both a parent and Chair of the Board of Trustees, I now have the opportunity to see Oakwood from an even broader perspective. Some of my favorite memories remain very personal—watching our sons, Trevor and Henry, play baseball together at the North Hollywood Fields, seeing our daughter, Sophia, and Trevor graduate, and joining other parents in singing “All Together Again” at the elementary school. But I have also come to appreciate how much goes on behind those moments and how many people contribute to making them possible.
Throughout the past year, I saw our community show up in countless ways: volunteering at events, cheering on students, supporting one another, and generously contributing to Oakwood. That generosity is essential to the school. Gifts to the Annual Fund, Capital Campaign and Oakwood Live help provide resources and financial assistance that directly benefit our students, while support for projects such as NoHo Park, the Da Vinci Lab, and the 3C Center allows Oakwood to invest in its future.
As trustees, one of our most important responsibilities is to think about that future—to ensure that Oakwood remains financially strong, true to its mission, and able to provide an exceptional experience for generations of students to come. Philanthropy is an important part of making that possible. No single family builds a school community. We build it together.
Having now watched two of our children graduate from Oakwood, I am especially grateful for what this community has given them. My hope is that all of our students leave Oakwood with a strong sense of who they are, confidence in what they can contribute, and a lasting connection to this community.
Thank you for the many ways you supported Oakwood this past year and for continuing to invest in its future.
Go Owls!
In gratitude,
John D. Jones
Chair, Board of Trustees
Henry ’29, Trevor ’26, Sophia ’23