Your gift of any size to the Forester Fund provides direct and immediate support to the College's greatest needs: scholarships and financial aid, new programs and initiatives, experiential learning, and faculty excellence. Your contribution will have a profound impact on the Lake Forest College community as we make it together.
Giving Tuesday is an international day of celebrating generosity and supporting organizations that you’re passionate about. At Lake Forest College, support from donors is how we continue to offer the life-changing education and transformational learning opportunities that set our students up for success. No matter the size of your gift, it is directly impacting our current and future Foresters and is making a significant difference in their lives. Gifts of $65+ will receive an exclusive pair of Forester socks—stay tuned for the link to give on Giving Tuesday!
Glen Rowan House reopens after renovations supported by Trustee Susan Garrett and Scott GarrettOn Tuesday, September 30, the College celebrated the grand reopening of Glen Rowan House. Built in 1908, the Glen Rowan House became part of the Lake Forest College campus in 1968. Since that time, Glen Rowan House has served many unique purposes on campus, including hosting Board of Trustees meetings and events, providing space for faculty, staff, alumni, and student gatherings, and serving as a beautiful backdrop for locally organized events and family weddings.
Thanks to a generous gift from Trustee Susan Garrett and her husband Scott Garrett, over the last eight months the building underwent an extensive renovation, including the restoration of all of the original windows on the first floor, refinishing the hardwood floors. and adding beautiful new furnishings and décor. Glen Rowan House is open for community use, and we look forward to welcoming the Lake Forest community to a College or private event on campus.
Former Dean of Admissions and lifelong champion of the College, Spike Gummere has dedicated decades to welcoming generations of Foresters. Now, he and his wife Judy are ensuring that legacy lives on through a $5 million bequest—one of the largest planned gifts in the College’s history.
This remarkable gift does two powerful things: it establishes the Francis B. “Spike” Gummere Vice President for Enrollment, a position currently held by Chris Ellertson, and it strengthens the College’s endowment—further securing the student-centered academic experience that Spike and Judy have long cherished.
To alumni and friends thinking about their own legacy, Spike encourages them to support what they believe in. “That’s what matters most,” Spike said. “We never imagined we’d be in a position to make a gift like this—but we saw an opportunity to make a difference, and we took it.”
Lake Forest College recently named the home of the Office of Campus Life, located on the intersection of Sheridan and Rosemary roads, the Van Ness House in recognition of a transformational gift of $5 million from distinguished alumni Gardiner "Gary" Van Ness III '64 and Jessie (Steiner) Van Ness '69.
Gary Van Ness grew up in Lake Forest and met Jessie at the College, a fellow student who would later become his wife. The two built their lives in "The Forest," raising their family just minutes from campus. Their deep connection to the College, and their desire to strengthen its future for generations to come, inspired their generous endowment gift.
Thanks to the generosity of 3,034 others, the Forester Fund raised over $2.7 million during 2024-25. This fund is critical in supporting every part of the Forester experience, including:
Stories like these are made possible by philanthropic contributions. The strengths of our College—life-changing scholarships, personal connections and mentorship, excellent academic programs and faculty, engaging spaces where our students learn and life—come alive thanks to Forester Fund donations.
"Due to the support of donors like you, I was able to study abroad, which opened my eyes to new perspectives and cultures. That experience enhanced my personal growth and strengthened my ability to communicate and relate to people of all cultures."
Involvement: New Zealand Study Abroad, Football, Track and Cross Country, Men's Black group, Office of Advancement Student Worker
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
"Being a first-generation college student has put a lot of pressure on me to do well in school to make my family proud. Lake Forest College has helped me so much to get academically and socially committed in a short amount of time."
Involvement: Gummere Fellow, Delta Kappa Honor Society, Center for Academic Success Peer Academic Coach, American Marketing Association Vice President of Membership, Investment Club
Major: Business
Hometown: Vernon Hills, Illinois
"The generous donations from the Lake Forest College community make a real difference, enabling students like me to pursue our dreams and contribute positively to campus life. Their support drives us to excel and prepares us for future challenges."
Involvement: Student Government Association President, Center for Academic Success Calculus Tutor, Residential Assistant
Major: Physics
Hometown: Baghdad, Iraq
