Awards

Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation awards
$100,000 gift to Gibson Island Country School

Head of School, Laura Kang, is pleased to announce that Gibson Island Country School has received a $100,000 gift from the Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation. This gift, presented by Sallie Hamrick, trustee of the Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation, will be used during the 2008-2009 school year to establish a needs-based scholarship fund for deserving students.

The Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation was established through the wills of Kathy and Jerry Wood who passed away in 2005 and 2003, respectively. One of the components in the Foundation's mission statement is:

To found or to provide scholarships for deserving young men and women who are citizens of the United States, and to assist them in attending any educational institution in the United States.

Jerry Wood was born and raised in Mamaroneck, New York. After earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia in 1948, he moved to Annapolis, Maryland. In 1959, Jerry established the Annapolis Sailing School, which soon became the largest commercial sailing school in the United States, and is still an industry leader.  

Kathy Wood was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to the Annapolis area in the mid 1960s. She met Jerry through the local racing scene and they married in 1968. She quickly became involved in the sailing school and was instrumental to its success.

In 1970, Jerry and Kathy established the first in-water, all sailboat show in Annapolis Harbor, revolutionizing the boat show industry.  Their work in the recreational boating community was a major contributor to the growth of Annapolis as the "Sailing Capital of America."

Although the Woods did not have children of their own, they worked with thousands of young people over the years through the boat shows and sailing school, and they became interested in their education and development.  To date, the Foundation has also provided gifts to St. John's College, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis, Prince George's Community College, Anne Arundel Community College, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1956 and located in Pasadena, Maryland, Gibson Island Country School offers a co-educational program for Pre-K – 5th grade students.  Accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools and approved by the Maryland State Board of Education, GICS is also proud to be a Maryland Green School.