The late Ina Evans, mother of Craig Evans ‘72 and the late Lisa Evans ‘76, made a $50,000 gift to the Jerome Evans Holocaust Memorial Fund. In 1995, Ina established the endowed fund in memory of her late husband who served on the School Committee (Board of Trustees) from 1968-70 and as clerk. The Jerome Evans Holocaust Memorial Fund at Friends Seminary provides library materials and programs related to the Holocaust and other genocides.
“My parents believed that education and understanding is the best way to ensure the atrocities of the Holocaust are never repeated. This Fund is a lasting expression of this belief, their love for Friends and devotion to Quaker values and practices,” reflects Craig Evans ’72. Ina and Jerry, has he was known, embraced Quakerism. Craig and his Dad were members of the 15th Street Meeting and also attended the Morningside Meeting, on the campus of Columbia University, which Jerry clerked.
As Vice President of Advertising and Publicity at Universal Pictures, Jerry was involved in many notable films throughout his long career including JAWS, The Sting, Front Page, Spartacus and many John Wayne and Charlton Heston movies. On at least one occasion, Craig he used his Dad’s Hollywood connections to benefit the School. In the days following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Craig invited Leon Bibb to lead an Upper School assembly in the Meetinghouse. Leon was a notable actor and folk singer, whose baritone voice made him a stirring performer at landmark civil rights demonstrations of the 1960s. Leon was a close personal friend of Dr. King’s.
“We are grateful to Ina for her foresight and generosity in establishing the Jerome Evans Holocaust Fund and this significant gift, which will benefit students and teachers for generations to come” says Principal Bo Lauder. Ina’s gift is the result of simple but considered estate planning.
In 1995 when Ina decided to set up this fund in her husband's memory, she bought a new life insurance policy and transferred ownership to Friends. As the owner of the policy, rather than the named beneficiary, Friends paid the premiums each year. In turn, Ina made annual tax-deductible gifts to the School, equal in value to the premiums paid by Friends. Approximately 20 years later, through the insurance proceeds paid to Friends, Ina has made a far greater gift to the School after her death than she could have done in her lifetime.