At the BHS Innovation Fund, our mission is to catalyze innovation at Brookline High School by supporting faculty-driven curricular initiatives that will inspire our students and prepare them to thrive in a changing world.

Our vision is for Brookline High School to provide an unparalleled education by instilling a passion for academic exploration and a commitment to innovation. We serve as venture philanthropy for BHS by investing in courses, programs, forums and research that help school leadership and faculty to continue to deliver excellence in public education. 

Visit our Impact page to learn more about how we are making a difference in students’ lives.

In December 1998, a small group led by then-BHS Headmaster Bob Weintraub gathered at the home of Sandy (’51) and David Bakalar to discuss an idea that would allow Brookline High School to continue (into the 21st Century!) its long-held leadership in testing new ideas in public education. Many of the attendees were alumni of the high school and parents of students at the school, and some were both alumni and parents. There has never been a shortage of ideas at Brookline High School but, like at every public school, funds are not always readily available for new courses or teaching approaches. For answers to questions that started out with “What if we tried…,” the guests at the Bakalar home that night decided to start by turning the question around: “What if you had the money to try?” During the next year, more than $400,000 was committed, most of it that night, to launch the 21st Century Fund, which, in 2016, was renamed the Brookline High School Innovation Fund to more clearly communicate its unique mission. Read more here.

A great many individuals, families, foundations, and corporations have joined the effort since its inception, but we have a special debt of thanks to that forward-thinking group we call our Founders.

Robert (’45) & Betsy Abrams ● Warren (’59) & Jan Adelson ● Sandra (’51) & David Bakalar ● Bay State Federal Savings ● BHS Alumni Association ● Sandy (’69) & Carolina Bloomberg ● Brookline Bancorp ● Cornelia Brown ● Harold (’41) & Maura Brown ● Ronald Brown (’53) ● Peter Carman (’59) ● Miceal & Nancie Chamberlain ● Helen Charlupski & Joseph Biederman ● Julian Cohen (’42) ● Steve (’59) & Miriam Comen ● John Cragin & Marilyn Fife ● Reuben Daniels (’87) ● James Davis (’61) ● Lew Eisenberg & Nancy Farrell ● Lois (’45) & Hank Foster ● Laurel (’45) & Orrie Friedman ● Deborah Goldberg (’71) ● Peter (’66) & Wendy (’67) Gordon ● Susan Gordon ● Edward Haber & Jamie Logan ● Nancy Hawthorne ● Helios Foundation, Linda Jacobs ● Sheila & Irwin (’63) Heller ● Chobee Hoy ● Eric Jackson (’63) ● Ira (’66) & Martha Jackson ● Robert (’59) & Myra Kraft ● Joel Leavitt (’46) ● Norman (’61) & Sondra Levenson ● Nancy Lincoln ● Bob & Syrul Lurie ● Betty Morningstar (’70) ● Richard Morningstar (’63) ● Conan O’Brien (’81) ● Lynn & William Osborn ● Margie (’51) & Bert Paley ● Steven Rosenfeld & Margot Botsford ● Daniel (’41) & Susan Rothenberg ● Stephen Ross (’66) ● Jonathan & Eve Rounds ● Carl Sapers (’49) ● William Sapers (’46) ● Donald Saunders (’52) ● Roger Saunders (’47) ● Arthur Segel (’69) ● James (’63) & Mimi Segel ● Douglas & Nanci Sharon ● Harry Silverman (’60) ● Alan (’66) & Susan Solomont ● John Spooner (’55) ● Richard Thaler (’69) ● Mike Wallace (’35) ● Robert Weintraub ● George Weiss (’61) ● Edward Zuker (’65)