Karen and Jamie Heller ’93 P’30

Karen and Jamie Heller ’93 P’30 hoped to find a way to make as big of an impact as possible on St. John’s Prep. The school has long been a part of their lives, going as far back as Jamie’s freshman year in 1989. Fast-forward to 2025, and they are now proud parents of an 8th grader, Benjamin. The Hellers decided that a planned gift would not only ensure a bright future for generations of students, but it would also honor the experience that Jamie had and now Benjamin is having at the Prep each day.

Karen has witnessed the value of a Prep education since she met Jamie several years ago: “I see in Jamie the courtesy, respect, honesty, and integrity that he brings to his life—not to mention the skills he learned. He attributes much of this to his time at St. John’s.” It was not until they started looking at the Prep for their son that they realized how the Prep experience may be just what Benjamin needed. “We learned at an open house that ‘No one walks alone’ here. When we heard this, we knew that our son would do well at a school that cares so deeply about each of its students.” Jamie recalls many happy memories from his time here and has a renewed sense of pride when he sees all that Benjamin is accomplishing in the Middle School. “Benjamin has grown so much, discovered new interests, and has found a new sense of independence.”

A planned gift not only ensures that the academic and co-curricular life of the school thrives for years to come, but it also assists the school in its efforts to make a Prep education available for every qualified young man, regardless of his family’s ability to pay. The Hellers’ planned gift will address several areas of need that mean a lot to their family. “We care about music, drama, athletics, technology, and the social impact that a place like the Prep can have. We want to empower as many young people as possible to reach their full potential through access to the Prep experience.”