The Lawrence Township School Foundation (LTSF) proudly announced a historic $1 million gift from the Ron and Laura Frieden family during the 2026 LTSF Celebration Gala.
This transformational contribution is the largest gift in the Foundation’s history and will permanently endow the Foundation’s Creative Impact Grants, ensuring continued support for educators and students throughout the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township.
Ron Frieden, a founding member of LTSF in 1983, has long believed in the power of community support to expand opportunities for students and teachers.
For more than four decades, the Foundation has worked to invest in innovative classroom ideas, enrich learning experiences, and empower educators across the district.
The Frieden family’s gift will create a lasting endowment dedicated to the Creative Impact Grants program—one of the Foundation’s signature initiatives. These grants provide funding directly to educators to bring creative, innovative, and transformative ideas to life in their classrooms, impacting thousands of students across Lawrence Township schools each
year.
“This extraordinary gift is not only historic for the Lawrence Township School Foundation—it is a legacy that will support generations of educators and students,” said Misty Wick Johnston, President & CEO of the Lawrence Township School Foundation. “Ron’s vision helped establish this Foundation in 1983, and today the Frieden family is helping ensure its impact continues far into the future.”
Creative Impact Grants support a wide range of educator-led initiatives, from innovative classroom technology and hands-on STEM experiences to creative arts programming and unique learning opportunities that go beyond traditional school funding.
The announcement was made in front of community leaders, educators, and supporters gathered for the Foundation’s annual Celebration Gala fundraising event, where guests celebrated the collective impact of philanthropy on Lawrence Township students.
“This Foundation was built on the idea that when a community invests in its schools, incredible things can happen,” said Rodney Frieden the family’s representative. “Our family believes deeply in the educators and students of Lawrence Township, and we hope this gift helps inspire creativity, innovation, and opportunity for years to come.”
Since its founding, the Lawrence Township School Foundation has invested more than $10 million dollars into Lawrence Township classrooms through grants, programs, and partnerships that enrich educational opportunities for students across the district.
For more information about the Lawrence Township School Foundation or the Creative Impact Grants program, visit
https://msdltf.org/
 proudly announced a historic $1 million gift from the Ron and Laura Frieden family during the 2026 LTSF Celebration Gala.){kind=link}