Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls

Hawthorn & STEM

What inspires St. Louis area philanthropists and entire communities to come together for our city’s youth? The Berges Family Foundation! Thanks to the Berges family, Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls opened its doors in 2015 to 120 young women and continues to grow.

The Berges family was an early investor in Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls. They shared our vision that an all-girls public school with a focus on STEM would be an important and valuable addition to the St. Louis educational landscape.

As we prepared to open Hawthorn, the Berges Family Foundation made a commitment of resources that enabled us to build a fabulous science lab in which our students explore, innovate, and discover. As “early adopters,” the Berges family inspired other philanthropists to help launch this school.

Since we opened in 2015, we have added a new grade each year and welcome 240 students into 6th – 10th grades for the 2018-2019 school year.

The Berges Family Foundation has continued to support the school each year with funds that help us provide high-quality college prep education to our students in a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment.

Our Mission

Hawthorn’s mission, “educating young women to become leaders in their careers and community,” aligns with the Berges Family Foundation’s priorities and will, in time, strengthen the pipeline of STEM-educated young women entering the St. Louis workforce.

How You Can Support Our Young Women

We encourage community friends, prospective students, and families to visit us! Throughout the year, our students lead tours twice a month during the school day which is a great way to see our school in action. During student recruitment season, prospective families can attend our Saturday Open Houses. We also offer Family Tours the first Tuesday of every month during the spring.

If you wish to get involved, we encourage financial gifts, as well as memorial tributes, and volunteers. Please feel free to contact us today for a tour or to find out where your gifts may be needed most.