Meet Our Donors

Matt and Terry Hendricks

For the Hendricks clan - Mike and Marilyn, and their son Matt '79 and his wife Terry - giving back to Friends has truly been a family affair. All members of the 1748 Society, Matt explains why his family is committed to making a difference at WFS.

1. Could you tell me a little about your professional life and that of your parents:

I have worked in Consumer Products Finance my entire career. I have worked with iconic brands such as Tide, Oil of Olay, Ivory Soap, Crest, Doritos, Lay's, Campbell's Soups, Kellogg's, Kashi, Keebler and, currently, Biofreeze and TheraPearl. My role is to find ways to increase the profitability of these great brands. Grocery shopping for me is an exercise in checking in on the brands on which I have worked so, can be quite time consuming!

My mother spent her career teaching English as a second language. She was frequently involved with her students beyond the classroom in any way she could be helpful. As most of her students came to America seeking a better life, we often had émigrés from the world's troubled areas in our home. Whether Vietnam in the mid 70's or Iran in the late 70's and many others, my mother got involved in helping folks settle into the US. It was truly a humbling experience to understand what some people go through to better their lives and provide safety for their families. We are indeed lucky to live in the United States.

My father spent practically his entire career with one company, Hercules and its spin-offs, a rarity in today's world. He was involved in deal making around the world for Hercules finishing his career leading a joint venture, Himont. My father's career exposed him to many cultures and, I believe, helped him develop an open-minded approach to business and life. He was known for his leadership, integrity and ability to make agreements work for all involved.

2. Tell me a little bit about your experience as a Friends student, and how that impacted you, and how being Friends parents and a trustee impacted your parents:

My experience as a Friends student and the education I received formed the foundation of my values and work ethic. I learned the importance of differing points of view and life experiences. I learned how to study and how to practice. I learned how to be a friend and how to stand up for what I believe in. We are frequently products of the environment we grow up in and I am grateful my parents had the foresight to ensure I had a wonderful environment in which to learn and grow.

My folks saw the value of Friends and, when my father joined the Board of Trustees, he became even more convinced of its positive impact on Wilmington. I recall discussing the nature of consensus in the manner of Friends with him, and, while I remember some initial frustration at how slowly things moved at times, I know he came to honor and understand its importance as the underpinning of the unique, supportive environment that is Friends School. He felt the school had the power to change the community and he worked to increase the number of families who have an opportunity to send their children to the school. I believe he helped broaden and strengthen Friends' positive impact on Wilmington.

3. Why do you give to Friends:

My wife, Terry, and I also believe that Friends positively affects Wilmington and, more broadly, Delaware and we view supporting our community as an obligation. My parents set an excellent example of how we can contribute to our community both financially and through volunteering; we want to honor my mother and father and pick up where they left off. Friends is an institution in Wilmington and we do not ever want to feel that it weakened when we have the ability to help it be stronger. We are certain young people who attend Friends School become better people; how could we not support that through giving?

My parents supported many charities and institutions. For them, the determining factor was that the institution made the world a better place. They were huge supporters of education and saw Friends as a means to further their belief that anyone can succeed with the right opportunity. Therefore, for my parents, supporting Friends through giving was one of the ways they supported their community.

4. Why was it important to include Friends as a part of your legacy:

Supporting Friends through our legacy is a way to keep giving after we are no longer able; our legacy donation will provide support each year as our annual giving does today. Friends has been here since 1748 and, through legacy giving, we can help ensure it will be around for another couple hundred years.

Clearly, my mother and father believed strongly in Friends and, through their legacy, they helped strengthen the school endowment. This helps to put Friends on even stronger financial footing. They viewed this contribution as their lasting support for the school and the community.

5. What do you feel has changed at Friends….what is still the same:

I moved back to Wilmington about three years ago and have visited Friends a few times since then. Obviously, the facilities are greatly improved and, in a manner that supports community. I noticed an increased number of spaces for students to gather to study, talk and be with one another. The laughter and positive atmosphere is still pervasive. The teaching excellence has not changed; my visit to classrooms brought back memories of the challenge to do better and of the joy of learning.

6. In a sentence or two, what makes Friends special to you? What made it special to your parents?:

The foundational nature of my education and experiences at Friends makes it a special place for me. The opportunity to support the same for others enhances that feeling.

Again, I think my folks strongly believed that Friends is a community asset that helps create positive people to live in our city, state and, world.

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