Liz Cohen Pays It Forward with a Bequest in Her Will

Elizabeth Cohen ’83 entered Friends’ Central School after she was accepted from a waitlist for the pre-K program. While living downtown, Liz’s parents wanted their daughter to experience grass and trees—so FCS fit the bill. That decision would launch a lifelong association and, much later, inspire her to “pay it forward” with a planned gift.

As an FCS lifer herself, and the mom of a current senior and a 2020 grad, FCS has been a key part of Liz’s life, which is why she established a bequest in her will ensuring that future generations can benefit from the FCS experience. “Writing a will makes you think,” Liz says, equating her bequest with her appreciation for all she gained from FCS—including a deeply ingrained awareness of the world and our responsibility to it.

A trustee for eight years and a member of the alumni board, Liz has remained active with FCS for decades. As a student, she performed with the flute ensemble and enjoyed a 16-day enrichment trip to England. She also met lifelong friends and remembers “we laughed so much in high school.”

Most important, FCS taught Liz how to think, ask questions, and not be satisfied with the first superficial answer, she says. She encourages fellow alumni to consider making a planned gift to help sustain FCS’s intellectual, spiritual, and ethical education for generations to come.