Major Gifts

Bobcat Alumni are extraordinary in their accomplishments and citizenship.  These two graduates recently did something extraordinary for the community.

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Charles Penzone, Class of 1963

Penzone Make Extraordinary Gift to the GHSAA

Charles Penzone, class of 1963, and his wife Debra have given a $10,000 unrestricted gift to the GHHSAA. Charles was the Class of 2008 commencement speaker. At that time, he committed the gift to the Alumni Association in honor of the class of 2008. He said, “I hope this provides an example and some incentive for members of that class to make philanthropic gifts in the future”. The GHHSAA uses such gifts to fund scholarships and to provide financial assistance for school activities that improve the educational experience and make it extraordinary.

Charles Penzone is the president and founder of the Powell, Ohio based Charles Penzone, Inc. In business for 39 years, he has eight Central Ohio salons/spa and a company that distributes beauty products throughout the midwest United States. He recently received the Consumers’ Choice Gold Award for the eleventh consecutive year in the category of Exclusive Hair Salons.

The GHHSAA greatly appreciates this gift and we know that Charles Penzone attributes some of his business success to the education he received in Grandview. It is a spectacular gift and we thank him for his generosity.

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GHHS Graduate $5 Million Bequest

A secretary’s gift of more than $5 million stunned the head of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The unexpected bequest by Frances J. Coultran, GHHS Class of 1931, is the largest in the zoo’s history and has sent zoo officials scrambling to learn more about the 94-year-old woman who died this past August. She wasn’t a zoo volunteer or former employee, and she had no children whose fond memories might have prompted the gift. In 2001, at age 88, she became a founding member of the Colo Club, a zoo group for donors of $1,000 or more. “She just loved animals and somehow found her way to the zoo,” said Deborah Varner, zoo development director.

Coultrap was especially fond of Bohl, the first elephant successfully born at the zoo, as well as of the tigers, sun bears and manatees. Coultrap grew up mostly in Grandview Heights graduating from GHHS in 1931 and from Ohio Wesleyan in 1935 with an English degree.  After earning a Master's degree at The Ohio State University, she became the secretary of OSU provost Francis Davis. When Davis became provost of the University of Iowa, Coultrap moved to Iowa and worked as his executive secretary until she retired in 1972. Then she returned to live in her parents’ Upper Arlington home.

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