The John F. Kennedy School Foundation is a partnership between the John F. Kennedy International School, the community of Saanen, and those who wish to see a permanent home for, and the advancement of, independent international education in the Saanenland. The Foundation is a registered Swiss non-profit and tax-exempt organization (Reg. No. CH-092.7.014.596-3) which has been established to provide the means to build facilities and create new programs and scholarships dedicated to international education in the community of Saanen.


The foundation will be run by a Board of Trustees composed of one member of the municipal council of Saanen, two members of the John F. Kennedy School partnership, and up to six outside members. The Board will be the supreme authority of the foundation. The Board will oversee all transactions and allocations of funds. An auditing firm independent of the Board of Trustees will be appointed by the Board to audit the accounts. The current Board of Trustees for the John F. Kennedy School Foundation is an nine-member board with two executive members, a treasurer and a secretary; it is composed of the following members:

- Sir Roger Moore, Honorary Chairman, United Kingdom, Actor;
- William Lovell, Chairman, Canadian, co-Director, John F. Kennedy School;
- Jürg Müller, Vice-Chairman, Swiss, Chartered Accountant;
- Sandra Lovell, Secretary, Canadian, co-Director, John F. Kennedy School;
- Gerhard Lehmann, Board Member, Swiss, Architect;
- Thomas Riz, Treasurer, Swiss, Banker, Credit Suisse;
- Laura Scherz, Board Member, Swiss, Hotelier, Palace Hotel, Gstaad;
- Patrizia Montagni, Board Member, Italian, Interior Decorator;
- Lorenz Bach, Board Member, Swiss, Businessman;
- George Minden, Board Member, Canadian, Businessman.



The John F. Kennedy School Foundation and the Kennedy School will be two separate entities. The Kennedy School will continue to run as is with the Boarding Chalet, main offices, schoolhouse, and the pavilion, under the direction of Bill and Sandy Lovell. The foundation will own the newly renovated building and land, which the Kennedy School will be able to rent.


The Kennedy School will remain a small family like school. With the new facilities we will have the capacity to increase the student body from the current 60 - 70 to about 80 - 100 students.


At the moment the school will remain a pre-secondary, preparatory school - grades K-8.


Phase 1 of the project is the restoration of the old schoolhouse building. Phase 1 includes; restoration of the outside of the building and complete renovation of the inside which is estimated to cost Sfr. 3,000,000, plus the cost of furnishings, making an approximate total of Sfr. 5,000,000.

Phase 2 - Through annual giving plans and investments, the foundation will continuously be improving the independent educational facilities of the Saanenland. This phase will also be providing scholarships for students and financing special education programs such as guest lecturers.

At the moment the John F. Kennedy School Foundation is concentrating its efforts on raising the funds for phase 1 of the project. This has been recognized, by the board of directors, as the primary objective of the foundation.


The foundation has been able to raise just over Sfr. 1,500,000. Our largest single donation to date has been a pledge of Sfr. 500,000.