In the world of independent education, buildings change, leadership evolves, and students come and go. But one constant remains: the enduring impact of philanthropy.
From named scholarships to beautiful new pavilions, gifts to education are far more than acts of generosity, they are affirmations of belief in the power of schools to shape lives.
Two recent examples Chris Rokos at Eton College and Jean Eric Salata at Summer Fields highlight this tradition. Though different in background and intent, both stories reflect the enduring relationship between schools and those who feel moved to support them.
Chris Rokos: From Scholar to Steward
In June 2025, Eton College honoured Chris Rokos, an Old Etonian who attended the school on a bursary and later studied at Cambridge, by renaming the central Parade Ground Rokos Yard. The dedication marked 15 years since the establishment of the Rokos Scholarships, which have supported dozens of boys from state schools who, like Rokos, would not otherwise have had access to Eton’s education.
The commemoration included the unveiling of a memorial sundial bearing the inscription:
“This gift was not of an age but for all time.”
It is a line that perfectly captures the spirit of enduring giving: a quiet but permanent legacy. Rokos’s contribution is not just financial, it is deeply symbolic. It reflects a profound appreciation for the opportunities that shaped his life, and a commitment to ensuring that others may follow.
Jean Eric Salata & Family: A Parent’s Legacy
At Summer Fields School in Oxford, the newly opened Salata Pavilion stands as a testament to the lasting connection between families and the schools that help raise their children.
Jean Eric Salata, a leading global investor and philanthropist, did not attend Summer Fields himself, but his children did. His gift to the school reflects the appreciation and respect of a parent, one who has seen firsthand the role a great school plays in nurturing curiosity, confidence, and character.
The Pavilion is not simply a structure. It is a place where students gather, perform, collaborate, and celebrate, a space that will serve the school community for decades to come.
Why These Gifts Matter
The UK has a centuries-old tradition of charitable giving to education. From endowed scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge to named halls and theatres in prep schools, gifts like these are woven into the physical and cultural fabric of British education.
They represent:
- Gratitude – for a scholarship received or a childhood shaped
- Belief – in the purpose of independent education
- Continuity – ensuring that schools continue to flourish and evolve
These aren’t fleeting donations. They are acts of stewardship, gifts intended not for today, but for generations to come.
Philanthropy That Endures
Chris Rokos and Jean Salata offer two very different examples of giving, but both are united by a shared principle: education is worth investing in.
In times of uncertainty and change, educational philanthropy remains a quiet but powerful force, sustaining access, excellence and ambition in schools across the UK.
Endowments. Bursaries. Buildings. These things do not just name our institutions.
They shape them. They carry stories. And they last.