The Somers Education Foundation is a private, non-profit, endowment-based entity devoted to enhancing educational opportunities in the Somers Public Schools.
Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. The Foundation welcomes cash and securities and may qualify for corporate matching funds.
President/Co-Founder
Paul Salva, M.D., PhD.
Vice President
John Mailhot, MBA
Secretary
Michelle Bernier
Treasurer
Chris Castonguay
Members
William Kirkpatrick
Jennifer D'Amour, JD
Mark Irzyk
Ex-Officio
Shane Manning
Liaison, Board of Education
Dr. Sam Galloway
Superintendent of Schools
William Meier
Board of Selectmen
Kathy Welch
Information Technology
Robin Munson
CPA
Kathy Devlin
Citizen
Brittany Dwyer
PTO Liaison
Advisers
Pat Bachetti
Jody Caetano
Terri Henderson
Jessica Antonacci
Dan Roulier
Amanda Vesce
Tim Keeney, JD
Ben Camerota
Co-Founder/President Emeritus
Lou Bachetti
July, 2024
The Somers Education Foundation is now 20 years old! It met the challenge made in 2014 to grow the endowment to $1,000,000. Endowment assets had to more than triple to reach this goal and…. they did! A host of people contributed to this success. This year, total assets increased 15.62% even after $61,069.95 in grants were awarded. This brings our grants total awarded since our founding to $711,565. SEF has had a total impact (grants + endowment market value) of $1,724,435 since our inception. For some perspective, in its first year SEF raised $14,000 and awarded $5,900 in grants.
The Geissler’s Receipt Program has been a mainstay of funding since 2007. SEF thanks the Nilsson Family every day for its incredible generosity.
SEF has established a new partnership with the Hartsprings Program courtesy of Lee Mailhot.
One of SEF’s founding tenets was to build a sustainable endowment to be able to award grants regardless of the economy and fundraising results. According to plan, the endowment was left to grow over the first ten years and first accessed in 2014-15. It is working exactly as envisioned.
Years 1-10 11-20 % Increase
Avg Grants $ 20,816 $50,340 242%
Endowment $310,000 $1,012,356 326%
The phrase “From tiny acorns do mighty oak trees grow,” could not be more relevant or appropriate for SEF’s successes.
SEF’s goal is, in the words of its first President Lou Bachetti, to “think big,” grow the endowment, increase community awareness, and provide greater funding for educational opportunities for every student in the Somers Public School System.
Thank you for your generosity. This could not have happened without your trust and support. Now, let us see what SEF can accomplish over the next ten years!
Paul Salva, President
and the SEF Board
2024 Annual Meeting - 20th Anniversary
Geissler's Receipt Program
Donations
Hartsprings Program
Volunteering Your Time
The grant program is available to teachers and administrators in the Somers elementary, middle and high schools. Each grant application is coordinated by the school administration and is forwarded to the Foundation. A Grant Review Committee thoroughly examines each application and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for a final decision.
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