The Somers Education Foundation is a private, non-profit, endowment-based entity devoted to enhancing educational opportunities in the Somers Public Schools.
Great success everyone! Thank you to all that attended, thank you to all our sponsors, thank you for all the donations for our silent auction, thank you to all our vendors and musicians and thank you to all who worked so hard putting it together! Pictures and more are forthcoming!
President/Co-Founder
Paul Salva, M.D., PhD.
Vice President
John Mailhot, MBA
Secretary
Michelle Bernier
Treasurer
Chris Castonguay
Members
Tracy Formica, RN
William Kirkpatrick
Lauren Mazzoli
Kevin McClure
Tara Moody
Ex-Officio
Marissa Marks
Chair, Board of Education
Brian Czapla
Superintendent of Schools
William Meier
Board of Selectmen
Kathy Welch
Information Technology
Robin Munson
CPA
Kathy Devlin
Citizen
Jennifer D'Amour, JD
Attorney
Marissa Marks
PTO Liaison
Advisers
Pat Bachetti
Jody Caetano
Terri Henderson
Liz Iadarola
Jessica Antonacci
Dan Roulier
Amanda Vesce
Teresa Mancini
Ben Camerota
Co-Founder/President Emeritus
Lou Bachetti
July 2021
The Somers Education Foundation’s 17th year was challenging yet successful. Though the usual fundraising results were down 60%, total assets grew 32%, ($211,095), primarily due to investment appreciation. This allowed SEF to grant $52,169. Having awarded a total of $575,000 since inception, while building an endowment/cash reserve of $868,097, SEF has had a total impact of $1,443,097! For perspective, SEF had $14,000 in funds and awarded $5000 in grants in its first year of existence.
All voting Board and ex-officio positions are filled. Michelle Bernier and William Kirkpatrick – agreed to serve for another 3-year term. Tara Moody was welcomed as a new 3-year Voting member. SEF lost a dear and valued member this year, Clifford Bordeaux, who passed away. Lauren Mazzoli will fill the remainder of his term. The Board approved a revision of its Bylaws, adding 3 Articles, codifying the financial rules of the Foundation.
Courtesy of the talents of Scott Sutter, in conjunction with Ellington’s and Suffield’s Education Foundations, SEF benefited from a virtual 5k FUN’D Run in the fall. SEF also participated in and helped sponsor a Halloween Happening event with the PTO generating publicity and goodwill. The Geissler’s Receipts Program continues to be a mainstay of funding. SEF thanks the Nilsson Family for its generosity and ongoing sponsorship of this important program. The Smile.amazon.com program showed steady growth. SEF was again the beneficiary of a very gracious donation of $10,000 from the Antonacci Family Foundation. A sixth Named Fund – The Mazzoli Family Fund- was created.
SEF thanks the Mazzoli and Antonacci Families for their generosity and votes of confidence.
SEF is now 17 years old. One of its founding tenets was to build a permanent, sustaining endowment so grants could be awarded regardless of the economy and fundraising results. Applying “The Prudent Man” rule in 2015-16, the SEF utilized 4% from its endowment for the first time. This year certainly validated that concept. The endowment is working exactly as envisioned.
SEF’s goals are to continue, in the words of its first President Lou Bachetti, to “think big,” grow the endowment, increase community awareness, and provide greater funding for education opportunities for every student in the Somers Public School System.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
Paul Salva, President
and the SEF Board
Daylily Sale
Geissler's Receipt Program
Smile Amazon
Donations
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.
• Great Leaps Reading and Math Fluency (SES)
• Free Library Composite Book Houses (SES)
• Mock Trial and Escape Room Supplies (SHS)
.
• Laser Engraving and Manufacturing (MBA)
• Butterfly Enclosure and MBA Courtyard Improvements (MBA)
• Safe Spaces: Inclusivity in the SHS Cafeteria (SHS)
• Stackable Rocking Seats (SES)
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