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Sept, 2021 Updates to Geissler's Receipt Program
Sept, 2021 North Central News Letter to the Editor
2021 Financials Now Available
2021 Annual Report Now Available
About Us
Board of Directors
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
Bruce Devlin, JD
Chair, Board of Education
Brian Czapla
Superintendent of Schools
Tim Keeney, JD
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
Most Recent President's Message
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
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Several Ways To Be Part of the Team
Geissler's Receipt Program
Smile Amazon
Donations
Volunteering Your Time
GRANTS
THE PROGRAM
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.
AWARDED 2020-2021
Due to the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves, SEF has expanded and accelerated its grant approval process. Previously, grants were awarded in mid-October. SEF is proud that they can help starting in July this year. As additional grants are approved, this area will be updated to keep all informed. As of mid-July, the total grants for the 2020 - 2021 school year, has awarded $52, 169.
- Tents for Classroom and Break Areas (System-wide). SEF is footing the entire bill for the tents that will be installed on campus to be used as outdoor classrooms and break areas. In order to maintain social distancing guidelines, the usual 15-20 students to a class room cannot be accommodated in the classroom space in the building as students will need to be more spread out. The tents will provide the needed additional class room space and study hall space. This grant alone was approximately $49,400.
- Second Step SEL Program Materials (MBA) - Second Step is a program rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to help children thrive. Middle school is a time of change. Second Step helps teach powerful skills and competencies—like handling strong emotions, setting and meeting goals, making good decisions, and forging positive relationships—while building the safe, supported learning environment middle schoolers need to succeed. Somers Elementary School currently uses Second Step in grades K-5. These lessons will enhance already existing SEL lessons delivered during Advisory blocks at MBA. This is an online, system-wide subscription.