Peekskill
Education Foundation
Created to Support City’s Students
Organization
is Similar to Those in Neighboring Communities Which Have Raised
Significant Sums.
Current Economic Environment Makes Community Support More Essential
Than Ever
For Immediate Release
Monday, March 31, 2003
Contact: Jeff Stern
PEEKSKILL, NY—In a major display
of support for the children of this northern Westchester city,
a group of residents has come together to create the Peekskill
Education Foundation (PEF).
This independent, not-for-profit group will work with the Peekskill
City School District. The mission of the PEF is to encourage
all of the city’s children to excel and to act as a catalyst
for positive change by raising funds, developing enrichment programs
and linking the community with its schools.
Many of Peekskill’s neighboring Westchester communities
benefit from education funds that have raised tens and even hundreds
of thousands of dollars for their students. Officials at the
Peekskill City School District welcomed the new group with eager
anticipation.
“Over the past decade, communities all across Westchester
have launched education foundations to support their school districts,” Peekskill
Superintendent of Schools Judith Johnson said. “These foundations
not only raise funds for school enrichment programs, but also
generate enthusiasm and support for the goals of the school district.”
Work on the Foundation began in April 2002, when a Steering Committee
was formed. That committee worked to secure non-profit status
with New York State. As of last month, they also recruited a
varied and diverse group for a board of directors whose membership
reaches across the political and professional spectrum and includes
lawyers, educators, retired military veterans, and marketing,
public relations and non-profit professionals.
Among the members of the Board are Peekskill City Council members
Cathy Pisani and Mel Bolden, who are also teachers in the school
district; former Peekskill City Manager Patrick Garvey; Kathy
Daley, a founder and former editor of the Peekskill Herald; Kathie
Talbot, owner of the Peekskill graphics and marketing firm Talbot
Productions Inc.; Professor Dr. William C. Maxwell, co-owner
of the Maxwell Fine Arts Gallery in Peekskill and a professor
at The College of New Rochelle; Fr. C. Allan Ford, pastor of
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Also on the Board are Jo
Brill, legislative assistant to Assemblywoman Sandra Galef; realtor
Maria Pereira; Todd Scott, vice president, system sales, east
coast region, International Business Machines Corp.; Allen Love,
Jr., managing director of anti-money laundering practice leader,
Citigate Global Intelligence and Security; Waymond Brothers,
executive director of The Museum of the Underground Railroad;
Janice Molloy, a Manhattan attorney; Bob Hersh, a Peekskill attorney;
Tony Seideman, journalist and marketing consultant; Lise Prown,
computer center manager, Westchester Community College; and Jeff
Stern, consultant. The superintendent of schools and the president
of the Peekskill Board of Education, Tuesday McDonald, serve
as ex-officio, or non-voting, members of the Board.
Education foundations in nearby school districts such as Hendrick
Hudson, Lakeland and Yorktown have all played an important role
in supporting children by doing everything from sponsoring educational
travel and trips to providing teachers with grants for special
projects.
Education foundations raise funds to support projects and activities
that are not within the scope of most school budgets. The Peekskill
Education Foundation also will help to build bridges between
the local business community and the school district. It will
work closely with the district’s Parent Teachers Organization
(PTO), which is a longtime key partner with the school district.
“By strengthening educational opportunities for Peekskill’s
children, we all benefit,” says board President Jeff Stern,
who, as a parent of two children in the school district, is also
active in the PTO. “We provide incentives for our children
to seek higher education, increase property values by improving
the reputation of our schools, and expand the horizons of our
young people.”
A number of PEF board members do not have children, but are volunteering
in the hope of improving the quality of life of the community
at large.
Though the Foundation has only just begun to meet, a number of
committees have already been formed. These include fundraising
and program development committees, and another committee that
is securing federal tax-exempt status.
Other officers of the PEF board are Janice Molloy, vice president;
Kathy Daley, secretary; and Maria Pereira, treasurer.
“The Foundation is committed to both doing well and having
fun,”
Stern said.
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Peekskill
Education Foundation
P.O. Box
489
Peekskill, NY 10566
Contact the Foundation:
914-461-3275
info@peekskilleducationfoundation.org
The Peekskill City School
District
1031 Elm Street
Peekskill, NY 10566
Phone: 914-737-3300
Fax: 914-737-3912
Judith Johnson - Superintendent
http://www.peekskillcsd.org |
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