Essex Tech Launches Foundation To Supplement State, Local Funding

DANVERS, MA — Essex Tech has launched a development foundation to help supplement what school officials call a decline in traditional funding sources.

The Essex Tech Education Foundation is designed to expand opportunities for students and staff through funding expanding programming, teacher-led projects, capital improvements and athletic facility upgrades.

"We have been fortunate to receive grant funding and private donations to support our students and expand access," Superintendent Heidi Riccio said. "With public grant funding decreasing, foundations like this are becoming essential.

"We're incredibly excited about the Essex Tech Education Foundation because it creates new ways to support our teachers, grow our programs, and ensure every student has access to the tools and experiences they need to succeed."

"This foundation is about more than just funding," Board member Joe St. Pierre said. "It's an opportunity for all of us alumni, families, and local partners to come together and invest in what matters most: our students, their success, and the workforce training that happens here. It is about building a legacy for future Hawks."

School officials said the ETEF marks "an important step toward ensuring long-term support for Essex Tech's evolving needs."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)