Parsippany Education Foundation Honored For 25th Anniversary

PARSIPPANY, NJ —In 1996, a small group of local businesspeople, educators and parents in Parsippany established a nonprofit organization with the objective of supporting the community of learners. Conceived by Tom Ladas, an executive with Pfizer, along with Superintendent Tim Brennan and Board of Education President Dave Shaffer, the organization was dedicated to working together for the children in the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District.

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Twenty-five years later, here are some of the foundation's accomplishments:

• NET day in 1997, when the foundation assembled volunteers to solicit donations and help wire the schools for the internet.
• Technology acquisition for curriculum enrichment benefiting students with special learning needs.
• Digitizing school library catalogs.
• Fundraising Walkathon with participants representing all schools carrying signs and banners from their school starting in the east from PHS and the west from Intervale Rd. finishing at the municipal building and donating $1,000 to each school in the district.
• Artists in Residence workshops for our Choral and Band students conducted by professional internationally known artists.
• Commissioning composition of an original orchestral work, the “Golden Anniversary Overture” celebrating PHHS’s 50th anniversary and played annually at graduation.
• Chipwrecks and Redbots, enabling the student robotics club to design and build a robot to compete in the worldwide First Tech Challenge from the organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST).

District officials honored the foundation for its 25th anniversary at a recent Board of Education meeting.

"The Parsippany Education Foundation has funded so many wonderful educational projects over the years," said Superintendent Dr. Barbara Sargent. "Many of these funded grant projects were so successful that they turned into district-funded programs for all students to enjoy. We are grateful for the generous philanthropy of the Foundation."

Board of Education President Frank Neglia presented a plaque honoring the foundation's 25 years of service, which will be displayed at the Board of Education office.

“We are proud to accept this recognition on behalf of all of our volunteer members who have contributed their time and effort to the foundation over the past 25 years and delighted for the privilege to support innovative and impactful programs championed by our Parsippany teachers,” said foundation President Stella Gizas.

Visit www.pef4kids.com for more information, or like their Facebook page. Donations may be sent to PO Box 200 Parsippany, NJ 07054.

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