The Huntington Foundation is laying the foundation for what it hopes will be one of its best years ever in 2014/15. The group is led by co-Presidents Maria Cassar and Laurene Napurano, who head a 16 member board of directors.
Board officers also include Michael Grassi (vice president-grants administration), Janice Kimchy (vice president-marketing), Deborah Knowles (treasurer), Nancy Shivers (secretary) and Melissa Ryan, who will serve as liaison director.
Rounding out the slate of Huntington Foundation board members is Jill Carrelle, Diane Klaverweiden, Susan Lyons, Marilyn Maggio (liaison to Huntington High School), Toniann Mangan (liaison to Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School), Charlie Menacho, Robin O’Leary (liaison to Jefferson Primary School), Alice Marie Rorke and Kimberley Steinberg. (Additional liaisons will be announced at a later date.)
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HFEE (Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education) has announced its 22nd annual gala will be held on Friday, February 6 at the Harbor Club at Prime. The Reach for the Stars dinner will honor J. Taylor Finley Middle School guidance counselor Caterina Cain and distinguished community member Christopher Mitchell, who manages the high quality men’s and woman’s fashions store, Marshs in Huntington village.
Mrs. Napurano will chair the gala’s organizing committee. The event will include an extensive cocktail hour with mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres, a delicious hot meal, dessert, unlimited refreshments, a live band, dancing and dozens of appealing auction and raffle items. Tickets are priced at $125.
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Proceeds from the gala will fund the organization’s efforts to enhance classroom education, the arts and athletics in the Huntington School District. Since its inception, the Foundation has funded about $850,000 worth of teacher generated educational grants in the district.
Over the past decade the Huntington Foundation has honored Patricia Dillon, Christine Bene, Michelle Marino, Barbara Cutrone, John J. Finello, Doris Quintilian, Vicki Mingin, Beverly Wayne, Lou Giani, the district’s nursing staff, Eunice Marchi and Joan Fretz.
The Huntington Foundation administers min-grant and Star grant programs. The purpose of the mini-grant program “is to provide money for special projects costing up to $1,000 for innovative classroom activities that are beyond the core curriculum, such as new computer software, educational additions for a classroom and various workshops,” according to the application form.
Star grants usually exceed $1,000 and have reached as high as $12,925. They are awarded for projects that “fuel grade-wide, department-wide and school-wide initiatives that have a broad impact or grand vision of education,” according to the application.
The Huntington Foundation is a not-for-profit organization. Its annual report may be obtained upon request from the Foundation (P.O. Box 552, Huntington, NY 11743) or from the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau (120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271).
