www.thinkthebest.org

GLOUCESTEREDUCATION

FOUNDATIONFY 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Gloucester High School Students relax between classes in fall of 2019 Photo courtesy of Rumi Thomas

Dear Friends, 

Thank you for being part of the generous community of supporters that

makes Gloucester Education Foundation’s work possible. The projects

highlighted in this report are your projects, too. We hope that you are as

proud of them as we are. 

2020 has been an interesting year to start our new posts as GEF’s

Executive Director and Board President. The coronavirus pandemic has

thrown all of us into a new normal that we never could have predicted.

Like so many other organizations, GEF has shifted and stretched to

meet immediate community needs, while planning for how we can best

support future learning in our schools, in an environment that is still to be

determined. 

And yet, despite the uncertainty around us, GEF’s mission has never felt more relevant. Driving innovation.Encouraging creativity.  Expanding opportunities.  Empowering educators.  These goals are a road

map for stability and effective action, now and in the future.  

With this strong vision, and with you as our partners, GEF’s path is clear. We will walk alongside our

teachers and students to help them navigate and excel within a new learning environment, and provide a

foundation of steadfast support for years to come. Thank you for partnering with us in this work, and for

your commitment to education in Gloucester. 

With gratitude, 

Aria McElhenny

Executive Director

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & BOARD PRESIDENT

Serena Low

Board President

Gloucester Public Schools Arts Festival This beloved annual community event is apartnership among Gloucester EducationFoundation, Sawyer Free Library, Cape AnnMuseum, The City of Gloucester, and theGloucester Public Schools. An all-daycelebration of the artistic gifts and creativityof our students, the Arts Festival is ashowcase of student visual and performanceart, including painting, ceramics,photography, woodworking, poetry, theaterand music from every school in the district.

GLOUCESTER EDUCATION

FOUNDATION DRIVES

INNOVATION , ENCOURAGES

CREATIV ITY , EXPANDS

STUDENT OPPORTUNIT IES

AND EMPOWERS

EDUCATORS TO

STRENGTHEN TEACHING

AND LEARNING IN THE

GLOUCESTER PUBLIC

SCHOOL DISTRICT .

OUR MISSION

I cannot thank the Gloucester Education

Foundation enough for its  support of the District’s

efforts to fulfill its mission. Their efforts to help the

District create a culture of excellence is equally

matched by the dignified manner in which they

offer that support. The district and I are, to say the

least, profoundly grateful.  

Sincerely,  

Dr. Richard Safier

For the last nine years, I have had the privilege of working collaboratively with

the Gloucester Education Foundation. In that time, GEF has made an

enormous contribution in support of the Gloucester Public Schools.

This support has vastly enriched the learning opportunities that we now

provide for our students. In the areas of literacy, science, art, technology,

professional development, grant acquisition, and even the renovation of

facilities, GEF has been a proverbial backbone for innovation and

enhancement of programs for students in all grades and at all levels.

LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Recently, in the midst of the pandemic, GEF took the initiative to fund the

production of face shields using our 3-D printers, manufactured by Gloucester teachers. Like so much of their work, this was an

extraordinary gesture on their part fueled by GEF’s

commitment not only to Gloucester schools, but to

the community at-large. 

Thank you, Dr. Safier for your invaluable partnership with GEF during your time as Superintendent.We will miss you and we wish you all the best in your retirement.

Advanced Placement (AP) Prep ClassesGloucester High School offers 10 AP classes, with a 32% participationrate. GEF is pleased to support summer AP prep classes, whichenable students to get a head start on their AP classwork before theschool year starts, and helps prepare them for the AP exams in theSpring. AP classes play a large role in college admissions, andsupporting Gloucester's students as they progress towards higherlearning is an important part of GEF's work in the schools.

When coronavirus forced us to cancel several events andschool projects, GEF pivoted to support the community in newways. Our Power of Art project provided art supplies tostudents at home to help them creatively document theirexperiences of living through a pandemic. The Gloucester FaceShield Project produced over 2500 face shields in school 3-Dprinter labs made by teachers and volunteers. The Shields wereprovided for free to local front line workers.

Contributions75%

Grants20%

In-Kind3%

Events2%

Programs- $260,76362%

Payroll- $99,59523%

Operations and Fundraising - $65,53615%

Other45%

Arts15%

STEM40%

District-Wide5%

Preschool4%

O'Maley Innovation Middle School22%

Gloucester High School48%

Elementary21%

FY 2020 F INANCIALS  

Since 2005, Gloucester Education Foundation has raised more than $8 million to support the

Gloucester Public Schools, and has assisted with raising an additional $1.23 million in grants

that have gone directly to the Gloucester Public School District for innovative school programs.

INCOME : $393 ,437 * EXPENSES : $425 ,898 *

PROGRAM FUNDING BY DISCIPL INE PROGRAM FUNDING BY SCHOOL

STEM at GloucesterHigh School

A 2019 Grant fromApplied MaterialsFoundation enabled GEF toprovide teachersacross all STEMdisciplines atGloucester HighSchool with resourcesto strengthen inquiry-based learningpractices in theirclassrooms, helpingstudents to develophigher order thinkingskills in science,technology,engineering andmath.

*Revenue for some FY20 programs was received in theprior year.

*Gifts to the GEF endowment  fund are not includedin this summary.

(April 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020)

Jennifer Goulart AmeroJim BarkerJan BellJohn ByrnesKathleen ClancyRobert W. CunninghamMartin Del VecchioJim DestinoPeter DolanJohn DoyleMary Kay DyerRobert GillisVal GilmanDr. Robert JedreyFred JohnsonEric KreilickMarietta Lynch

COMMUNITY COUNCIL

David MarshPaul McGearyErin McKayJeremy McKeenKristin MichelBeth MorrisStevie NealBeebe NelsonLiisa Nogelo-KerrRuth PinoEllen PrestonDavid Rhinelander Ed ShoucairVal SomersLeora UlrichRichard WeissDick Wilson

STAFF

Aria McElhenny, Executive DirectorLarissa Mills, Communications and Operations Manager

ADVISORS

Dr. Richard Safier, Superintendent (Retired June, 2020)Dr. Ben Lummis, Superintendent (July, 2020) Sefatia Romeo Theken, MayorSteve LeBlanc, President, City CouncilJonathan Pope, Chair, School Committee

O’Maley Academy is a free, year-round program,running 4 afternoons per week during the school yearand 6 weeks in the summer. The Academy serves 1806-8th grade students, introducing them to an array ofcurricula, from the arts, to science, to literacy, all whileachieving the overarching goal of connectingstudents with their peers in healthy, positive andmeaningful ways through collaborative activities.

Serena Low, PresidentJustine Laurie, CPA, TreasurerJohn B. Bjorlie, ClerkMarie Cahoon, Recording Secretary Joe Calomo, Past President

Sarah GrowGrace NumerosiAnna O’ConnorJoe RosaMaggie RosaJohn SarroufJune SteelJochem Struppe

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Countdown toKindergarten engagesfamilies, educators and

the community in a

citywide effort to

enhance early learning

opportunities and to

support the transition

into kindergarten. GEF

is proud to partner with

numerous other

community

organizations to

support this annual

event.

The Physiology of Mindfulnessprogram provides the sixth gradersat O’Maley Innovation Middle Schoolwith insight into therapeutic toolsfor regulating and calming anxiety.With anxiety disorders affectingschool-aged youth at ever-increasing rates, this programempowers students to improve theirown health and wellness byteaching them breathing andbiofeedback techniques that havepowerful, positive physiologicaleffects.

2019 -2020 CONTRIBUTORS

MAJOR DONOR ($25,000+)Applied Materials FoundationMollie and John ByrnesThe Gordon FoundationJ.M.R. Barker FoundationLyon-Waugh Auto GroupJoe and Maggie Rosa

COMMUNITY LEADER ($10,000-$24,999)Anonymous 100 Women Who Care Cape AnnRob AmoryBeauport Financial's Richard D. Wilson Community Response Gift FundJ.J. and Jackie BellCape Ann Savings BankKathleen and Kevin ClancyMary Kay DyerInstitution for Savings Charitable FoundationDaren and Kim SawyerRichard Weiss and Barbara McLaughlinYouths' Friends Association

SCHOOL SPONSOR ($5,000-$9,999)Beauport Financial Services LLCJanis and John BellBruce J. Anderson FoundationJoseph and Bethany CalomoDouglas Kerr and Liisa Nogelo KerrJune Landergren Steel

GRADE SPONSOR ($1,000-$4,999)Edward and Mary AndersonAnnisquam ExchangeAnnisquam Sewing CircleBankGloucesterJim and Chris BarkerJohn and Cynthia BjorlieMichael and Mary Ann BresnanSteve and Kim BuckleyDavid and Carole CampbellTed and Jan CharlesDiane Chen Koch-WeserPeter and Kathy CoakleyHal and Ginny CoggerCharles and Caroline EsdaileFaria Restaurant Group, LLCPeter Feinstein and Miriam WeinsteinTom and Jennifer FernandesGalen Gibson Scholarship TrustGenerousGardeners.orgClyde and Lucy GillardPixie Harrington and Bob GillisSusan Whitman HelfgotJon and Kris KosheffKip LandergrenDavid and Peg LeecoSerena and Patrick LowStanley MarchantBarbe and Larry Maver

Seaside Sustainability Inc.Deborah SheedyKaye Lynn Johnson-Shoucair and Ed ShoucairTom and Sally SimonsTina Snider and The Snider FoundationTheda and Tamblin Clark Smith Family Foundation  Lizel and Hoff StaufferJim and Kate StavisBob and Carolyn StewartAnthony and Wendy TarriconeThe Event CompanyDick Wilson

Karen QuillenVal and Evelyn SomersCharles J. SteinerFrieda Grotjahn and Jochem StruppeJulie and Christopher ThomasGeorge and Joan WaterhouseElaine and Douglass WebbTim and Megara Wood

Roy and Shelagh McCauleyKim McGovern and Frank ScherkenbachChristine L. McGrath and Patrick J. SalonySean and Erin McKayMichael and Diane SlezakStephen and Jean MunizAllyson O'Connor, NXTeventRuth PinoDavid A. PistenmaaDavid and Christina RaimoMichael and Patricia RosenblattAnne and Richard RosenfeldRotary Club of Gloucester

FAMILY SPONSOR ($400-$999)Anonymous (2)Fil and Suki AgustiAssociated Charities of GloucesterMac BellBrace Cove FoundationJill and Peter CahillMichael and Lavina CalomoSarah and Gib CareyBarry CordenBob and Gigs CunninghamMike and Eva DiLascioEngel & Völkers GloucesterMichael and Ramona FahertyLinda FeuerbachMarion M. FrostKari and Jud GalePaul and Valerie GilmanAbbie Lundberg and Tony GrossKatharine HamilosHewlett Packard Enterprise FoundationHarry and Mary HintlianJ. Barrett & CompanyJPL LandscapingMartha and Mark LindsayKevin LittmanChristine and Paul LundbergRobert and Eileen MatzJohn and Aria McElhennyKen and Robyn MillsWendy and John NasserStephen and Anna O'ConnorPaone MechanicalKristen and Rob ParsonsVinay and Sangitaben PatelEllen Preston

Dance Throughthe Decades is adistrict-wide

elementary school

program that

explores popular

dance from the

1920s through the

1980’s, and how the

events of each

decade impacted

American dance

and culture.

STUDENT SPONSOR ($100-$399)Anonymous (21)Adage Capital ManagementAlbano Electric Co. Anchor Capital Advisors LLCLeslie AndersonAnnisquam Village PlayersApplied Materials Foundation & EmployeesKatherine Babson, Jr.Duncan and Mara BalsbaughLansing and Wendy BanksTingle BarnesSeth and Margaret BartlettBass Rocks Golf ClubNicole BeauparlantBeeman School PTOJoann A. BellKaren N. BellSelma BellKatherine BeneschTimothy and Diane BengstonDavid and Sally BenjaminElizabeth BishCape Ann Handywoman LLCChris and Catherine BoucherPeter Brau and  Bethany FritzscheMary BrosnanDale Brown and Curtis GollradStephanie BuckMarie and Brian CahoonMaryellen CallahanCape Ann Brewing CompanyCape Ann OilCarol K. Steele Insurance Agency, Inc.George and Judy CarterDiana B. ClarkTrudy ClemensPhyllis and Douglas ComeauJohn and Polly ConnorsRoger Corbin and Liz SerpaCharles Crowley and Claire SanfordPeter Cunningham

Phil and Mary-Alice CurcuruPhil and Eve CutterTheresa DannaherJack and Betty DavisMarguerite DebbieGreg and Nissa DelaneyStephen F. and Dawn E. DexterCathy and Stephen DoeJohn and Judy DoyleWilliam and Jean DuganEast Gloucester PTODeborah and William EbelingRob and Surrey ElwellEssex River Basin AdventuresRonda Faloon and Rob ChandlerJay and Helen FeatherstoneBill and Lyn FenollosaSusan Field and Bob HeinemannGuy and Andrea FinckePatricia FonzoScott FreedsonHelene FrenchJim and Lynne FrickJane GagliardiJames Garrels and Joan BrooksJonas Gavelis and Bonnie SylvesterGeoffrey H. RichonJennifer GillisGloucester Bar AssociationAnthony and Samantha GoddessRosalyn and Richard GoldMr. and Mrs. Sargent L. GoodchildPattie and Jerry GoulartJoan GradyJames and Helen GreelyGary Griffis and Leslie PearlmanCarl and Judy GustinAnne N. HaendigesHarbor View Realty TrustDavid Rosen and Laura HarringtonCaryl HarrisKaren and J. HarrisonEdward HartPaula and Gerald HartColleen HayesJudith and Harry HoglanderTom and Martha HooperCaroline and Tom HoveyThe Building CenterRobert and Patricia JedreyFred and Deanie JohnsonSteve and Herbie JohnsonMoira JonesPeter and Karen Koch-Weser

This list includes contributors who made gifts between 4/1/2019 and3/31/2020. We make every attempt to ensure accuracy; please let usknow if we have made an error or inadvertently omitted your name.

Heather Stewart and Caitlin FeatherstoneLester StockmanNaomi StonbergDon Sudbay Family Automotive CenterJack and Marie SweeneyThe Bridge Cape AnnYuri Tuvim and Mary-Louise GiulianoLeora and Josh UlrichVeterans Memorial School PTOWest Parish PTOMichael and Candace WheelerWhitmarsh Lock and SafeJames and Theresa WhitmoreRandy and Heather WidtfeldtLeon and Elizabeth WilhelmWilkins Insurance Agency, Inc.Gary and Noell WilsonThomas and Susan YoungThomas and Kristin ZarrellaWayne and Glenda Zink

Linda LamarcheHelen and Milton LauensteinMichael and Justine LaurieNancy LeavittCarol C. LinskyJackie LittlefieldLong Beach Dairy MaidJohn MacEachern, Jr.Manchester Athletic ClubNoel MannBob and Eileen MatzJohn and Mary Ann McCormickPat McCoy and Cindi AdcockDan and Jenifer McDougallDennis McGurkCarol B. McNeillRoger C. McNeillGail and Eric McNiffCharles Olson and Nicole BoginFern MillerRichard MillsDan and Beth MorrisSean and Coleen MurdockDean and Annette MurrayCharles and Stella NahatisStevie and Greg NealLiz NeumeierNewburyport Education FoundationTimothy and Annette NolanKirk and Ruth NoyesGrace and Giuseppe NumerosiJerry and Bonnie O'NeilMichael and Alicia OliverMark and Renee OlsenMatt and Christina ParisiJacqueline ParkerJeffrey ParsonsBob and Rachel PerlmutterPhilpott Doyle & Co P.C.Plum Cove PTOJonathan and Susan PopeMark and Pam PoulinNora PriestJohn and Angela QuinceMaureen QuineMartin and Kay RayMary RhinelanderRockport Mortgage CorporationRockport Music, Inc.Linda and Bucky RogersMarcia RogersJohn and Sandy RonanMelvin and Martha RosenblattJohn R. Ross and Mary BenhamDenise RouleauWallace H. RoweRob Russell, M.D.Robert B. and Debra A. RyanSalem Five Charitable FoundationJason SalonyPeter Wolfskehl and Gail SarofeenMary SaundersDavid and Diane DeBono SchaferSchlichte & Johnstone, P.C.School and Main Institute, Inc.Schooner AdventureSeaside Sustainability Inc.Terry Segal and Dale RosenShawsPauline SheedyDavid and Patricia SladeBruce and Kathy SliferAnne Seymour St. John and Albert EllisMichael R. Stelluto

Artistic Bridges provides a vital

link between the rich artistic

community that characterizes

Gloucester and Cape Ann and

children in the schools, who can

benefit from learning from local

working artists. Our partnership

with Cape Ann Museum enables

us to bring a wide range of

artistic disciplines to all of our

schools.

CONTRIBUTOR (up to $99) Anonymous (23)The Abrams Dowd FamilyHaley and Ian AllisonErik and Kristen AndersonAriana ConnollyEric and Gina AshwellKristin BarrBay View Brotherhood Club, Inc.Lynne BeattieAmanda BlackLori BouchieEdwina BradtCasey BretonJulia BrothertonPaul and Lisa BruceCape Ann CoffeesCape Ann Pediatricians, P.C.Loran and Frank CaputoLeeAnne CiaramitaroIrma CohenBill and Betsey ColbyLinda D. CookTed and Janice CostaDamon E. CummingsJoan CummiskeyKaren Dane and Ames Stevens

Jaimee SilvaJessica SilveriaLisa Jean SmithBill and Ellen StoneDarlene and John StoryMargaret StrescinoStudio RKFLee SweklaThe CaveGordon and Catherine TurnerClarissa VentimigliaMary Verge-DesistoAmy VicariRonald and Julia ViolaConrad VitaleRosemarie VizenaHazel von RosenvingeHeidi Wakeman and Coley BryanGrace WallSarah WarrenJames and Lea WatsonJan WeinshankerBeth WhiteBob Whitmarsh and Dolores Laughlin Peter and Leah WillettMaria V. WilsonPeggy WiselogleAmy J. Young

Paula DonnellyMelanie DorsonE.C. Akerley Corp.Mimi and Bob EmmonsTeresa FerraraMeredith Fine and JanetMackay-SmithJane C. FischerBeth and Richard FrancisJulie and Kenneth FrancisMichael FrancisCaleb and Leslie FridayLucile GatchellTimothy and Celeste GearyRussell and Kathryn GlennMarcia L. GreenbaumJulie and Joseph GucciardiJean M. HammesJason and Melissa HarringtonPhilip and Mary HarveyJeanne HayesWill HigginsDiane and Scott HorneHouse of the RavenMark JenkinsElizabeth and Michael JewellRandolph T. JonesEileen KelleyKaren Kenny and Philip ChaseJohn and Erica KeyesLynne M. KhambatyDeborah and Edward KingHelen and Richard KluckPeter and Pam LaneTom LattofLaundry AgencyAmy LewRick and Kathy LordanJohn and Kelly LoweSheila LummisKaitlyn MacEachernJason MachadoPhoebe Potts and Jeff MarshallPaul and Catherine McGearyMichael J. Powers, D.D.S.Barry Moir and Laila GoodmanChristine Moire and Brian BolcombeMonster Wave Studios, LLCSusan and Tom MooneyMaureen NobleNorth Shore OrthodonticsPeter and Dorcas NortonJill O'BrienArlene and Gerald O'NeilBobbi Jo and Ben OrlandoLeonard and Patricia OrlandoPassports RestaurantPaul and Kristin EarlJohn and Sarah Hollis PerryDanielle PratlKellie RichCarolyn RosatiGary RudolphJanet Ulwick-Sacca and Stephen SaccaScott and Fran SalahRobyn SalvanelliMarc and Sydelle SandlerRegina SargentLouise SarofeenCatherine A. SchlichteErin and Brad SchondelmeierJohn and Joanne SenosGary and Dorothy Siden

In-Kind DonationsBass Rocks Golf Club Cape Ann CinemaCape Ann LanesDuckworth's BistrotLong Beach Dairy MaidChristine and Paul LundbergKristen MichelMarc NicastroRoy Spittle ElectricJacqueline RandazzaMuffy White Organizing and StylingSostratus, LLC Sudbay Automotive GroupThe Event CompanyWe are all in this Together GloucesterWillow Rest Gifts were made in honor of:Val BabsonJohn BarryCelestino BasileEllen ClarkAmber McGlynnShannon ComeauBeth CoolidgeNoelle CormierJim DowdSue HelfgotPat JohnsonKurt LichtenwaldCatherine MorrisseyLaurie MottLydia PriestTina RaimoMaggie RosaJ. Raymond SilvaPeter St. JohnRobin TownePFC Ricky TurnerJim UnisJohn WhitmoreDick Wilson

Engineering and Coding Camp: A popular summer STEM camp

developed by teachers at Beeman elementary School will expand to

become a district-wide program in the next three years, with

generous funding from the Gordon Foundation.

Gloucester Education Foundationwww.thinkthebest.org(978) 282-5550mail: PO Box 1104 Gloucester, MA 01931office: 185 Main St Gloucester, MA 01930 @gloucestereducationfoundation gloucestereducationfound

Funding from Applied Materials Foundation's Generation Girl Initiative supports Girls in STEM at Gloucester High School, an evolving program thatwill pair middle school girls with high school student mentors to encourage participation in the sciences and exploration of science-based careeropportunities.

DrainsmART is a partnership with Seaside Sustainability, funded by

the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation. Students help protect the ocean

and beautify the City by painting environmental awareness-raising

messages and designs on storm drains.