2013 was a monumental year for the foundation, celebrating
25 years of dollars for scholars. This also marked the 19th anniversary of The
Dollars for Scholars Telethon, our annual fundraiser. The broadcast was a
"production success" thanks to BCAT Executive Director Jen Dodge, Production
Coordinators; Tad Stephanak, Corey Mc Neil, Michael Duval, Engineer Dick
Linder, System Network Manager BPS Bob Cunha, Custodian Ray Harbor, BCSF Production
Assistant Chris Flaherty, and the volunteers of BCAT. The success is also a result of the dedicated board members
and volunteers;
Steve Preston, Brian Curtin, Jane Hyde, Don Flaherty, Diane
Creedon, Juliet Mott, Mike Phelan,
Al Fay, Cathy O Neil, Dave Norden , Adopt A Class Co Chair Debbie Keene and
volunteer Shelia Flaherty. Special thanks to Dr. Eric Conti, Mark Sullivan, Joe
Attubuto, Robyn Miliano, and the BHS student volunteers who worked the phones
and raised the dollars for scholars.
2013 was also a year of transition, 9 year President Steve
Preston retired from his post and the board bestowed the privilege of me
becoming only the 3rd President of the foundation in 25 years. Joan Miles the
founding President served for 14 years, these are tough shoes to fill. Joan and
Steve the town has a debt of gratitude to each you for your fine work and
dedication in making a better Burlington and investing in our children.
In 2013 we welcomed a new board member: Steve Tremblay, has
been a great addition to our finance team.
The Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation renewed its
agreement with Dollars for Scholars a program of Scholarship America. This
partnership has transformed the scholarship opportunities for our students from
local to "global"; our web site (http://bcsfds.dollarsforscholars.org/)
is linked to our national partner and all its sponsors around the globe. Not
only can the applicants continue to apply locally they can now apply anywhere
the internet will take them. We
extend our sincerest thanks to Josh Murphy BPS Director of Student Information,
for building the site and Guidance Director Joe Attubuto, and Secretary Theresa
Cavanaugh for streamlining the new application process from white paper to
"Green", on line applications. You should also know that once a
student has uploaded all there information the web site will retain all the
information from Under Graduate to Doctorate the opportunities are endless. Special
thanks to board member Charley Murphy, Ray Graber(Graber Associates) and the Printing Place(Deb
& Doug) for their expertise and contribution’s in making all of the
necessary changes to our logo and collateral material to adhere to our national
standards of compliance.
The BCSF awarded 38 scholarships to high school graduates
for a total of $80,000.00 The Adopt a Class program sponsored by Northern Bank
& Trust awarded 28 scholars for a total of $22,500. In addition the BCSF
also awarded 6 scholarships to Burlington Adults who have returned or began
school, total $ 12,000.00. Additionally under the BCSF Umbrella the Burlington
High School awarded $ 205,000 The grand total for 2013 in total scholarship
awards collectively with the Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation and
BHS program are; 397 individual scholarships totaling $315,000.000. These
awards would not be given without the due diligence of the awards committee
that selects the recipients, thanks to for a job well done.
The BCSF endowment fund of 1.3 million dollars had a 10.5%
return in 2013 thanks to Appelstein Monahan Group/UBS Financial Services Inc.
The Investment team of; Brian Curtin, Phil Gallagher, Juliet Mott, and Dr. Eric
Conti have worked well with our investment partners, thank you all.
2014 we begin anew with our web site, collateral material,
and a global source of resources. This will also be a building year for the
foundation, we plan to grow the endow fund and expand our on line presence and
the adopt a class program through social media.
In closing we wish to thank our corporate partners who have
adopted a class, they are the back bone of the Adopt a Class program. Please
join me in thanking them for their commitment and investment. Class of 2014
Brick Point Properties, 2015 & 2016 Riemer & Braunstein, LLP, 2017
Vidoli & Associates, 2018 Lahey Clinic, 2019 Burtons Grille, 2020 The
Liquor Cabinet, 2021 Flatbread, 2022 Brookline Bank, 2023 Reading Co-operative
Bank, 2024 Century Bank, 2025 Olde Towne Liquor/New Towne Grille, and 2026 Rockland
Trust.
On behalf of the students of
Burlington thank you for your donations and support.
Sincerely,
Jack Ferren
President
Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation
Dollars for Scholars, a program of Scholarship America
781-270-8192