Rotary Donation to NEF Names Room at Bresnahan Elementary

 Newburyport Education Foundation (NEF) announced a generous gift from the Newburyport Rotary Club will be recognized with the naming of the Literacy Specialist Room-B244 in the new Francis T. Bresnahan Elementary School. A naming ceremony to be held in the fall with the school’s opening and will recognize this gift and others as part of the NEF’s donor recognition campaign currently underway.

“The NEF is very grateful for this generous donation, and we are proud to have the Rotary name on a room at the new school,” said Jay Iannini. “This gift and recognition is a shining example of the community support and collaboration that helps to make our schools outstanding. We hope this gift will inspire others to join in the naming recognition program and get their name on a room, too.”

Through the NEF’s donor recognition program, “Make Your Mark,” rooms at the new school can be named to recognize and honor an individual or organization and the donation supports the NEF’s mission to enhance education in the Newburyport Public Schools.

Rotary chose the NEF as the recipient of their major donation this year as the NEF is “near and dear to the heart” of current Rotary president Cindy Johnson, said Sue Thomas, Rotary spokesperson. 

“One of the major areas of focus for Rotary International is basic education and literacy, and the NEF was a perfect fit for our donation this year,” said Johnson. We have supported literacy efforts in the schools with past donations, with our 3rd Grade Dictionary program, and this year with our new "Rotary Readers" program that had members as guest readers in classrooms K-6. We seized the chance to memorialize our club's support with a naming at the new school and look forward to our donation being used to enhance education here in Newburyport.”

Each year, Rotary makes a donation to a local organization with the funds raised from its annual Chef’s Table Dinner. Geri Dorr chaired the event this year and it is a collaboration of many of our club members and one of our major fundraisers. For the past few years the entire profit has been donated to one recipient. In the past donations were made to AJH and the Newburyport Public Library.

Chris Skiba accepts the Rotary donation from Ray Nippes of the NED and Cindy Johnson, President of Newburyport Rotary Club