About FEF
We are an independent, non-profit, community-based organization developed to support innovation and excellence in education. We do this by funding grants for teachers and staff within the Franklin Public Schools. During the Covid-19 Pandemic we made donations directly to the school district leadership, through the School Committee, for the benefit of all students.
Board of Directors
2021 - 2022
Dr. Pandora Carlucci, Co-President
Roberta Trahan, Co-President
Harsha Gurumurthy, Treasurer
Richard Rollingcross, Secretary
Lisa Brady
Ann Knapp
Mary Kroon
Joni Magee
Dave McNeill
Krishnaprasad Shetty
Phil Sweeney
Denise Spencer, School Committee Representative
Thomas Broyles, FHS Student Representative
2020 - 2021
Dr. Pandora Carlucci, Co-President
Roberta Trahan, Co-President
Harsha Gurumurthy, Treasurer
Richard Rollingcross, Secretary
Lisa Brady
Glenn Jones
Mary Kroon
Joni Magee
Dave McNeill
Alana Sanders
Krishnaprasad Shetty
Phil Sweeney
The Franklin Education Foundation was founded in 1997 by Peggy Yanuskiewcz, Vicki Coates and Pandora Carlucci, with assistance from Dr. Richard Warren, Superintendent of Schools. Since 1997, FEF has funded hundreds of grants totaling over $400,000. These grants have touched students at all levels from the early childhood development center through the high school.
Our initial major fundraising event was the annual BEE. For six years, the Spelling Bee was all the rage. In 2004, BEE FRANKLIN launched our first ever TRIVIA BEE. The format remained the same--49 teams of three people competed in seven rounds for the right to advance to the championship round. Themed teams, costumes, and friendly competition abound in the quest for the coveted BEE Cup. It is a lively and memorable annual community event!
Our all-volunteer board of directors is made up of parents, teachers and business leaders in Franklin who are dedicated to ensuring a high quality of education for the children in the Franklin public school system.
None of the innovative programs that benefit the students and community could be possible without the financial support of area businesses, organizations and groups. We are entirely dependent on the generosity of team sponsorships, financial donations, and in-kind donations.
Past Members of the Board
Volunteers have joined the Board and served terms of varying lengths. The FEF Board benefitted from the knowledge and dedicated service of many volunteers over the years. The list of the past Members of the Board is organized by the year they first joined. Some served one or two years and others served a decade. All service to the FEF is appreciated.
1997 - Establishing Board
Pandora Carlucci
Vicki Coates
Bob Keras
Deborah Kroeber
Dale Lippert
Scott Nathan
Rev. Dadgie Scott
Eugene Stone
Roberta Trahan
Peggy Yanuskewicz
Dr. Richard Warren (ex. officio)
The Establishing Board members included Bob Keras, Keefe Ins. Co., FHS alumnus, and member of the FHS Gridiron Club; Dale Lippert, Dean College Athletic Department; Scott Nathan, attorney; Rev. Dadgie Scott, co-pastor at the Franklin Federated Church; Eugene Stone, President of Strata Bank; and, Roberta Trahan, critical care registered nurse, FHS alumna, and community volunteer. Peggy Yanuskiewicz, educator; Vicki Coates, health care administrator, and Pandora Carlucci, city planner, collaborated with Dr. Richard Warren, Superintendent of Schools, to recruit the organizing board and create the groundwork for the Education Foundation to grow and flourish.
After the Establishing Board was convened in 1997, members left and joined the Board, as permitted by personal schedules and the needs of the Board. Over the years, the Board was honored with the dedicated service of several Franklin residents:
1998
Susan Gardner
1999
John Doyle
Bobbi Tayne Gerlits
2000
Donna Brunelli
Tim Hurdelbrink
Debra Martin-Boulanger
Joan Ford
Victor Schlitzer
Eric Wilson
2001
Mary Regina Bennett
Nancy Conboy
MaryAnne Dean
Pam Mozynski
Nancy Rappa
John Ristaino
Rob Vacca
2002
Deb Bartlett
Sarah Drake
Tim Fahey
Charlene Hebert
Suzanne Marak
2003
Dr. David Crisafulli (ex. officio)
2004
Maureen Roy
Kathleen Sawyer
2005
Cora Armenio
Jill Jones
Elise Nulton
Nancy Sones
2006
Linda Miller Foster
Mike Doherty
2007
Marianne Lyer
2008
2009
Justin Gracci
Trish Lewis
Peter Minor
Dr. Maureen Sabolinski
Abbey Whalen
Dr. Anne Bergen
Ann Marie Criscione
Peter Lounsbury
Chuck Morrisette
Karen Thorn
2010
Dr. Kit Brady
Tom Powderly
Victor Lopez
Ann Marie Van de Geisen
2011
Dana Bienkowski
Suzanne Sherrin
2012
Sandra Verhaegen
2013
Craig Haba
Mike Brennan
Leighanne Haba
2014
Susie Cristiano
Diane Oteri
Karen Purvis
2015
Lisa Brady
Glenn F. Jones
2016
Harsha Gurumurthy
Mary Kroon
Alana Sanders
Krishnaprasad Shetty
2017
Dr. Sara Ahern (ex. officio)
2018
Phil Sweeney
2019
Kristen Fiorenza
Rick Rollingcross
2020
Joni Magee
David McNeill
Thomas Broyles (Student Liaison)
Denise Spencer (SC Liaison)
2022
Ann Knapp