SOUNDINGS 2007-2008

Thanks from the HHCEF

Thanks from the Hendrick Hudson Community Educational Foundation to all those who made the fall fundraiser a success. More than $13,000 was raised, which will be used for technology, professional development grants as well as programs at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library. We are looking for new members; more info at www.hhcef.org.

HHCEF Awards More than $108,000 to Our Schools

Thanks to the Hendrick Hudson Community Education Foundation which has donated more than $108,000 to support dozens of important district and community programs since 2000. The grants include more than $14,000 since last summer alone. Some of the initiatives funded by the HHCEF include chess inschool enrichment, the Atomic Learning on-line tutorials, the purchase of chairs for various music programs and a variety of professional development opportunities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jeannie Mandelker
jeannie_mandelker@yahoo.com

A DAZZLING LINE-UP OF HUDSON VALLEY MUSICIANS HIGHLIGHT HENDRICK HUDSON COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER

SHARE THE BEAT
A BENEFIT FOR MUSIC EDUCATION

Successful Fundraiser Raises More Than $8,000 to Fund Music Education Grants

MONTROSE, NY (April 23, 2007) – Our local community had an extraordinary opportunity to see some of the most talented up-and-coming Hudson Valley singer-songwriters perform on one stage at Share the Beat, a Benefit for Music Education, which took place on Sunday afternoon, April 22, 2007. at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill. The concert was presented by the Hendrick Hudson Community Educational Foundation and the Parents Committee on Music (PCOM). The concert raised more than $8,000, which will be used for Hendrick Hudson High School Music Education grants to buy much-needed musical instruments, equipment, and music.

The six outstanding professional musical groups headlining Share the Beat, a Benefit for Music Education donated their services. They included The Matt Turk Electric Trio, whose founder Matt Turk has performed with Pete Seeger and is a regular at the annual Great Clearwater Music and Arts Festival; The Kathleen Pemble Band, whose incredible “smoking folk” music has been heard at the Knitting Factory and The Cutting Room in New York City as well as the Towne Crier in Pawling; Open Book, a duo playing sublime contemporary country-folk-rock on a wide variety of instruments; Fred Gillen and the Hope Machine, whose emotionally charged Americana music is inspired by Woody Guthrie; and The Westchester Chordsmen, a nationally known championship a cappella chorus and perennial local favorite. Some immensely talented young adults also performed:: the jazz band Standing Room Only/Lagond Music Productions and the Hendrick Hudson High School Treble Chorus, accompanied by members of the Hendrick Hudson High School Jazz Band. The afternoon’s emcee was on-air personality Kacey Morabito of WHUD-FM.

“We had an amazing line-up of talent,” notes Emily Kolker of Cortlandt Manor, the event chair. “Many of these musicians were born in the Hudson Valley and attended its public schools. Their musical careers were forged, in part, by what they experienced in their high school music programs. Now, they’re supporting musical education for high school students today.”

Most of the musicians live in Westchester County. Matt Turk of the Matt Turk Electric Trio, was born in Armonk and now lives in Hastings-on-Hudson and Fred Gillen of Hope Machine lives in Verplanck. Open Book’s Michele Rubin was born in Yonkers and attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, while her partner Rick Gedney grew up in Port Chester (they both live in Yorktown Heights now). From Cold Spring in Putnam County comes Kathleen Pemble of the Kathleen Pemble Band.

“I also want to thank our corporate and community sponsors, and all the local entrepreneurs and merchants who donated merchandise and gift certificates to our wildly successful raffle, organized by PCOM parent Penny Howell,” notes Ms. Kolker. “We also greatly appreciate all the graphic work that was done by Christine Knowlton, and the time and effort spent by Soli Pierce, Karen Geisler, and Maura Koch, as well as the photography provided by George Thompson.”

HHCEF also appreciated the enormous work done by Event Chair Emily Kolker. “Emily had a vision of how the current generation of Hudson Valley musicians could help the next generation, and she single-handedly pulled together the talented performers of the show,” says Karen Geisler, PCOM Chair. “It was an unbelievable effort and a great accomplishment.”

The corporate sponsors of Share the Beat, a Benefit for Music Education, were Walmart, WHUD-FM, WFUV-FM, The Journal News, and the Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet. Participating as community sponsors were the Peekskill Rotary Club, The Kenny Family, the Murawski Family, the Wexler Family, the Rother Family, the Reuter Family, the Brown/Klack Family, and the Aufrichtig Family.

Raffle items were donated by: Sherwood Forest Design; Just Imagine U; Susie Raffio; India House; Umami; Ruben’s Restaurant; Jen Pellingra, LMT; Zeytina; A&S Fine Foods; WFUV-FM; WHUD-FM; Bella Nails; the Frieder Family, and Wondrous Things.

PRESS RELEASE/EDITORIAL
DATE: March 29, 2005
CONTACT: MARIE GREEN 736-2078

Thank You Hen Hud Staff, Alumni & Friends - Harlem Wizards Fundraiser A Huge Success!
The Hendrick Hudson Community Educational Foundation (HHCEF) would like to thank all who attended, volunteered, or played in the first annual Hen Hud Staff, Alumni & Friends vs. The Harlem Wizards fundraiser, held February 12 at the high school. The event was a sellout, brought in almost $5,000 for above-and-beyond educational initiatives, and provided joy and laughter for all.

A special credit goes to all players and coaches, especially Tom Baker, Director of Physical Education, Health & Athletics who put together the Hen Hud Team, as well as coached and played for the team. Thanks to players: Joan Thompson - Superintendent of Schools; Jim Mackin - Assistant Principal HHHS; John Glashoff and Derek Kisslinger – both Phys Ed teachers and Hen Hud alumni; Meg Greiner - Athletic Trainer and alumna; Guidance Counselor John Morotti; Social Studies Teachers Sean Kelly and Raj Kumar; John Gmeiner – HHHS Staff; Dawn Gauthier – BV Elementary School Staff; NYS Troopers Mario Velez and Tom Manning; and alumni Ben Bertoline, Bob Outhouse, Kurt Tomas, Bob Wheeler, and Ben Geisler.

Incorporated in 1995, HHCEF is a community-based, all-volunteer, non-profit organization. HHCEF’s mission is to provide funding for programs and projects that support academic excellence and life-long learning for all members of the Hendrick Hudson community. Funding is available in the form of grants offered in two cycles per year to all ages and groups residing or working in the district including the Hendrick Hudson public schools, pre-schools, the public library, an arts center, senior citizen groups and many other education-oriented clubs and groups.

In the past 5 years, the Foundation has awarded over 45 grants. Examples include a senior citizen field trip to the Maritime Center Museum, senior citizen computer classes, a pre-school Lending Library Program, REACH enrichment programs, the Math, Science and Technology Institute for district fourth and fifth graders, the Blue Mountain Middle School Weather Station, a High School Marketing Club Reader Board, Project Adventure Course at the high school, elementary school multi-cultural dance troops, living history programs, plus many more. Grant request forms are available at the Library and at the District Office. Presently, all grants are limited to $1,000/grant request.

HHCEF welcomes new members. All meetings are open to the public, and are held the first Tuesday of each month at 8 pm in the District Office. The meetings are listed on the District Calendar. The next two meetings will be held Tuesday, April 5 and Tuesday, May 3. To find out more about joining the Foundation, please contact Marie Green at 736-2078.

Marie Green, President
And all Board Members of HHCEF