History

The Marlborough School Endowment started as an idea by the School Board in 1995: David Durocher, John Fletcher and Marge Shepardson.

On the March 1996 School Warrant, article #2 was voted on favorably by the town to appropriate $1000.00 to develop a public education endowment fund for Marlborough School.

The Articles of Agreement, Mission Statement and General Bylaws were approved at the October 17, 1996 school board meeting. Articles of Agreement were officially signed in December, 1996. Incorporators were: Alfred St.Cyr (endowment consultant), Richard Pike (SAU superintendent of towns), Ila Walton (town clerk), and John Fletcher, Richard Seaver and Marge Shepardson, all members of the school board.

On October 24, 1996 a special school board meeting was called to select potential candidates for the first Board of Directors of the Marlborough School District Endowment Fund. They were the following: Jim Carley, Helen Jewett, John Manning, Joe Puleo, Richard Seaver, Marge Shepardson and Ila Walton.

In November of 1997– The new Board of Directors set out to complete the following tasks:

Open a bank account, obtain 501(c)(3) IRS exemption status, write the brochure to serve public relations, explore possibilities with NHCF (New Hampshire Charitable Foundation) and raise funds.

In 1999, Joe Puleo succeeded John Manning as chair of the Board of Directors. At this time, Sue Bemis, Nancy Buffler, Charlotte Crowell, Gilda Goodrich, John Le Craw and JoAnn Robinson joined the Board of Directors.

By 2000, all tasks had been completed. The board sent out the first “Endowment News” and held the 1^st Bean Supper and Raffle. It was known as the “Irv Gordon( former principal of Marlborough High School) Bean supper”, featuring his famous baked bean recipe. These suppers continued successfully for 5 years, accompanied by an annual calendar sale.

In June of 2003, the board accepted, with regret, a resignation letter from Helen Jewett, a key board member. She served passionately for many years, establishing a database and contributing a great deal to the early success of this fund. Mary Frost succeeded JoAnn Robinson and Sarah Bollinger joined the Board.

In March of 2007 we received a challenge from a new Marlborough resident, Matthew Iorio. He challenged the Board to increase its invested funds balance to $50,000. If that were done, he would match the amount! We had less than one month to solicit a little over $10,000. We did it and Matt wrote us his matching check, raising the balance to over $100,000!

In June of 2007, we held a reception at the Maynard- Gates House to thank Matthew for his generosity. Things remained quiet through 2010. In 2011 a reorganization began and a push for new membership. The following new members came on board: Ken Goebel, Vesta Hornbeck , Karen Jewett, Linda Keating & Wendy Scott Keeney.

2012 - 1st Wine and Cheese Fall Fundraiser was held at Monadnock Log Homes 9/9/12. Charlotte Crowell and Sue Bemis retired from the board. Gilda Goodrich resigned as school liaison member, Robin Fairfield will fill the unexpired term.

2013 - Holly Mead joined the board.

Gifted from the Endowment to date:

2000 - $500 to the school for an enrichment program.

2001 - $500 to the school for an enrichment program.

2003 - $500 to the school for an enrichment program.

2004 - $200 to the “Sandy Hegeland Scholarship Fund” & $307.00 for enrichment supplies

2007 - $1452 to YogaKids International for teacher training (3) in “Tools for Schools”, $500 for field trips

2008 - $3298 for science books, $999 for Library resource books and $240 to support a reading program

2011 - $991 for library sudio-books (partial payment), $358 for science class skeleton, $250 to support the 'Game of Village', $2000 in support of 3-year KSC Residency Program Partnership

2012 - $167 for guitars, $404 snowshoes, $529 stain glass art project materials,