Newsletter Top Story   May 2008

Helping Families to "Reach for the Stars"

When Kaisy Rosario began kindergarten at the Lawrence Family Development Charter School in Lawrence MA, she joined her classmates in adding their small handprints to a colorful mural which symbolized the school’s challenge for children “to reach for the stars.”  Her mother Kenia Furcal, a single mom and recent immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was determined to provide the best opportunities for her daughter and had found a home for Kaisy at the Charter School.

The Lawrence Family Development Charter School, is a program of the Lawrence Family Development and Education Fund, Inc. (LFDEF).  The LFDEF’s mission is “to develop the educational and leadership potential of inner city youth and adults in Lawrence” through its charter school, ISL and citizen education programs.  The K-8 school serves 600 children, 99% of which are Hispanic and 87% from families that fall below the federal government’s poverty income guidelines.

Kaisy thrived at the Charter School and in the summer of 2003 enrolled in Prep@Pingree, a summer academic enrichment program at the Pingree School in Hamilton designed to help middle school children from Lawrence and Lynn prepare for the challenges of a rigorous high school education and beyond.  With the confidence and academic readiness made possible from her school and summer experiences, Kaisy joined the Pingree Class of 2008.  She captained the varsity softball team, served as President of the Multicultural Club and worked summers with younger students at Prep@Pingree. After graduation in June, Kaisy will enter Manhattanville College.  Kaisy and her family reached for the stars, and with hard work and support from her schools, achieved their goals.

A community foundation can play an important part in improving one life at a time in the towns and cities it serves.  By identifying and supporting those organizations that are making a difference in our communities, the Essex County Community Foundation contributes every day to the welfare of children like Kaisy, and their families, and helps them to reach for the stars.

Over the past eight years ECCF, through its donor advised and discretionary funds, has provided over $90,000 in grants to the Lawrence Family Development and Education Fund, Inc.  Grants from the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund, Merrimack Valley General Fund, and Webster Family Fund have supported the Charter School as well as programs to help recent immigrants acquire English language skills and negotiate the citizenship application process. 

ECCF also supports Prep@Pingree through the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund and donor advised funds.  Prep@Pingree has enrolled 125 middle school students over the past six years in a five week intensive academic and cultural enrichment program. The program attracts motivated young people like Kaisy and helps them sharpen the academic and social skills they will need to succeed in secondary school and provides exposure to an independent school experience. 

Last fall the Lawrence Family Development and Education Fund, Inc. Board honored Patricia Karl’s retirement as Executive Director and founder of the Charter School, naming an endowed scholarship fund to recognize her lifetime work as an educator. In March, the Board approved a resolution to place the Patricia Foley Karl Scholarship Fund with ECCF to be invested as a permanent fund. LFDEF hopes to raise one million dollars over the next decade to ensure that all the Kaisy Rosarios who graduate from the Charter School and reach for their stars will have access to the scholarship funds so necessary to complete their dreams. We are proud to continue to support organizations such as the Lawrence Family Development and Education Fund, Inc. and Pingree School as they make  a difference in the lives of  Essex County citizens.

For more information or to donate, please contact Peter Kamberlis at 978-689-9863  x120.