As summer begins to wind down, we want to share some updates for you about what the AFF has been up to these past few months. In times of need, the Foundation’s mission to assist in alleviating poverty, promoting educational opportunities, and providing services to the elderly has never been more relevant. We are thankful for the perseverance and civic engagement that has a strong presence in the Hudson Valley, and we look forward to continuing assist local organizations in the Red Hook area.
First, a very belated public congratulations is due to our two 2020 scholarship recipients! Recent RHHS graduates Samantha Reilly and Chris Donahue were each awarded Ascienzo Family Foundation scholarships. We were so impressed by their spirits and actions of volunteerism and community. We awarded them each an extra $500 to bring it the scholarship to $2,000 each. Samantha will be attending Saint Rose College in the Fall, and Chris is headed to Middleburry College. The Directors has a great celebration with Chris and Samantha and their families over Zoom- complete with surprise cake deliveries and heartfelt laughs. A couple directors learned for the first time on this video call that Chris and Samantha are cousins!
Second, we opened up our emergency Ambassador mini-grant opportunity for a second round, this time allowing ambassadors to apply for grants for groups doing COVID-19 relief and/or anti-racism work. Visit our blog post here for descriptions of those donations. We are up to 23 mini-grants!
Third, last Saturday, Nick Ascienzo was awarded the John Dewey Award for Distinguished Public Service at Bard College’s hundred sixtieth commencement. The award was established in 1990 to recognize extraordinary contributions by Bard alumni/ae and others to the public sector or in the public interest. It continues Bard’s tradition of honoring public service embodied in the Episcopal Layman Award, which was given until 1983. The Dewey Award honors the eminent American philosopher and educator John Dewey, the father of progressive education and an outspoken advocate of a system of universal learning to support and advance this country’s democratic traditions. Read more about the prize here.