Somerville, MA, October 20, 2015–The Somerville High School Foundation gathered to acknowledge twenty five years of support to Somerville High graduates. Former Mayor Eugene Brune, Barbara Capuano, Harold Cohen, Elaine Czesniuk, David O’Brien and Marshall Sloane were honored for their commitment to the foundation’s goals.
Since 1990, the Foundation has awarded nearly one million dollars to over 800 Somerville High graduates.
WBZ News Anchor David Wade served as Master of Ceremonies. Wade grew up in Somerville and attended the Brown School. “I’m very excited about being the Master of Ceremony tonight. Joe Favaloro asked me almost a year ago if I could do this. I circled it on my calendar and I have been very excited about it ever since because this is my hometown” said Wade.
Wade was very also enthusiastic about the education he received in Somerville. “Growing up in Somerville I watched WBZ with my family. Even though I was young, I was really into it for some reasons, and my parents used to tell me you know that could be you. And so with a little parental support, with some great school -I got a great education at Brown school before I ended up moving out of Somerville – you can do anything in this world “ explained Wade.
US representative and former Mayor of Somerville Michael Capuano, attended the gala with his wife Barbara who was one of the evening’s six honorees. Capuano knows the importance of supporting students, “We need to decide whether this society wants every child to get an opportunity to go to college. I think that it’s worthwhile go. I think that we should be willing to spend our money on this as a society. But right now it’s the minority view. The majority view is that everybody is on their own. But I don’t think that makes for a great society, I don’t think that makes for the country that we should be.”
In 2015, the foundation awarded sixty scholarships and distributed nearly $70 000. Foundation President Joe Favorolo acknowledged the work ahead to keep up with the rising price of college and the growing number of students.
For more information on supporting the foundation or scholarship opportunities visit shssf.wordpress.com.