BRIDGEPORT—Foundations in Education, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees. Joining the board are Lisa Ferraro Martino and Barbara Ripp.
“We are delighted Lisa and Barbara are joining our board. They bring a level of expertise and a great deal of heart that will significantly aid us in our mission to support students and teachers,” remarked Holly Doherty-Lemoine, executive director to Foundations in Education.
Lisa Ferraro Martino has served on the gala committee for Foundations in Education for the last two years. Lisa currently serves on the visiting committee for Pediatric Oncology at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and as an ambassador with the Parents Leadership Council of Fairfield University. Lisa has worked on a variety of committees to raise money for schools through annual fund campaigns and fundraising events. Her volunteer work for the Catholic Church has included translating documents for the Martyrs Project and serving as a catechist for 11 years. Lisa earned her Juris Doctor from Duke Law School and holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in writing from Fairfield University.
Barbara Ripp has served on the Board of Malta House for six years and has been involved in all aspects of this home for homeless pregnant women and women with young children. As a member of the Order of Malta, she participated in prison ministry and as a mentor in the Shepherds program. Barbara is proud to report her mentee graduated from college in 2020, after four years at Kolbe Cathedral High School. Barbara also volunteers with Walking with Purpose at St. Michael’s Parish in Greenwich and has been a group facilitator for the past five years. With her husband, Peter, Barbara co-sponsored the Christopher Ripp Early Learning Program, which provides after school programming for preschool children and their parents at St. Peter School, Danbury. Retired from her career in social services, Barbara earned her Master’s degree from Kean University and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and early childhood education.
Foundations in Education is the realization of Bishop Frank J. Caggiano’s vision to support the Diocese of Bridgeport’s ongoing mission to advance Catholic education in Fairfield County. The primary purpose of this non-profit initiative is to support Catholic education by providing tuition assistance for elementary school students and Innovation and Leadership grants for teachers and administrators that promote classroom innovation and professional leadership development and other education-based programs.
Board of Trustees Chair Tom McInerney, remarked, “We are honored that Lisa and Barbara have joined the board and appreciate all they bring to the table in helping to transform thousands of students’ lives in our Catholic schools.”
The two new members join the existing Board of Trustees: Chair Tom McInerney, David Cappiello, George Coleman, R. Bradford Evans, Tim FitzPatrick, Michael Hanlon, Lawrence Kudlow, Leslie Lopez, Andrea Maldon, Anne McCrory, Dr. Julia McNamara, Michele Mitola, Joseph Purcell, Bernard Reidy, Gerard Robilotti, Robert Scinto, Michael Shea, Jennifer St. Victor-de Pinho, Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, and Holly Doherty-Lemoine, ex officio.
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