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Beyond the Budget: The Byram Hills Education Foundation Impact

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE
BYRAM HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

For thirty years, the Byram Hills Education Foundation (BHEF) has been instrumental in shaping Byram Hills into one of the most renowned districts in our area. A non-profit organization, made up of volunteer parents, school administrators and educators, the BHEF has become the district’s innovative engine, enhancing education for all students by funding grants that are beyond the school district’s budget.

With over $6 million awarded – its impact can be felt everywhere. “The BHEF is capable of doing what school budgets cannot do alone. The BHEF has been behind major initiatives of the District for decades, from 1:1 technology initiatives to library renovations and program development. EVERY child in Byram Hills benefits from the support of the BHEF–at every turn in their school years–and that is a big part of what distinguishes a Byram Hills education,” says Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia.

Working collaboratively with the district and community, everyone can help shape the future of Byram Hills by sharing grant ideas, donating and taking part in events.

Every Child, Every Day

The BHEF relies entirely on the generosity of families and businesses. Last year, the BHEF awarded over $575,000 for 20 new grants benefitting every school. These grants nurture every aspect of the educational experience such as a cutting-edge theater projector that creates digital scenery, a new Executive Functioning program, the first Fashion Design course, an outdoor ropes course, and innovative 3D Lego kits and social-emotional resources.

The BHEF has also pledged $1MM towards the district’s transformative “Lights, Learning, Action!” initiative, bridging the gap between the budget and the $9MM project cost. With the foundation’s support, the 1965 BHHS library and lecture hall wing was re-imagined into a collegiate quality Learning Commons and a second turf field was added. Donations are still needed to install permanent outdoor lights on BHHS fields and courts – bringing the thrill of night events to Byram Hills.

Taking Byram Hills Beyond Limits

Byram Hills is a special district. While our schools offer extraordinary opportunities, they operate on a public-school budget. Many of the programs and facilities that set a Byram Hills education apart – from innovative curriculum, cutting edge technology, wellness resources and modern learning spaces – were made possible by the BHEF.

There are many ways to support the foundation’s mission, including corporate sponsorships and BHEF Leadership Circles that include donor benefits. Donations of any amount are truly appreciated and make a difference. Byram Hills graduates can also leave their legacy with a personalized brick on the new Bobcat Alumni Walkway, paving the way for future bobcats.

What Will You Make Possible?

This is an exciting time to be at Byram Hills! Whether your child is at Coman Hill, Wampus, HCC or BHHS, your donations today to the BHEF will elevate their Byram Hills experience for years to come. YOU can help our children learn and grow beyond limits.

Donate: supportbhef.org
Learn: byramhillsfoundation.org
Follow: Facebook Instagram
Get in touch: BHEF1@byramhills.org

The Byram Hills Education Foundation Funding Our Students’ Futures

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The View Sonic at Byram Hills High School

As a Byram Hills parent, I have often marveled throughout the years over the state-of-the-art technology and innovative programming available to our students in our local public school. Byram Hills families have been fortunate to have the Byram Hills Education Foundation (“BHEF”) brainstorming and funding visionary grants complementing an already stellar school district. The BHEF is a non-profit group that has awarded over 430 grants totaling over $5 million since 1994.

The mission of the BHEF is to enhance the education of all students in the Byram Hills school district by funding grants that encourage learning and personal development. The BHEF is governed by a board of directors representing a broad spectrum of the community. The board is comprised of 27 voting directors, consisting of parent and community volunteers. In addition, a group of non-voting board members include Byram Hills Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia, a teacher representative from each school, and representatives from the board of education.

The BHEF funds two main types of grants: insta-grants and signature grants. Insta-grants can be submitted by teachers at any point in the year, are capped at $2500, and must be implemented that same school year. Signature grants are typically bigger in dollar, can be implemented over two years, and typically follow a lengthier review process. The BHEF relies entirely on donations from parents and the community to fund grants.

Wampus Art/Courtyard

Facilitating Getting Kids Back to School

Last summer, in response to the schools being shut down and the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, the BHEF fast-tracked their grant review process and supplied cutting edge ViewSonic Virtual Classroom technology, an idea spearheaded by Dr. Andrew Taylor, Director of Technology at Byram Hills, that allowed our teachers to implement effective hybrid learning for students in different locations through a touch screen monitor and accompanying software that served as a hub in each classroom. They also outfitted every school with new shaded outdoor spaces for socially distanced learning and fresh air mask breaks.

“This was very quick from idea to inception,” recalls Jessica Bond, BHEF president, “but we were able to get it done because of the great collaboration and communication we have with the administration.”

The BHEF Is An Innovation Engine

“The BHEF is capable of doing what school budgets cannot do alone. The BHEF has been behind major initiatives of the District for decades, from 1:1 technology initiatives to library renovations and program development. EVERY child in Byram Hills benefits from the support of the BHEF–at every turn in their school years–and that is a big part of what distinguishes a Byram Hills education,” says Dr. Lamia.

Grant ideas can come from a variety of sources. Teachers are encouraged to submit grant proposals. “It is their classroom,” says Bond, “and if they want to try something innovative or have a need, that’s why we’re here and we try to get that message out to them.”

To generate ideas and foster community involvement, the BHEF has also organized roundtable discussions with the donor leadership members, the Benefactor and Bobcat levels, to brainstorm grant ideas. “We discuss what we hope our kids will have learned upon graduating here and how we want them to feel; things like independence, being an innovative thinker, and happy. Then we talk about what grants might achieve that and where parents currently see successes and opportunities in our schools,” explains Bond. The BHEF holds multiple community and donor events throughout the year and welcomes the community’s input.

Once a year, the BHEF participates in a forum with other school foundations, such as Bronxville, Chappaqua and Edgemont, where they also share and discuss grant initiatives. Throughout its process, the BHEF maintains an open dialogue with the administration. “We work hand in hand with Dr. Lamia and the principals throughout the year to understand where our schools and students need our support and to translate that into successful grants that our community will rally behind,” explains Bond.

Photos courtesy of the Byram Hills Education Foundation

Game-changers for the Students

Every year, the grants have been impressive game-changers for the students. This year introduced the ViewSonic technology, enabling virtual learning, and the Written Out Loud program, where kids learned the power of storytelling by writing and publishing their own books. Last year, the Creative Arts Community Center grant created an indoor and outdoor community space at Wampus connecting two contemporary art studios to an outdoor space that will support student learning.

In 2019, the Wellness for Life grant funded a partnership with the nationally recognized Stanford University’s Challenge Success program to assess and support student wellness. The Wellness Initiative in 2018 built an indoor educational playspace at Coman Hill to be used year-round and an outdoor obstacle course at Wampus, all to nurture students’ physical and mental wellness.

The Library 2.0 renovations in 2017 at Coman Hill, Wampus, and H.C. Crittenden integrated STEAM and Makers Spaces, updated presentation technology, modernized learning spaces, and connected the library and computer labs. The Full STEAM Ahead grant and STEAM Labs initiative in 2016 renovated technology labs and gave students at all academic levels exposure to coding, robotics, engineering, electronics, and 3D modeling. Much what Byram Hills families have come to take for granted in the classrooms now was initially funded by the BHEF, from the smart boards to the chromebooks to the cloud computer.

The BHEF also funds smaller but very impactful grants throughout the year. A few examples include new podcasting equipment, alternative classroom seating to support all types of learners, Kindle e-readers, specialized “pupil core eye tracking” glasses for research and athletic projects, a solar telescope, Byram Hills’ first greenhouse to study plants, and much more.

The global scholars program at the high school, which began as a pilot, started with the idea of providing students an alternative to the acclaimed science research program and creating a global competency in students to teach them how to be citizens of the world. The BHEF took a chance and funded a professional development trip to Nicaragua for teachers to learn how to bring this program to Byram Hills, which has since developed into a well-loved robust program.

One of the newest projects funded by the BHEF is the construction of Crittenden Commons, a multi-sport court for basketball, volleyball, street hockey and other sports with an amphitheater style seating area. The seating area will extend outdoor learning opportunities at the middle school. “The English teachers are already picturing doing Shakespeare outside,” says Bond.

How to Donate

Donations of any amount are welcome online at SupportByramHills.org. The Benefactor Circle for those who give $1500 or more and the Bobcat Circle for those who give $750 up to $1499 are leadership circles which include exciting benefits. Additionally, for anyone interested in honoring a teacher, a “teacher tribute” can be ordered online at SupportByramHills.org and the BHEF will send your teacher a special certificate notifying them of your gift in their honor. The BHEF sponsors many fun events throughout the year including an Outdoor Family Movie Night (10/2/21) and a Spring Bash (2022 date TBD). Corporate sponsorships are available with benefits and volunteer opportunities are available for anyone that wants to get involved.  Contact the BHEF at bhef1@byramhills.org.

How the Byram Hills Education Foundation (BHEF) Rallies for Children

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2016-17 BHEF Board of Directors
(Standing L-R): David Zimmerman, Elvis Grgurovic, Kristen Mathis, Leslie Ilany, Evan Goldman, Bart Sokol, Stefan Safaei, Nanci Keltz, Pat Bucciero, Khatija Ladhani, Lynda Baquero, Paulette Bannon (Seated L-R): Lisa Rosenberg, Elise Margolin, Nicole Stern, Jason Berland, Shari Fruhling, Cathy Kirschner, Melissa Jacobs, Melissa Tolchin
PHOTO BY NINA KRUSE FOR PINSKY STUDIO

 

There is nothing that gives parents more pleasure than the well-being of their children. And when a community rallies around to support all children, magic can happen! The Byram Hills Education Foundation (BHEF) is an outstanding example of this very alchemy.

What is the BHEF?

Created in 1994 by parents, faculty and community leaders, the BHEF crafted a mission statement “to enhance the educational experience of all children within the Byram Hills Central School District (BHCSD) by generating community support to fund innovative grants that encourage learning and personal development.”

This mission is as focused and strong today as it was at its inception. The BHEF Board consists of 35 dedicated all-volunteer members: four teachers (one from each school), the BHCSD Superintendent, two Board of Education members, one PTSA member, eight district representatives and the remainder made up of parents of current students and alumni. This group comes together to discuss and make final decisions regarding grant proposals, takes the lead in raising funds to support the proposed initiatives, and maintains an on-going supportive relationship with BHCSD administration and Board of Education.

Grants 101*

The start of the school year also marks the beginning of the annual grant-cycle. A subset of the Board, the Grant Review Committee, meets to review all teacher-submitted applications. After thorough discussion, finalists are presented to the full Board for a vote. The awarded grant is often part of a long-term plan of action, with expected implementation over a two-year period.

Additionally, the BHEF supports a monthly grant opportunity known as Insta-Grant. This forward-thinking option provides teachers with up-to-the-minute flexibility for quick projects and initiatives; Insta-Grants may not exceed $2500 and must be used within six months or before the end of the academic year.

Recently, annual grants have revolved around technology: 2012/13 laid the groundwork for digital programming, 2014/15 saw One-to-One mobile learning which provided Chrome books for district students, 2015/16 expanded earlier tech initiatives with Full STEAM Ahead!, and this year’s awards include Fall’s Reinvention of the Library Experience at Coman Hill, Wampus and H.C. Crittenden MS as well as Spring’s recent approval for two BHHS grants: Professional Development for Global Competency Initiative, plus TV and FILM Curtained Production Area with Cyclorama: a curved green screen wall and lighting system.

Also worth noting: The Debra Leipman Yale Memorial Fund (DLYMF) was established with the Yale family as a meaningful way to honor the life and memory of devoted wife, loving mother and five-year Board Member (including two years as Chair) Debra Leipman Yale. Contributions to this fund are used towards future grants, with the Yale family working in collaboration with the BHEF to select and approve a grant in honor of Debra.

As Debra was passionate about the foundation and its cause, this fund offers Yale family members and friends a meaningful memorial.

*For full details, please see the BHEF website.

Dr. Powderly

Fundraising

The BHEF takes a three-part approach towards raising the funds that help to support and sustain the innovative programming for which the Byram Hills Central School District is renowned.

There is a fall “annual appeal” mailing to all community members. In recent years, this appeal has added the opportunity to allow for “directed giving.”

Dr. Donohue

According to former BHEF president and current Board Member Leslie Ilany, “Donors want to designate where their donations go; having a choice greatly appealed to the community.” With a goal of 100% participation, the foundation proudly notes that so many step up to contribute. Another popular fundraiser is the annual fall visit of the Harlem Wizards; this event particularly appeals to young families and tickets often sell out within hours.

Finally, there is the annual Spring Gala, a fun-filled evening featuring highly anticipated auction items as well as giving opportunities. This year’s recent gala, held at Brae Burn Country Club in nearby Purchase, was a smashing success. Honoring both retiring and beloved School Superintendent Dr. William Donohue and H.C. Crittenden’s Dr. H. Evan Powderly, the community turned out in force. Close to 300 people joined together to celebrate and support the foundation’s important work.

The BHEF welcomes all community members to get involved. Says Ilany, “Getting involved offers so many opportunities; the chance to meet many wonderful people–teachers, administrators and other parents. I hope this article helps spur others to take advantage of a great and meaningful experience.”

The Common Circles Educational Traveling Exhibit

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Armonk’s Sue Spiegel and Greenwich’s Marla Felton at Common Circles ribbon cutting

“I am more in love with the people around me genuinely… talking to people and having connections, it makes me so much happier. School is much more fun now.” –Rye Country Day School Student

As students return to school this fall, one of the most important lessons they can learn is that each of us carries a rich, multilayered identity–shaped by culture, experiences, and personal stories. When students learn to see that complexity in themselves and others, it becomes easier to build genuine connections and mutual respect.

But in a time of rising division, that kind of understanding doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentional, immersive experiences that help people bridge differences with empathy and curiosity.

That’s why Common Circles is so urgently needed. This local nonprofit delivers research-based, interactive programs that empower students and educators to challenge bias, spark connection, and build more inclusive communities.

Greenwich resident Marla Felton, Founder and Executive Director of Common Circles, launched the nonprofit in 2015 in response to rising antisemitism and polarization. The idea first emerged when her daughter was preparing for her bat mitzvah and the family envisioned a sculpture filled with 1.5 million candies to honor Marla’s uncle, Holocaust survivor Martin Greenfield, and the 1.5 million children who perished. When local institutions declined to display it–saying it belonged in a synagogue or Jewish Museum–Felton realized “we needed more than a sculpture”. That moment sparked the creation of Common Circles: a nonprofit helping students and communities connect across differences and recognize our shared humanity.

Felton, originally from St. Louis, was deeply affected by the unrest following the shooting of Mike Brown. In the wake of that moment, educators and community leaders were actively exploring how to bridge divides. Around that time, a mutual friend introduced her to Sue Spiegel, an Armonk resident and former TV producer whose award-winning documentary Erase the Hate launched USA Network’s anti-hate campaign. They quickly connected over their belief in storytelling’s power to bring people together and began researching how to reach people who might be hesitant to engage.

Over the next decade, they partnered with researchers, educators, and students–first in St. Louis, then across the country–to explore how to strengthen relationships across diverse communities. Their work uncovered three key insights:

1. Self-understanding of one’s own multi-layered identity is essential before learning about others.

2. Psychological techniques–like perspective-taking, stereotype replacement, intergroup contact, and finding commonality–have been proven to increase empathy and reduce bias.

3. People are more engaged through art, technology, games, and storytelling.

Felton and Spiegel thought that if they combined these techniques from psychology with the modes of engagement that people enjoy, they would have a winning combination. In an independent feasibility study, outside evaluators validated the research and found that no other museum or institution was addressing these complex topics in this way, reinforcing the belief that the approach could be impactful.

After piloting a variety of interactive experiences and measuring impact, they created Common Circles’ We Are (your school or town!) traveling exhibit. Dr. Joseph Ricca and Dr. Deborah Hand were early supporters and helped test it in the White Plains School District. A UCONN NEAG School of Education professor evaluated the program through surveys and focus groups, and the results were extraordinary. Ongoing evaluation is now supported by a multi-year grant from The Conference on Material Claims Against Germany.

Common Circles tailors its two-part exhibit to each school or community, which humanizes the people featured, engages participants, and fosters a stronger sense of connection.

Part one introduces the themes of bridging, belonging, and the dangers of othering and dehumanization. It uses art, photography, and storytelling to prompt reflection on identity, perspective, and first impressions.

“It really gives a level of relatability to feel like you share something with the people here, and it builds a stronger community in this high school.” –White Plains High School Student

Part two, Voices Against Hate: Lessons from the Holocaust, features interactive biographies from the USC Shoah Foundation, enabling real-time Q&A sessions with a Holocaust survivor and a Jewish American liberator. Unlike AI tools like ChatGPT, these responses are drawn directly from real interviews. Through these interactions, students explore the Holocaust, deepen their understanding of Jewish identity, and learn to recognize and combat antisemitism.

“At one point I was like ‘Oh, it probably isn’t real (the Holocaust),’ but what I learned from Anita [the survivor] really changed my view.” –White Plains High School Student

Felton and Spiegel see the combination of parts one and two as the exhibit’s “special sauce.” “We’re not talking at the students,” Spiegel explains. “They’re asking the questions they’re curious about and getting answers directly from primary sources–actual eyewitnesses.”

Over the past several years, the White Plains School District, Rye Country Day School, E.O. Smith High School, and Southwest BOCES combined have hosted thousands of students, educators, and community members. Interest from New York and Connecticut school districts is strong, and Common Circles is working to scale the educational program so that it can travel to K-12 schools, universities, and community hubs across the United States.

“The Common Circles exhibit has been one of the most powerful, engaging, and inspiring experiences I’ve had in 24 years as an educator.” –Dr. Joseph Ricca, Superintendent, White Plains School District

“It changed the way I looked at my identity… and then that translates to the second part, with how identity affected the Holocaust.” –Rye Country Day School Student

Felton and Spiegel remind students that not everyone has to agree–but we must approach difficult conversations with empathy, curiosity, and respect.

“In the short time since visiting the exhibit, I place a larger emphasis on recognizing what contributes to hate and appreciating the humanity in others.” –Rye Country Day School Student

As demand grows, so does the need for support. This work cannot be done in silos. Building communities of belonging takes a collective effort. Common Circles is actively seeking partners to help fundraise, host, and expand the exhibit and its mission.

To learn more, visit commoncircles.org or email info@commoncircles.org.

Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center to Honor Author, Philanthropist at Annual Benefit on October 30

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The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) will hold their annual Benefit on Wednesday evening, October 30th starting at 6:30pm at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. This year HHREC will honor R. Derek Black and Elisha Weisel.

Derek Black (they/them) is the author of The Klansman’s Son, a book that  shares the story of being raised to take over the white nationalist movement in the US. Their father, Don Black, was a former Grand Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan and started Stormfront, the internet’s first white supremacist website.

 Elisha Weisel is Chairman of the Board of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, a philanthropist and former Wall Street executive. Since retiring from a 25-year financial markets career at Goldman Sachs at the end of 2019, he served in 2020 as one of the lead technologists in Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign. Elisha became philanthropically active through his board service with Good Shepherd Services, where he raised millions of dollars for New York’s neediest by convening “Midnight Madness”, inspiring hundreds of finance professionals to stay up all night solving elaborate puzzles on the city streets. When his father passed, Elisha realized how many others missed his voice––and so, when opportunities for impact arise, Elisha shares his father’s message and continues his legacy by standing up for persecuted communities.

In the last few years, Elisha has spoken at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum about the need to protect the LGBTQ community; shone a light while speaking at Auschwitz on the plight of Syrian refugees being denied Western asylum; written for the Financial Times about the urgency of upholding DACA; organized a Washington DC rally against antisemitism – including anti-Zionism; spoken at the United Nations about the persecution of the Uyghurs, and taken his son to peacefully march for Black Lives. https://eliewieselfoundation.org/about-elisha-wiesel/

The program will feature the annual presentation of the HHREC Eugene M. & Emily Grant Spirit of Humanity Awards. To register for this event, or for more information visit hhrecny.org email benefit@hhrecny.org or call 914.696.0738.

About The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in White Plains New York that serves schools, synagogues, colleges, churches and civic centers in Westchester and the greater Hudson Valley area. The HHREC Mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of the lessons of the Holocaust and the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. HHREC works with teachers and students to help schools fulfill the New York State mandate that the Holocaust and other human rights abuses be included in their curriculum. Since 1994, the HHREC has brought the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to more than 3,000 teachers, and through them to thousands of students. For more information visit www.hhrecny.org call 914.696.0738 email info@hhrecny.org