Our Mission
The Peekskill Education Foundation, or PEF, is a community-based organization dedicated to enriching and expanding the educational experiences and cultural opportunities for all students within the Peekskill City School District. The PEF strives to support our students, teachers and staff by focusing on raising funds to support and develop new program initiatives, while working to identify and foster partnerships between residents, businesses, and the Peekskill city schools. Our aim is to assist in meeting the goals of the school district’s mission statement: “To educate and empower all students to strive for excellence as life-long learners who embrace diversity and are contributing members of a global society.”
We are an independent not-for-profit 501(c)3.
Our Goals…
Resources for achievement and innovation to support, inspire, and nourish greatness in all students.
Recursos para lograr el éxito e innovación para apoyar, inspirar, y sustentar grandeza en todos los estudiantes
Our Story :
The PEF was started in November 2002 by a group of concerned citizens working in close cooperation with the Peekskill City School District. The PEF's goals are to raise funds to support and develop new program initiatives designed to:
- Improve academic achievement in reading, science and math;
- Expand cultural enrichment experiences and opportunities in music and the arts;
- Create new opportunities for higher education for the district's students;
-Assist with equipment purchases and physical improvements to the district's schools;
-Identify and foster partnerships between residents, businesses, and the Peekskill City Schools in order to develop a higher level of community involvement and financial support.
Who We Are…
We are a diverse group of Peekskill residents who see an opportunity to help fill in some connection gaps between the community and the school district. New and exciting things are happening in the town of Peekskill. We want to be able to facilitate the joining of all sectors of our community together to build upon what has been started and take our school district to the next level by providing enrichment opportunities that will prepare our students for a competitive future.
Our Officers:
MEGHAN SHELDON-BRUNGARD
PRESIDENT
Born and raised in Connecticut; Meghan attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and received a Bachelor’s of Industrial Design. She and her husband moved to Peekskill in 2010 after a decade in Brooklyn. They have 2 children, who are both in the Dual Language program in the Peekskill City School District. Meghan is currently a stay-at-home parent, the Co-Chair of PTO Advocacy Committee, and Secretary of the Safe Routes Coalition.
With the revitalization of The Peekskill Education Foundation, Meghan hopes to take her multifaceted experiences in small business and the nonprofit sector, and turn them to benefit the whole of Peekskill. Growing up in a well to do town, but having limited means herself, she wants to provide the same kinds of opportunities that she was given, to all the students in the Peekskill City School District; for them to know that their means do not limit their chance to achieve.
Adriana Frega
Vice-President
Adriana immigrated from Colombia at the age of 15, and worked her way through the public schools of Queens, NY. Graduate of Queens College with degrees in Economics and Finance, she returned years later for a Masters of Science in Teaching and Bilingual Education. Adriana worked on Wall Street for four years, until she found her passion for teaching in 2004. As an elementary Dual Language Teacher since then, she is a passionate advocate for Bilingual Education and children with special needs. Adriana has lived in Peekskill since 2006 with husband and two children, who attend the Peekskill City School District, and a beautiful chocolate lab. Her vision is to make a difference and ensure that equitable opportunities are given to all children who attend our schools. To promote opportunities for our scholars with 21st Century skills that will make them competitive in today’s economy.
Katrina Mullaney
Secretary
Katrina was born and raised on Long Island and moved to Peekskill from Brooklyn in 2018. She is a graduate of St. John’s University in Queens where she studied Journalism and just before graduation, she began working as a staff writer at Newsday in the sports department. In 2012, she began working at the New York Islanders and by the end of her five years with the team she was the Digital Media Manager. Her career in digital marketing spanned the nonprofit and healthcare industries for 12 years, and now she works in real estate.
Katrina’s goals in working with the Peekskill Education Foundation are to ensure that all children in the city have access to the best education they can possibly receive.
Her husband and daughter love living in this wonderful city!
Sal Frega
Treasurer
Sal is a native of Brooklyn, NY and Peekskill resident since 2006. He has more than 25 years of wealth management experience in Wall Street including offshore investments and trading. Graduate of St. John’s University with an MBA Masters in International Finance. Currently works as an independent investor and an adjunct professor at St. John’s University in the Economics and Finance departments. His vision is to see the Peekskill School District move forward, supporting the schools with programs that will keep children engaged and motivated to continue learning which will prepare them to strive in today’s world.