The 26th Annual AFE Gala Held on Saturday, April 26th @ the Albany Barn! 

Thank you for joining us to honor the Albany Center Gallery, Julianna Obie, and Minitria Slade (in memoriam) for their work improving the lives of Albany students.

Together, we raised $80,000 to fund our programs!
We couldn’t do this without you!

Thank You Honorary Committee Members!

Honor Society

David and Margie Amodeo
Supt. Joseph E. Hochreiter
Chet and Karen Opalka
Linda Pelosi-Dunn and Ronald Dunn

Honor Roll

Ann G. Gifford
Annette Nanes
Varada Pandya-Vaughan
Mario Vaccaro and Carolyn Peterson-Vaccaro
Jim and Roberta Read
Charles Shopsis and Audrey Smolin
Bobbie Siegel
Lisa, Jonathan and Grace Thomson

Honorary Committee

Eric and Kaweeda G. Adams
Aimee M. Allaud
Hon. Dr. Dorcey Applyrs
Ellen Bach and Robert Kelley
Ken Baker
Kathryn and Joseph Bamberger
Steve Baum
Alexis Bhagat and Stephanie Loveless
Judy Bonds
Dr. Peter W. Brusoe
Mary Reyers Brusoe
Jennifer Ceponis and Martin Daley
Linda Jackson Chalmers
Jodi Commerford
Kathleen Concordia
Hon. Richard Conti
Debbie and Chris Conti
Caroline Corrigan and Harrison Watkins
Francis and Mary Cosgrove
Ashley and Frank DelSignore
Susan D’Entremont and John B. Jones
Albert R. De Salvo
Michael R. DeVall
Judy Doesschate and Tom Keefe
Susan DuBois
Leslie E. Dykeman
Mark Eagan, Capital Region Chamber
Hon. Corey Ellis
Senator Patricia A. Fahy and B. Wayne Bequette
Dr. F. Maxine Fantroy-Ford
Hon. Joshua Farrell
Sean and Sara Fitzsimons
Hon. Marisa A. Franchini
David Galin, Esq.
Amelia Gallagher and Ashley Dillon
Melissa and Graham Healey
Canon Kay Carol Hotaling, FHC
Lisa House and Rich Honen
Robert and Pamela Howell
Karen M. Jones
Hon. Andrew Joyce and Jennifer Joyce
Hon. Ray Joyce
Janine M. Jurkowski
Daniel and Nichole Katz
Holly Katz and William Harris
Councilmember Meghan Keegan
Steve and Margaret King
Hon. Darius Shahinfar and Noelle Kinsch
Ted and Denise Kolankowski
Hon. Ellen Krejci
Robert and Heather LaCasse
Orah LeHockey
Ron and Katie Lesko
Martha and Leo Levy
Jim and Thea MacFawn
Melissa Mansfield and Joseph Burke
Maria and Roger Markovics
Joseph and Sarah Matzner
Tony and Elaine McCann
Sean McGarry and Dr. Kerstin Medwin
Sara McGraw
Marge McGreevy
Steve and Denise Mercier
Elizabeth Morphy
Shawn Morris and John Wellspeak
Ash Niles
Peter and Kristy Oliver
Rachel Pearlman and Seth Rosenthal
Ruth Pelham
Pizzeria Sapienza
Amanda Powers
Cassie Prugh and David Dutkiewicz
Dr. Scott Dolan and Sarah Reginelli
Susan Richardson
Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero
Hon. Mary A. Rosch
Timitra Rose
Martha Rozett
Chris and Christine Schudde
Hon. Kathy Sheehan
Sam and JP Shipherd
Mari Shopsis
Ken and Marggie Skinner
Dr. Leonard A. Slade, Jr. and Mrs. Roberta Hall Slade
Onnolee and Larry Smith
Johanna Steper
Theresa and Shaun Story
Ellen Sullivan
Theresa and Carl Swidorski
Anita Thayer and Bill Ritchie
Kate Thies
Erin Tobin and Roger Bearden
Congressman Paul D. Tonko
Sharon and Thomas Vaughan
Theresa Vaughan and David Cherubin
Daniel Vaughan-Cherubin and Josie Duran
Michael Vaughan Cherubin
Emma and Joseph Wolfe
Kathryn Wright
Hon. Deborah Zamer

25th Annual AFE Gala held
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Albany Barn

We celebrated together and honored Kizzy Williams, Young Futures, and John Keal Music Company
for their work improving the lives of Albany students.

Thank you to everyone who made AFE’s 25th annual Gala an amazing success. Together, we raised more than $80,000 to support AFE’s programs!

We also honored long-time AFE Board Members Onnolee Smith and Barry Walston as they stepped down from a combined 41 years of service!

Order of Events

6pm – Champagne Toast for Corporate Sponsors, Honorary Committee Members, and Honorees
Albany High Jazz Band plays

6:30 pm – General admission – dining stations open
Albany High Jazz Band plays

7:30 pm – Presentation of Awards

8:30 – 10:30 pm – Afterparty with DJ Trumastr! Bring your dancing shoes!

Thank you to our 2024 Gala Sponsors!

Magna Cum Laude Sponsors

Cum Laude Sponsors

Honor Society Sponsors

Honor Roll Sponsors

Albany Police Athletic League
Albany Public Schools Administrators Association
Camp WA WA Segowea
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
Emack and Bolio’s
Honest Weight Food Coop
Modern Press
The Rosenblum Companies
Three Buckets Wealth Management

Thank you Honorary Committee Members!

Cum Laude Individuals

Ron Dunn and Linda Pelosi-Dunn
Supt. Joseph E. Hochreiter
Hon. Andrew Joyce and Jennifer Joyce
Chuck and Barbara Manning

Honor Roll

David and Margie Amodeo
Albert R. De Salvo
Sean McGarry and Dr. Kerstin Medwin
Annette Nanes and Scott Meyer
Varada Pandya-Vaughan
Mario Vaccaro and Carolyn Peterson-Vaccaro
Bobbie Siegel
Charles Shopsis & Audrey Smolin
Onnolee and Larry Smith
Lisa, Jonathan and Grace Thomson

Honorary Committee

Eric and Kaweeda G. Adams
Aimee Allaud
AOW
Hon. Dr. Dorcey L. Applyrs
Ellen Bach and Robert Kelley
Ken Baker
Kathryn and Joe Bamberger
Steve and Sheryl Baum
Roger Bearden and Erin Tobin
Judy Bonds
Peter Casale
Ashley Chapple
Francis and Mary Cosgrove
Martin Daley and Jennifer Ceponis
Karen Dalland
Susan D’Entremont
Frank DelSignore
Violetta De Rosa
Michael R. DeVall
Judy Doesschate and Tom Keefe
Susan Dubois
Amy Ellis
Hon. Patricia Fahy
Dr. F. Maxine Fantroy-Ford
Hon. Ginnie Farrell
Sean and Sara Fitzsimons
Hon. Jack Flynn
Marisa Franchini, Esq.
Elaine C. Freedman / Venture Realty Partners
Peter Gannon
Ann G. Gifford
Virginia Goatley/University at Albany School of Education
Abigail Gomes
Heidi Gordon and Jay Baker
Amal Hechehouche and Tim Cooney
Liz Hitt and Christine Smith
Richard Honen and Lisa House
Canon Kay Carol Hotaling, FHC
Robert and Pamela Howell
Bernie and Julie Huss
Beverly L. Ivey
Linda Jackson-Chalmers and William Chalmers
Karen M. Jones
Karen-Christina Jones
Dr. Eva C. Joseph and Dr. Bob Wishnoff
Hon. Ray Joyce
Janine Jurkowski
Daniel and Nichole Katz
Holly Katz and William Harris
Hon. Meghan Keegan
Christine Miles Kelliher
Steve and Margaret Lamar King
Hon. Darius Shahinfar and Noelle Kinsch
Ted and Denise Kolankowski
Hon. Ellen Krejci
Nettye Lamkay
Orah LeHockey
Dr. Ken Lein
Ron and Katie Lesko
Martha and Leo Levy
Jim and Thea MacFawn
Whitney Malone
Marina and Bryan Marcou-O’Malley
Joe and Sarah Matzner
Hon. John T. McDonald III
Sara McGraw
Maria and Roger Markovics
Paul Masters and Jill Taylor
Gail and Bill Meehan
Meier Law Firm, PLLC
Elizabeth Morphy
Ruth Pelham
Rachel Pearlman and Seth Rosenthal
Mary Pilkington and Rick Genero
Bonnie Premo
Aaron and Claire Proffitt
Melissa Puicon-Healey and Graham Healey
Brooke Raveendranath
Jim and Roberta Read
Dr. Scott Dolan & Sarah Reginelli
Hon. Dustin M. Reidy
Timitra N. Rose
Hon. Anne Savage
Amy Savoie
Hon. Kathy Sheehan and Mr. Bob Sheehan
Samantha and JP Shipherd
Ken and Marggie Skinner
Johanna Steper
Bill Stoneman
Karen and Todd Strong
Ellen Sullivan
Theresa and Carl Swidorski
Bill Ritchie and Anita Thayer
Kate Thies
Congressman Paul Tonko
Theresa Vaughan and David Cherubin
Wallace Turner Law
Nancy J. Wawrla
Wheel House Designs
Hon. Tabetha Wilson
Joe and Emma Wolfe
Hon. Deborah Zamer and Dr. Joshua Zamer

Many thanks to our Bid for Kids’ Sake Auction donors, who helped us raise almost $14,000 for AFE and another $1,000 for the Albany Marching Falcons France Trip!

Thank you to everyone for attending our 23rd annual AFE Gala!

The Gala is AFE’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The pandemic may have put the Gala on hold, but it did not decrease the need for AFE’s programs and services – in fact, the need is even greater now. Thank you to our generous Business Sponsors and Honorary Committee Members!

Business Sponsors

Summa Cum Laude

Magna Cum Laude

Cum Laude

Honor Society

Albany Public School Administrators Association
CSEA – Local 1000
First New York FCU
Honest Weight Food Co-op
NYSUT
Pioneer
RC3 Communications

Individual Supporters

Cum Laude

Constance Centrello
Chuck and Barbara Manning
Chet and Karen Opalka

Honor Society

Charles and Charlotte Buchanan
Albert De Salvo
Judy Doesschate and Tom Keefe
Ann Gifford
Kirsten A. Hernandez
Annette Nanes and Scott Meyer
Varada Pandya-Vaughan
Amy Savoie
Onnolee and Larry Smith
Charles Shopsis and Audrey Smolin
David and Sandra Whiston

Honorary Committee

Supt. Kaweeda Adams
Natalie Aiello and Robert Paley
Aimee Allaud
Natisha Alexander
Melissa Baer Bourgeois and Richard Bourgeois
Ken Baker
Gary Bakst, M.D.
Dr. R. Bamberger
The Bamberger Family
Sheryl and Steve Baum
Doris E. Bedell
Michele Atallah & George Benson
Judy Bonds
Alex Casale
Peter Casale
Linda Jackson Chalmers
Ashley Chapple
Drs. Sita Subbarum and Sridar Chittur
Cynthia Clo and Cindy Moorcraft
Sarah and Sean Conley
Natalie and John Criscione
Gene Damm
Violetta De Rosa
Susan D’Entremont and John B. Jones
Michael R. DeVall and Betty
Susan DuBois
Mark Eagan, Capital Region Chamber
Douglas Ebersman, C.P.A.
Amy P. Ellis
Hon. Corey Ellis
Erin M. Engstrom
Anne Erling
Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy
Hon. Ginnie Farrell
Dr. F. Maxine Fantroy-Ford
Elaine C. Freedman/RLF Realty
Nicholas Horton ’82 and Julia Riseman
Liz Hitt and Nancy Kelly
Pamela and Robert Howell
Karen M. Jones
Janine Jurkowski
Margaret and Steve King
Hon. Darius Shahinfar and Noelle Kinsch
Denise and Ted Kolankowski
Hon. Ellen Krejci
Ron and Katie Lesko
Martha and Leo Levy
Whitney Malone
Paul Masters and Jill Taylor
Hon. John T. McDonald III
Jim and Thea MacFawn
Gail and William Meehan
Ruth Pelham
Pratt & Associates
Bonnie Premo
Aaron and Claire Proffitt
Jim and Roberta Read
Margie Rector
Scott Dolan and Sarah Reginelli
Martha T. Rozett
Hon. Anne Savage
School of Education, University at Albany, SUNY
Hon. Kathy M. Sheehan
Sam and JP Shipherd
Mari Shopsis
Bobbie Siegel
Johanna Steper
Karen and Todd Strong
Ellen Sullivan
Mary E. Sullivan
Theresa and Carl Swidorski
Anita Thayer and Bill Ritchie
Jonathan and Lisa Thomson
Erin Tobin and Roger Bearden
Congressman Paul Tonko
Theresa Vaughan and David Cherubin
Daniel Vaughan-Cherubin
Michael Vaughan-Cherubin
Bob and Deb Ward
Hon. Tabetha Wilson
Joe and Emma Wolfe
Deborah and Joshua Zamer

COVID-19 Vaccines: Helpful or Harmful?

AFE was honored to bring together Dr. Janice Pride-Boone, Pediatrician; Dr. Boahema Pinto, Emergency Medicine at Albany Medical Center; Brooke A Raveendranath, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, St. Peters Health Partners, and LaQuetta Ellis, LPN, Co-Owner, Hearts and Mind Training Center to discuss concerns that many people have about getting the COVID-19 vaccine or vaccinating their child. Questions addressed at the forum included:

• Why are Black and African American people unequally impacted by COVID-19?
• Why is the Latino community unequally impacted by COVID-19?
• Are the COVID-19 vaccines being used to experiment on people of color?
• Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe?
• What are the side effects of the vaccine?
• How are vaccine side effects different from COVID-19 symptoms?
• Why is there more than one vaccine? Are there any differences between them? Will I be able to choose which vaccine I get?
• How did they develop these vaccines so quickly and how can they be safe if they were developed quickly?
• They say it’s safe now, but how do we know what it will do ten years from now?
• If the vaccine works, why are people still getting COVID? And why all these boosters?

Recordings of the forum are available on YouTube in English:

y español:

Albany Fund For Education Annual Gala 2019