Foundation to Donate $20K to Comsewogue Schools

The Comsewogue for Students Foundation, now in its second year in existence, will fund $20,000 worth of teachers' projects after a year of successful fundraising.

The president of the organization, Rita den Hartog, and the secretary/treasurer, Michele Caufield, delivered the news at Tuesday's Comsewogue Board of Education meeting. Neither one has children in the school district still, but they and the other members of the organization were determined to help out.

"We’re trying to give back for what the district did for our kids," den Hartog said. "We would like to present $20,000 to go back to the school district. It’s really to enrich our students' learning. It’s not for pizza parties or stuff like that. It’s for them to learn."

Beth Dimino, president of the Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association, expressed gratitude on behalf of the district's teachers.

"We’re very grateful to the foundation," she said. "We’ll be able to have clubs and other activities for students that the district isn’t able to provide anymore. ... We will continue to support your efforts."

Comsewogue for Students distributed a grant application packet for teachers to complete for consideration by Sept. 15. Grants will be awarded by Oct. 31.

Joseph Rella, superintendent, called it great news.

"To raise this kind of money in one year is wonderful," he said. "It's going to really enable us to put back in what we could not put back in the budget. ... It's just great for our kids."