About Spaulding

The Spaulding Education Fund is an independent, all-volunteer community-based organization that awards grants for compelling educational initiatives in the Manchester Essex Regional School District. We have no endowment and rely upon the generous donations of residents and business owners in Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex, Massachusetts. 

​We are committed to advancing educational excellence in the Manchester Essex Regional School District by enhancing the student curriculum with innovative ideas in core learning areas such as math, science, technology, engineering, literacy, humanities, art, music, as well as health and wellness. We fund educational initiatives that enrich, advance, and enliven the classroom experience.  Spaulding Education Fund helps to fulfill the most basic promise of a community - to provide excellent public education for everyone.

A group of nine young people standing in front of large white letters spelling 'UNGA' (United Nations General Assembly) at a park with tall buildings and trees in the background, under a blue sky.
Learn More about our grants

Meet Our Team

Group of six women at a fundraiser event, smiling and posing for the picture behind a table with donation signs. The table has signs indicating digital payment options like PayPal and Venmo, with a few decorative gold balloons and confetti on the table.

Trustees

Michelle Kempskie
Michelle Kenney
Jessica Lamothe

Steering Committee

Sarah Wolf, Chair
Maggie Gleason, Vice-Chair
Kathryn Taylor, Treasurer
Brooke Orr, Secretary

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Grants Subcommittee

Sarah Wolf & Maggie Gleason, Grants Chairs
Maile Madigan

Communications Subcommittee

Betsy McKeen, Communications Chair
Ryann Hilton
Alicia Palmer

Fundraising Subcommittee

Wendy Brady
Jen Mayer
Veronica Wu

Volunteer Corps

Sarah Chamberlain
Mary Lumsden
Lisa Manganiello
Rosaly Parker

History

Spaulding Education Fund was created in 1988 to bring together community resources and invest them into our schools for the benefit of students for years to come. Since then, Spaulding Education Fund has awarded more than $1,000,000 in grants to educators in our local public schools.

 Spaulding Education Fund was named in memory of Josiah A. Spaulding, a resident of Manchester for over 25 years and a prominent political and business leader in the state. Josiah (or “Si,” as he was known to most of his friends) was a graduate of Yale and Columbia Law School and a decorated combat flyer in World War II. He was the founder and President of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Hospital (later renamed Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in his honor) and contributed extensive time to many educational, health and civic causes. Si Spaulding passed away in 1983.