Spring Happenings at TSF

News & Updates

Spring 2023

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Kudos to our amazing student directors who efficiently compiled the mailing for the 2023 Annual Appeal! The addition of two new permanent funds and the upcoming scholarship awards season means springtime is busy!

2023

Annual Appeal

The Annual Appeal kick off took place on March 18th at the Americal Civic Center. A terrific group of TSF student directors and Wakefield High School student volunteers assembled and addressed this mailing. During March, flyers were also sent with the WMGLD bills. And, once again the support of Wakefield residents has been outstanding!

Thank you to all our Annual Appeal donors!

There's still time to donate!

Bergholtz Family Foundation Fund

The Bergholtz Family Foundation Fund became permanent in April 2023. This fund was created through the generosity of the Bergholtz family in gratitude to the town where they grew up and were educated.

Mike Sateriale Vocational Scholarship Fund

This fund became permanent in April 2023 through the many generous donations of the family and friends of Mike Sateriale. A graduate of the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School, Mike was a motorcycle enthusiast.

Initial awards from both of these funds will be made in June 2023.

Bob Eldridge:

An outstanding director!

Since 1979, and for the past 44 years, Bob Eldridge has been an integral member and active supporter of TSF.

Joining the organization when it was known as the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation, he served as President from 1993 to 1994. He has filled the role of leader and contributor to multiple committees and events throughout the years.

In 2001, Bob was the driving force behind the creation of the Wakefield Adult Mentoring (WAM) program and helped transition WAM into the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization in 2015.

Bob is a fund sponsor of the Wakefield High School Class of 1958 Fund and he and his wife Merry established the Robert B. & Merilyn E. Eldridge Fund in 2013. In 2019, the WAM Fund was renamed the Robert B. Eldridge Wakefield Adult Mentoring (WAM) Fund.

Bob has been a steadfast presence and pillar of TSF. His positive "can do" attitude has contributed in countless ways to TSF's efforts for more than four decades.

Top photo: Bob Eldridge manages phone lists with fellow directors Dan Dwyer and Bob Curran at the 2016 Annual Phonathon.

Middle photo: Merry and Bob Eldridge managed the beverage table at many Trivia Team Challenge events, including here in 2009.

Bottom photo: Past presidents Kevin Lally, Bob Eldridge, and Pat Mooney celebrate the 50th Anniversary of TSF in September 2010.

TSF's impact on students lasts...

I have lived in Wakefield my whole life, and thanks to TSF I was able to attend Boston College. I then went on to medical school and I am currently a physician, specializing in internal medicine. TSF allowed me to go to college with less financial debt and it’s an honor to give back to TSF and help other students.

Having just graduated from college, I want to thank TSF for the work it does and the impact it has had on my life. Now that I am approaching the time to pay back my student loans, I am especially grateful to TSF for providing me with such generous assistance over the past four years. This support has helped to greatly decrease the immense financial burden of college. I feel blessed to have been on the receiving end of such generosity. Thank you for helping me, so that I too can give back one day.

TSF Past Recipients

Spotlight on a Fund

While TSF’s mission is providing scholarship aid to local students, an equally important role we play is remembering and honoring many of our townspeople and local organizations. This is a role that is very meaningful to TSF. The stories behind each of our funds, including those of individuals who gave much to our town and those whose promise was not realized, are a key part of our success. To remember community members, both young and old, families, local groups and businesses in a positive and active way is a significant reason for our accomplishments since 1960 and our continued growth in aiding Wakefield students.

Diane Lind Scholarship Fund

The Diane Lind Scholarship Fund was established in 1997 following Diane's retirement from the Wakefield School Department after 39 years of service.

Diane was raised in Malden and graduated from Malden High, where she excelled in speech and drama. She continued her studies at Jackson College at Tufts University earning a B.A. degree. She later received her Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Salem State College.

She began teaching at Wakefield Junior High School in 1958. In 1975, she moved to Wakefield Memorial High School, where she served as the chairperson of the English Department for more than 20 years. She also taught classes at Emerson College, Cambridge College, Northern Essex Community College, and Tufts University. For several years, she tutored at an immigration learning center in Malden, assisting individuals who were applying for U.S. citizenship.

Diane was a world traveler visiting Japan, Russia, Scandinavia, and much of Europe. And she was a passionate supporter of the theater. She could often be found either onstage or backstage in many local theaters including the Melrose Community Players, Reading's Colonial Chorus, and The Quannapowitt Players. She and fellow teacher Ray Sipola were acclaimed for their outstanding musical productions. Her enthusiasm for the arts led her to be among the founders of The Savings Bank Theater at WMHS.

Always striving to give to others, Diane was an active volunteer. She was a member of the Malden High School Alumni Association and served on the board of the Davenport Memorial Home as well as the Sweetser Lecture Series Committee. She was a longtime and esteemed director of TSF, where she served as secretary for 14 years. Diane is fondly remembered for her generous spirit and her many contributions to the students of Wakefield.

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