The Springbrook Foundation, the fundraising affiliate of Springbrook NY, INC, announces its 2019-20 Board of Trustees: Dr. John Anderson, Board President, Amanda Mirabito, Vice President and Secretary, Patrick Prior, Treasurer, and members Patricia O’ Brien, Doug Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brewery Ommegang, Jim Kelsey, Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of New York State, Patricia Kennedy, Springbrook’s Chief Executive Officer, and Barbara Morris, President of the State University of New York at Oneonta. The Springbrook Foundation funds strategic initiatives that directly impact the lives of the people supported by Springbrook. Projects and initiatives funded by the Springbrook Foundation are not applicable for funding through Springbrook or its affiliates’ general operating budgets. The work of the Springbrook Foundation is designed to match donor interests with Springbrook priorities. Foundation staff work to motivate donors to partner with Springbrook through cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding diverse resources to enhance high-quality programs, build capacity, seize opportunities, and ensure Springbrook’s long-term success.
Board President, Dr. John Anderson, has a Ph.D. in Education from Cornell University, an M.A. in Physics from SUNY Geneseo, a B.A. in Physics from SUNY Brockport, and an A.S. in Math and Science from Westchester Community College. He also received post-graduate education at Harvard University. Dr. Anderson told us, “One of the most rewarding experiences of my career was serving over twelve years as a board member, and at times an officer, of Springbrook. This new opportunity is a tremendous honor. I am absolutely delighted that I can help support Springbrook in this new position”.
Dr. Anderson had an established and recognized career as a professor and academic leader with more than twenty years of experience in a variety of senior-level academic administrative posts (President, Executive Vice President, Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, interim Vice President of Student Services, and Dean of Student Development) at a variety of institutions. Dr. Anderson retired from higher education as the President of Millersville University in Lancaster, PA. During his tenure as President of Millersville University, Dr. Anderson served as a Trustee on the board of Lancaster General Health and the Lancaster Partnership Program Committee, a partnership offering socioeconomically disadvantaged students the incentive to finish high school and obtain a college education. Currently, Dr. Anderson is the founder and president of the consulting company, John M. Anderson Consultants LLC, established in 2018— which provides consulting services for the higher education, construction, and nonprofit industries.
Springbrook Foundation Vice President and Secretary, Amanda Mirabito, is a lawyer at Barclay Damon in Albany, NY. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Boston University and her law degree, magna cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School. While in law school, Ms. Mirabito was appointed Vice President of the National Women’s Law Students Association—serving two terms.
Ms. Mirabito focuses her practice in the areas of public finance, financial institutions, lending, and real estate. She works with municipalities, school districts, and government agencies including various industrial development agencies, and local development corporations throughout New York to structure public finance transactions including PILOT Agreements, bond issuances, and straight-lease transactions.
Board Treasurer, Patrick Prior’s, relationship with Springbrook originated with his brother Michael, who is a resident of one of Springbrook’s Community Homes. Prior has been a financial supporter of Springbrook since his brother decided to reside in a Springbrook home. Mr. Prior stated, “Financial support for Springbrook is important because I think most families do not realize that there is a gap between what the government can, should, and will provide to the developmentally disabled and what each person actually needs to have a full life”. Patrick resides in Fairfax, VA where he works for the Federal government in Washington DC.
To remain a leader in nonprofit best practice, the Springbrook Foundation is structured to be an organization with its own Board of Trustees tasked with raising funds for Springbrook and operating in accordance with all rules and regulations currently set in place by the New York State Nonprofit Revitalization Act. These rules and regulations exist to ensure that nonprofit organizations are operating in best practice and avoid any potential conflicts of interest that would otherwise jeopardize the integrity of a nonprofit organization. Springbrook’s Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Kennedy commented, “The foundation’s responsible management of financial assets, and keen investments designed for long-term growth, assure Springbrook’s bright future. Successful leadership from the Board to Trustees and skilled operations by Foundation staff enable Springbrook to continue to achieve our mission of providing exceptional services for all of the people we support, for a lifetime. The Springbrook Foundation is a model example of a nonprofit organization in best practice”.