Category: General News
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Lesley Searcy Joins CSF as Vice President: Head of Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
(Friday, December 12, New York, NY) — Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF) is pleased to announce that Lesley Searcy has been hired as Vice President: Head of Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, effective January 5, 2026. As a key member of CSF’s executive leadership team, Lesley, who has served most recently as Chief Growth Officer at Step…
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Young CSF Philanthropists Learn About Smart Giving Strategies
This November, the Children’s Scholarship Fund gathered our President’s Council and Young Leaders Board for an evening of “Cocktails and Conversation” with Peter Lipsett, Vice President of DonorsTrust. Peter reminded everyone that you don’t need a top hat, a monocle, or a billion dollars to be a true philanthropist – our President’s Council and Young Leaders Board members…
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From Fight Mode to Flourishing: How One Family Found Peace and Progress with Educational Freedom
Abbey Clegg is a mom to three children: Emilia Jo, Tey, and Corabelle. Like many parents, she hoped her local school would provide the support her youngest daughter needed. But the reality was far more difficult. “Emilia Jo was constantly stressed and in fight mode,” Abbey remembers. “She wasn’t herself.” A full evaluation by the…
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“I Love My School”: One Mom’s Story of Joy, Growth, and the Power of Educational Freedom
CSF New Hampshire Mom Natalie is raising three children, including an adult son with autism. Looking back, she remembers the frustration of watching him navigate a public school system that didn’t meet his needs. “The class sizes were huge,” she says. “I always felt stuck, unable to give him the kind of education I knew…
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Why We Give: Kevin Heller and Samantha Zeiss Heller
Kevin and Samantha Heller have been members of CSF’s Young Leaders Board for ten years, each serving in leadership roles, including as Chairman of the Young Leaders Board, a role Kevin currently holds. This year, they joined CSF’s President’s Council, committing to fund one or more CSF New York scholarships each year. This April, Kevin…
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CSF Creates Guide to Starting a Scholarship Granting Organization
CSF’s new Guide to Starting a Scholarship Granting Organization provides a practical roadmap for establishing and operating a privately funded scholarship granting organization, drawing from 25 years of Children’s Scholarship Fund experience. It covers essential elements from mission development and legal establishment to program design and donor relationships. With templates and practical implementation advice, this…
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CSF Scholarship Served as a Nexus Point for Alumnus Hansel Lopez
CSF Alumnus Hansel Lopez was one of the first CSF Scholars in New York City, using his scholarship to attend Mount Carmel-Holy Rosary School in East Harlem beginning in seventh grade. He went on to graduate from Rice High School, Cornell University, and Florida International University, launching a career in marketing and advertising. He now…
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CSF Hosts Palm Beach Event
Last week, Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF) hosted an event in Palm Beach, Florida at the home of CSF Board Member Remy Trafelet and his wife, Missy. It was an evening of storytelling, with Remy starting us off with the story of how a visit to Mount Carmel-Holy Rosary School in East Harlem convinced him how a CSF…
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School Choice Week 2025: What a Week for Education Freedom!
CSF families had the pleasure of meeting New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte while touring the New Hampshire State House during a very busy School Choice Week. This year’s National School Choice Week was one of the most eventful yet for education freedom! Executive order and White House roundtable: President Trump issued an executive order prioritizing educational freedom and…
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The Palma Sisters: Going the Extra Mile for Children’s Education
Sisters Jackie and Stephanie Palma grew up on Long Island with parents who instilled in them the importance of education and giving back. After attending Catholic and public schools, both sisters graduated from Vassar College. Jackie moved to New York after college and joined CSF’s Young Leaders Board, serving as its co-chair for many years.…
