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About the Foundation

Times change, but our mission has stayed the same for 36 years.

We connect community to classrooms, innovate learning, power potential, and celebrate success.

Our mission

We elevate public education. We connect community to classrooms, innovate learning, power potential and celebrate success.

We support public school teachers and students through community funded programs.

“The path to prosperity runs straight through the classroom.”

Amity Schuyler CEO, Consortium of Florida Education Foundations
From the President “Education Innovators” — a letter from Thom Jones Read the letter
Our story

A direct-support organization since 1990.

In 1990, the St. Lucie County Education Foundation was organized as a direct support organization for public schools. The opportunity was created by a 1984 Florida law that allows school districts to establish local education foundations to raise private funds for the students, teachers, and public schools of their districts.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, we are guided by Articles of Incorporation and by-laws, and governed by a Board of Directors. Today, the Foundation works to grow business and community interest, involvement, and investment in our public schools as a strategy for increasing student achievement.

60
local education foundations across Florida, part of a statewide network
1,100+
community leaders serve on their boards, most from the private sector
36 yrs
supporting St. Lucie teachers, students, and classrooms
Our impact

The mission, measured in dollars.

Explore our impact

93.4% of every dollar we spent went to programs. In fiscal 2024–25 the Foundation spent $846,194, and $790,696 of it went to program services for students and teachers, including $568,707 paid out directly as classroom grants, teacher grants, and student scholarships.

That efficiency is a habit, not a good year. Across the last four filed years, 92.2% of everything we spent reached programs, and $1,787,853 went out the door as grants. In fifteen years of digitized filings, not one dollar has gone to an outside professional fundraiser.

The numbers are public: they come from our IRS Form 990 filings, audited by an independent accountant every year. An extraordinary year of one-time gifts in 2023 also left the Foundation with $3.1M in reserves, invested so their earnings keep supporting classrooms for decades to come.

See the full financials
One dollar, spent · FY 2024–25
  • Programs $790,696 · 93.4%
  • Management & general $41,624 · 4.9%
  • Fundraising $13,874 · 1.6%

Source: IRS Form 990, FYE June 2025, via ProPublica.

93.4%
of spending went straight to programs in fiscal 2024–25
$1.8M
in grants and scholarships paid out over the last four filed years
$3.1M
in reserves stewarded so one-time gifts keep giving
2025–2026

Our Board of Directors.

Our working board wears many hats here at the St. Lucie County Education Foundation, including connecting community to classrooms.

Executive committee

Brandon Nobile, Chair / President · Remnant Construction
Brandon Nobile Chair / President · Remnant Construction
Nate Spera, Vice Chair / Vice President · Retired Fire Chief
Nate Spera Vice Chair / Vice President · Retired Fire Chief
Cynthia Pilloni, Treasurer · PNC Financial Services Group
Cynthia Pilloni Treasurer · PNC Financial Services Group
Melanie Mead, Secretary · Director of Student Services, Keiser University
Melanie Mead Secretary · Director of Student Services, Keiser University
Dr. Jon R. Prince, Ex-Officio · Superintendent of Schools, St. Lucie Public Schools
Dr. Jon R. Prince Ex-Officio · Superintendent of Schools, St. Lucie Public Schools
Dr. Donna Mills, Ex-Officio · St. Lucie County School Board
Dr. Donna Mills Ex-Officio · St. Lucie County School Board
Anthony Bonna, Immediate Past Chair · Port St. Lucie City Councilman
Anthony Bonna Immediate Past Chair · Port St. Lucie City Councilman

At-large directors

Anna Babcock, St. Lucie Public Schools
Anna Babcock St. Lucie Public Schools
Rachael Bonlarron, Comcast
Rachael Bonlarron Comcast
David Freeland, Education Association of St. Lucie
David Freeland Education Association of St. Lucie
E. Wayne Gent, Retired Superintendent, St. Lucie Public Schools
E. Wayne Gent Retired Superintendent, St. Lucie Public Schools
Carol Hilson, Former St. Lucie School Board Member
Carol Hilson Former St. Lucie School Board Member
Joe James, Licensed Realtor
Joe James Licensed Realtor
Erin Lowry, St. Lucie County Commissioner, District 3
Erin Lowry St. Lucie County Commissioner, District 3
Penny Morin, Seacoast Bank
Penny Morin Seacoast Bank
Rene Motto, Director of Education, Boys & Girls Club
Rene Motto Director of Education, Boys & Girls Club
Dr. Kevin G. Perry, Assistant to the Superintendent, St. Lucie Public Schools
Dr. Kevin G. Perry Assistant to the Superintendent, St. Lucie Public Schools
Dana Trabulsy, State Representative, District 84
Dana Trabulsy State Representative, District 84
Carissa Vega, Honorary Member · Seacoast National Bank
Carissa Vega Honorary Member · Seacoast National Bank
Shrita Walker, Honorary Member · MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
Shrita Walker Honorary Member · MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
Jasmine Shepherd, Honorary Member · St. Lucie Public Schools Teacher of the Year
Jasmine Shepherd Honorary Member · St. Lucie Public Schools Teacher of the Year
Louis Ondrovic, Branch Manager · MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
Louis Ondrovic Branch Manager · MIDFLORIDA Credit Union

Staff

Thom Jones, President
Thom Jones President
Jackie Wolfe, Program Director
Jackie Wolfe Program Director
Deb Pizzimenti, Administrative & Marketing Coordinator
Deb Pizzimenti Administrative & Marketing Coordinator
Stacy Annone, Business Development Director
Stacy Annone Business Development Director
Foundation calendar

Meetings, holidays, and key dates.

Our events & fundraisers

Board and committee meetings, school holidays and breaks, and the Foundation's public dates for the 2026–2027 year, synced from the Foundation's official calendar.

September 2026
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September 2026

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Foundation full board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in person and via Zoom. Rooms are scheduled 3 months in advance with the District staff, but meetings are typically held in the multi-purpose room, 164.

    Meeting

  • All day

    Holiday

October 2026

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Foundation full board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in person and via Zoom. Rooms are scheduled 3 months in advance with the District staff, but meetings are typically held in the multi-purpose room, 164.

    Meeting

November 2026

  • 6:00 – 10:00 PM · Pelican Yacht Club (1120 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce, FL 34949, United States)

    Our largest fundraiser of the year, an Evening for Education Back to the Future Dinner and Gala will take us back in time to when it all started in the 90's. Sponsorships are available starting at $1,500 or sponsor a teacher for just $150. Tickets to attend are $200 or $375/couple. Ticket prices will go up on October 1, 2026. Get yours today! www.educationfoundationstlucie.org/p/10/evening-for-education

    Event

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Foundation full board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in person and via Zoom. Rooms are scheduled 3 months in advance with the District staff, but meetings are typically held in the multi-purpose room, 164.

    Meeting

  • All day · Nov 23 – 27

    Holiday

December 2026

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

  • All day · Dec 21 – Jan 4

    Holiday

January 2027

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Foundation full board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in person and via Zoom. Rooms are scheduled 3 months in advance with the District staff, but meetings are typically held in the multi-purpose room, 164.

    Meeting

February 2027

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Foundation full board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in person and via Zoom. Rooms are scheduled 3 months in advance with the District staff, but meetings are typically held in the multi-purpose room, 164.

    Meeting

March 2027

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Foundation full board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in person and via Zoom. Rooms are scheduled 3 months in advance with the District staff, but meetings are typically held in the multi-purpose room, 164.

    Meeting

  • All day · Mar 22 – 26

    Holiday

April 2027

  • 12:00 – 1:30 PM · St. Lucie Trail Golf Club (951 SW Country Club Dr, Port St Lucie, FL 34986, United States)

    In its 7th year, the Hall of Champions Luncheon honors outstanding community leaders and alumni for the great work they are doing in St. Lucie County. Nominations will open in January 2027.

    Event

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Foundation full board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in person and via Zoom. Rooms are scheduled 3 months in advance with the District staff, but meetings are typically held in the multi-purpose room, 164.

    Meeting

  • 7:30 – 9:00 AM · St. Lucie Mets (31 NW Stadium Dr, Port St Lucie, FL 34986, United States)

    This colorful 2K (1.2 mile) run offers participants splashes of colors and peals of laughter at the family-friendly event kicking off the St. Lucie Safety Festival.

    Event

May 2027

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Foundation full board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in person and via Zoom. Rooms are scheduled 3 months in advance with the District staff, but meetings are typically held in the multi-purpose room, 164.

    Meeting

June 2027

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM

    Executive Committee Meetings are held via Zoom and include the Executive Board members along with Thom Jones, President.

    Meeting

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Get in touch

We would love to hear from you.

Questions about a program, an event, or how to give? Reach the Foundation office directly.