BFE hits the beach

The Baldwin Foundation for Education, which was formed in 1992 to provide support to the school district, held its annual beach party last Saturday. The event began at 11 a.m. in Lido Beach’s “mushrooms” — despite touch-and-go weather — and the day’s activities were not restricted to the seaside.

Longtime BFE member Robert “B.A.” Schoen explained that the day kicked off with a tour of Baldwin Senior High School, and the schedule allowed participants to come and go as they pleased. “The day start[ed] with a tour of the high school at 10,” Schoen said. “That’s nice for people because, of course, they can’t go tour the school when classes are going on.”

He added that many participants planned to attend the Bruins’ home football game against Uniondale — in which Baldwin stampeded to a 40-0 victory — and then make their way to the beach.

“The school tours are hosted by current students,” Schoen said. “We feel they’re the best representatives of what the schools are doing. Interacting with them lets alumni know that the school is in good hands.” He also pointed out that many of the 400 or so people who attend the annual beach party use the occasion as a reunion. “The class of ’62 reunion is this weekend,” he said, “but a lot of classes have migrated to this event. Some of the older classes meet every year.”

Another function of the beach party is fundraising. Former Superintendent of Schools Gene Lanzaro and English teacher Peggy Spirakis founded the BFE in 1992 to help district schools battle decreasing state aid and increasing costs. The foundation, whose members pay dues, sells shirts and memorial bricks and holds a 50/50 raffle. These funds are directed back into the school system throughout the year in the form of mini-grants in the $400 range, maxi-grants topping out at $4,000 and a scholarship of around $7,000. Among the hundreds of projects the foundation has helped finance are the high school’s robotic science/tech competition team, grants for classroom libraries, Shakespeare at Shubert and the Kindergarten Café at Milburn.

“It’s really a great event for anyone who feels fondly about Baldwin schools,” Schoen said of the beach party. “It’s a good time.”

Information about the Baldwin Foundation for Education can be found on its section of the district website, www3.baldwinschools.org/bfe.