A Partnership Rooted in Service to the Community
$1.3M+
Total Awarded
350+
Students Supported
$101K
Awarded in 2025
$2M+
Endowment Fund
Florence Andresen (left), Founding member of the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation, with Joanne Yepsen.
The Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation (SSREF), a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1997 under the leadership of Rotarian Florence Andreson with the goal of raising $1 million in an endowed fund that would ensure scholarships in perpetuity for local students.
Today, the Foundation’s endowment has surpassed $2 million, and we proudly continue to work with the Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs to empower the next generation of Saratoga Springs leaders through scholarships supporting four-year, two-year, and professional post-secondary education.
Since our founding, SSREF has awarded nearly $1.3 million in scholarships to over 350 local students. These outstanding young people have gone on to become doctors, educators, artists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders who transform and enrich their communities. In 2025, SSREF awarded $101,000 in scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 each, helping eighteen deserving students overcome financial barriers and access the education they need to succeed.
Interested in Joining a Committee or Our Board?
We’re always looking for passionate individuals to help support our mission. If you’re interested in joining a working committee or serving on our Board of Directors, we’d love to hear from you.
Meet The Board of Directors
Officers:
Beth Post, President | Tabitha Orthwein, Vice President
Tiffany Morris, Treasurer | Scott Whittemore, Assistant Treasurer
Brian O’Connell, Secretary | Bobbi Jo Lucas, Assistant Secretary
Directors:
Susan Albright | Bill Bergen | Karl Broekhuizen | Alexander Budd | Amanda Duff | Anna Jolly-Duval | George Ehingher | Jim Frey | Tim Katusha | Brian O’Connell | Elizabeth Stauderman | Janice White
Directors Emeriti:
Edward A. Lenz | Walter Sankowski | Stephen Sullivan | Jane Adams Wait
Professional Investment Management
The Foundation’s endowment is managed by The Adirondack Trust Company of Saratoga Springs. Excluding expenses, all donations received go toward awarded scholarships or building the endowment, at an average rate of 85 cents for every dollar. The Foundation’s Board Members volunteer their time and services.
