The F. M. Kirby Foundation is pleased to celebrate 40 years of continuous partnership with Durham Academy. Durham Academy was founded in 1933 as Calvert Method School. In 1959, the school changed its name to Durham Academy and began an expansion, which led to the first high school graduating class in 1975. The school is organized into four divisions: Preschool,…
By Dave Cucchiara Communications & Program Associate It’s the anticipation of the glossy yellow school bus rounding the corner, the nervousness of stepping into an unfamiliar classroom for the first time, and the excitement of not knowing what lies ahead. The first day of school is a day most of us remember fondly, but for some children, this textbook American…
By Dave Cucchiara Communications & Program Associate Through thoughtful, intentional approaches to mental health intervention, Jeff Macko and Marlene Scrivo, alongside their intrepid group of counselors and interns, have helped thousands of local children become the best versions of themselves. For Jeff and Marlene, the journey has been impactful and fulfilling, helping ensure youth in our communities receive the support…
By Dave Cucchiara Communications & Program Associate The F. M. Kirby Foundation Board of Directors announced 103 grants totaling $10,669,250 were approved in the first half of 2024 to nonprofit organizations working to increase the strength and vitality of our communities. In all, 58 grants included general operating support and 54 grants were made to organizations that have been partners…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate The F. M. Kirby Foundation is pleased to welcome a new team member. David Cucchiara has joined the organization as a Communications and Program Associate, effective June 25th. David joins the Foundation with experience in both nonprofit development and strategic communications. After beginning his career in journalism, David spent six years with Wakefern Food Corporation…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate When Dr. Christina Liparini began her undergraduate education in 1995, she was pursuing an English degree with dreams of becoming a high school teacher. Early in her education, she realized that the transition into college was not going to be an easy one. At the time, mental health was not yet something openly discussed, leaving…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate Ruth Kaluski has seen a lot of change in the thirty years she has worked in the mental health field. Beginning her career in rehabilitation counseling in 1989, Ruth entered the world of clinical mental health services at a time when conversations about mental illness were clouded by stigma and bias. Now serving as the…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate Dr. Luke Smith relocated from Arkansas to North Carolina following medical school to pursue a career in adult and childhood psychiatry. As he became more involved in his new community, Dr. Smith realized there was a pressing need for mental health services offered in Spanish. Driven by his newfound commitment to bridging this gap in…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate As a community-based funder that has been serving Morris County for over 80 years, we have witnessed firsthand the unique spirit of collaboration that is embraced by local nonprofits. United in their dedication to serve a shared population, Morris County nonprofits have long been maximizing their impact with creative partnerships, shared resources, and collective expertise.…
By Justin Kiczek President Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. A place where your troubles are all the same. Yes, this is the theme song of the 1980s sitcom Cheers. But that song’s staying power goes beyond its catchy jingo. Indeed, Norm, Cliff, Kelsey, and the rest of the characters that made up the Boston bar…