About Us
The mission of the Niagara Falls Education Foundation is to provide resources to recognize the current accomplishments and promote the future success of the students in the Niagara Falls City School District.
Started in 2002, the Niagara Falls Education Foundation ensures athletic and educational programs are provided to students in the Niagara Falls City School District. Alumni and volunteers work throughout the year to raise funds to provide opportunities for our students and future leaders. Alumni and businesses support the Foundation through their personal and corporate contributions. Since its inception, the Foundation has worked to support the students of the Niagara Falls City School District and to recognize excellence in the District’s student body.
Each year, the Foundation hosts its annual Scholarship & Alumni Recognition Dinner, at which it recognizes extraordinary athletes and teams, inducting them into the District Athletic Hall of Fame, and awards scholarships.
With the generous support of our business community and alumni, the Foundation has awarded more than 50 deserving individuals, 15 Hall of Fame Athletes and many Distinguished Alumni!
In addition to individual benefactors, corporate sponsors also support the Foundation. Among them are CPL Architecture- Engineering-Planning, Laborers Local 91, , Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Zajac Funeral Home, Mark Cerrone, Inc., Coachlines, Capital Cleaners, and the Como Restaurant, as well as Niagara County Community College and the Niagara Falls Teachers Union, to name a few.
Become a member of the Niagara Falls Education Foundation!
Fill out Membership Application and send it to:
Niagara Falls Education Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 595 / Niagara Falls, NY 14302
Board of Directors
Cynthia Bianco
As a retired Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent, Cynthia has served the District as an English teacher, Library Media Specialist, Teacher on Special Assignment, Assistant to the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Interim Superintendent before being appointed as Superintendent of Schools. She is very active in the community and serves on a number of Boards including Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and the Niagara Falls Housing Authority. In addition, Cynthia has received numerous awards for leadership, educational excellence, and community service.
Vincent James “Jim” Cancemi
Mr. Cancemi is the President of the Niagara Falls Board of Education. He is retired from the Niagara Falls City School District, having taught Special Education for 25 years. During his tenure, he was the Director of the Child Find Project. In addition, he continues to own and operate Cancemi Furniture, which he has done for 30 years. Mr. Cancemi is currently a member of the YMCA First Century Club; is a member of the Board of Directors, Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club Alumni; the Niagara County Community College Foundation. He belongs to many professional organizations and has been the recipient of numerous awards for community service.
Carlton Cain
Vice-President
Carl is a retired Deputy Chief of the Niagara Falls Police Department. He is also a retired from the New York State Army National Guard. He has served on several committees and has received numerous local and state awards. Carl has received a U.S. congressional award for community service.
He is past president of the Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club and past president of the Niagara Falls Police Athletic League (P.A.L.). Carl is a graduate of Niagara Catholic High School, N.C.C.C., University of Buffalo (B.A. Philosophy), Niagara University (M.S. Criminal Justice), Liberty University (M.S. Business Management), and the F.B.I. National Academy.
Robert DiFrancesco
Bob’s career took 44 years to complete – 34 of them Niagara Falls City School District (retiring in 2003 as Principal at Niagara Falls High School). His last 10 years were served as principal of his Alma Mater, Niagara Catholic High School (Bishop Duffy High School in 1965). He has been blessed to have a great career being part of a local profession that helped to develop our greatest local resource–our children.
Barbara Iannarelli
Secretary
Barbara Iannarelli, Ph.d., was born and raised in Niagara Falls, New York and graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1965. She spent her career in education as a teacher, supervisor and principal in the Niagara Falls City School District. She currently is an assistant professor at Niagara University. She has received several awards and has served on many community boards.
Arthur “Art” Jocoy Jr.
Treasurer
Art is a husband, father of two and local businessman who got involved in the community at an early age and even more so in the past five years. Born and raised in Niagara Falls and graduate from LaSalle High School in 1986. He is a second generation business owner and a former member of the Niagara Falls Board of Education since 2009. Art’s hobbies include boating, fishing, motorcycling, snowmobiling, auto racing and spending time with his children just “tinkering” around.
Robert Kazeangin, Jr.
Bob is the retired Circulation Division Manager of the Buffalo News; he was previously circulation director for the Niagara Gazette, and later, administrative assistant at the Niagara Falls Public Library. Born and raised in Niagara Falls. A former member and President of the Niagara Falls Board of Education, former Board member of the Niagara Falls Public Library and Oakwood Cemetery. He currently sits on the Board of Directors United Way of Greater Niagara and Health Association of Niagara County. Bob also adds fiscal oversight as a member of the Audit Committee for the Niagara Falls City School District.
Mark Laurrie
Mark is Superintendent of Schools in the Niagara Falls City School District. He has served in a variety of capacities during his career, including In-School Suspension Room Monitor, grade three teacher, Special Education teacher, dean of students, assistant principal of two schools, principal of two schools, Chief Educational Administrator of the 2,500 student Niagara Falls High School, and Deputy Superintendent.
Mark has received numerous awards and recognitions including Educator of the Year from the Niagara Area Chamber of Commerce, one of the Forty under Forty Rising Leaders in Western New York from the Business First publication, and a Spirit of Niagara Award from the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara, Inc., Kiwanis Leadership Award, Empower Person of the Year, Niagara University Educator of the Year, to name only a few.
He is a life-long resident of Niagara Falls where he resides with his wife Laura, and their three children.
Tom Lowe
President
Tom Lowe is Director of IMPACT/ReNU at Niagara University. Born and raised in Niagara County, Lowe graduated from Fredonia State University in 2009 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Arts Administration.
In addition to his full-time role with Niagara University, Lowe is also engaged in many other Niagara Falls organizations and efforts, largely on a volunteer basis. He is currently the Chair of the Niagara Beautification Commission, Vice President for LiveNF – and organization that works to inspire and evoke community pride, and a board member for the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area and the Niagara Falls Education Foundation.
Joseph Ruffolo
Mr. Ruffolo graduated from Niagara University in 1978 with a degree in business administration. He received a master’s in health administration from Trinity University and completed the executive education program at Harvard University.
Joseph A. Ruffolo’s first job in the healthcare industry was at Memorial, where as a teenager he was hired as a dishwasher. He worked as an accounting supervisor at Memorial from 1976-1979. Mr. Ruffolo spent the next 20 years of his careers with Buffalo hospitals, beginning with a four year stint as controller and assistant administrator for fiscal and general operations at Sheehan Memorial Hospital. Mr. Ruffolo serves on a variety of Boards and community organizations. Mr. Ruffolo resides in Lewiston with his wife Teresa. They have two children and one grandchild.
Owen Steed
Owen is a single parent of one son, who works as a community liaison for the Niagara Falls Police Department. He is currently serving as Niagara County Legislator for the 4th District. Owen has received several awards for his community service.
Angelo Massaro
Mr. Massaro is a local attorney practicing law in both public and private sectors. Mr. Massaro concentrates his practice primarily in representing the School District as well as in the areas of labor, construction, corporate and real estate law. He is a graduate of Conisius College and the State University of New York at Buffalo, Law School and practices under the name of Hovey & Massaro.
Mr. Massaro was instrumental in the formation of the Niagara Falls Education Foundation, Inc. and has since its inception served as its legal advisor.
