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The Hudson City Schools Foundation was formed in 2008 by founding members Bill Wooldredge, Tom Tobin, Jim Hackney, Kurt Nygaard, Phil Kazar, Dan Williams and Ed Sogan. Former Superintendent Steve Farnsworth attended and advised each meeting.

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We started with a mission to Enhance the Hudson Schools Academics, Arts and Athletics.

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Hudson City Schools Foundation Board Members

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Laura Gasbarro - A 40-year Hudson resident and 12-year member of the Foundation Board was tapped in March as the organization’s first Executive Director. She was lured for a brief stint out of retirement after serving as the Co-executive Director of Hudson Community First having retired after 17 years in 2022. A past PTO President and Pancake Breakfast Chair, Laura brings a career background in fund development, event planning, marketing and nonprofit organizational management having also worked as the Development Manager for the National Parkinson’s Foundation, covering all of Northeast Ohio. Laura will help to relaunch the Foundation over the next 15 months after which she and the Board will search for an Executive Director to succeed her.

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Ed Sogan - The Foundation President and a Hudson resident since 1973, has always been civic minded. He was a member of the original Jaycee’s organization that created the Hudson Haunted House, was a big part of the Taste of Hudson committee, is a Rotary member and a founding member of the Schools Foundation Board. Ed spent 35 years as an educator, 28 of which were spent in Hudson Schools; as a teacher, coach and athletic director. Ed views Hudson as an educational leader in Ohio and is committed to the Foundation’s goals of helping to provide supplemental funding to the district in the areas of Academics, Arts and Athletics. Ed was instrumental in the development of the Memorial Stadium project, Scott Malson Field at HMS project and is one of the creators of the Hudson Hall of Fame.

 

Sue Carter - A 50+ year resident serves as Vice President of the Foundation board. She is an avid community volunteer having served on numerous committees for PTO and Hudson Community First. In addition to the Foundation, Sue serves as a Rotary member and on the Hudson Public Schools Endowment Fund committee reviewing scholarship applications, and on the board of Destination Hudson. A Hudson grad, she hopes the Foundation can act as an adjunct with the schools to promote and help to fund projects that will enhance the student experience. She believes giving back to her community and the schools can hopefully make a real difference. Both of Sue’s sons are Hudson grads.

 

Dr. Sarah Adams - Joined the Foundation board in 2012. Currently she serves as secretary of the board. As a pediatrician working in Hudson at Akron Children’s Pediatrics, she has been active in many community organizations serving as PTA president, Director of Girls on the Run and was very active in Hudson Boosters when her sons, Gabe and Ben were in school. Currently, she is on the Executive Board of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as Ohio AAP Foundation advisory board and is the Medical Director of a statewide program called Parenting in Mealtime and Playtime. Sarah believes the growth and development of Hudson’s children can benefit from the efforts of the Foundation and its partnership with Hudson Schools.

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Mary Margida - A lifelong Hudson resident and Hudson Schools 1981 alum, serves as the Foundation Treasurer. Community-minded, she has worked in various organizations in the community including PTO, Hudson Community First, Preschool Parents and the Hudson Public Schools Endowment Fund. She believes that Hudson Schools provided an amazing education to her family including her three sons. She is happy to be able to bring her financial and accounting background to serve the Foundation board. Mary views the connection being made with alums via Hall of Fame programming offered by the Foundation and the Artist in Residence program opportunities as valuable additions to a quality curriculum. Overall, she is a member of the Foundation because she believes it can be a game-changer for the community.

 

Bill Wooldredge - One of the three Foundation founding members. A resident since 1972, Bill has been an active force in the Hudson community. He is a co-founder of the Hudson Community Foundation, a President of the Hudson Economic Development Foundation and served on the Hudson City Council for 12 years (4 years as President). Bill has served on the boards of many other Akron and Hudson organization’s including Akron Children’s Hospital, Hudson Community First and the Hudson Heritage Association. His community impact is immeasurable. He envisions the Foundation as a driving force to provide funding for various needs and opportunities in the Hudson Schools and hopes to build an endowment to sustain the Foundation’s reach.

 

Brad Wright - Has lived in Hudson since 1978 and is a proud 1983 Hudson High School graduate. Community-minded, his volunteerism reaches far beyond Hudson as Chair of the United Way of Summit/Medina counties, and Vice Chair of the Akron Civic Theatre. Brad is the Shareholder in Charge of Roetzel’s litigation practice groups leading the firms Transportation Law Groups. He also is a National Counsel for the Ohio State University College of Law. Currently, Brad serves on the Board of Directors of the Hudson Community Foundation and has been a Schools Foundation member for a decade. Passionate about the Hudson lacrosse program, Brad’s son JJ, a senior, is goalie on the varsity team. His two daughters are also successful grads of Hudson Schools.

 

Mark Dzurec - One of the newest members of the Foundation board having joined in the fall of 2022. A six-year resident to Hudson, he wasted no time getting involved in the community serving on the Citizens Committee for Hudson Schools, as a member of the Hudson Schools Finance committee, and Board of Education 2021 campaign committee member in 2021. Mark volunteers for school-related programs   including the PTO Pancake Breakfast in 2022 and 2023. He thinks the Foundation can be a great vehicle for out of the box opportunities within Hudson Schools not covered by the district’s budget. The collaborative opportunities abound and Mark looks forward to helping grow the district and Foundation’s partnership. He leads the Alumni connection efforts for the Foundation. His daughter is a sixth grader at Hudson Middle School

 

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School Board Representatives

 

The Hudson School Board assigns two board members to the Foundation to act as liaisons in a non-voting capacity.

 

Tom Tobin - One of the three founding Foundation members and has a true passion to move the organization forward. His family moved to Hudson in 1969 and is a proud 1979 graduate of HHS. Retired from the American Endowment Fund, he serves a Hudson school board member, is involved with Hudson alumni and is a member of the Hudson Rotary. He has volunteered on a variety of landscape projects within the school district and serves on the project development committee for the Foundation. He has interest in exploring the interest of prospective donors including Hudson alumni. He and his wife Gail have a son, also a Hudson grad. He supports the Foundation’s efforts and believes the possibilities are endless as he strives to enhance the educational experience of our students.

 

Alisa Wright - A 26-year resident with two daughters who are Hudson grads and a son entering his senior year at HHS. As a second term school board member, she has been the Hudson City Schools Foundation board liaison since January, 2018. She is currently on the executive board of Hudson Community First has been a past treasurer and member of the Citizens Committee for Hudson Schools supporting numerous school levy and PIF campaigns. She is also a member of the First Congregational Church of Hudson. Alisa believes that the Foundation has a great potential to connect parents, alumni, and community members with the school district, its students and staff. The opportunities to illuminate the district’s accomplishments, aspirations and needs and facilitate supplemental funding in the areas of Academics, Arts, and Athletic is exciting. As a board liaison, she hopes to help with fundraising, fund development and project management.

 

Superintendent Dana Addis and Communications Manager, Jennifer Reece also attend Foundation board meetings and assist, update, and advise the organization in a non-voting capacity.