THE HUDSON CITY SCHOOLS foundation
About Us
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.
We started with a mission to Enhance the Hudson Schools Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Alumni.
Our board members consist of passionate community leaders driven to enhance student-centered programs and projects primarily in the areas of Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Alumni Relations.
Board Members
Denny Palmer, President - Has been a Hudson resident since 2002. His wife, Julie, is a 1st grade teacher at Ellsworth Hill Elementary School. He is a former board member of the Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism and a current board member of the Hudson Athletic Booster Club where he previously served as President. Palmer believes that the Hudson City Schools have provided wonderful opportunities for his three children and is excited to join the Foundation where he plans to play an active role in ensuring that future HCSD students receive those same kind of opportunities, whether through academics, arts, or athletics. He thinks that the work the Foundation has already accomplished on behalf of our community and students is incredible and looks forward to building upon that success to help the Foundation grow and develop relationships that will strengthen the impact on our schools and community.
Dr. Sam Maniar, Vice-President - Moved to Hudson in 2007 and joined the Foundation board in 2024. He is a licensed psychologist who focuses predominantly on sport/performance psychology and executive development. His clients range from high school, college, and professional athletes in Ohio and beyond to C-suite executives across the globe. He has also been active in the Hudson community, previously volunteering as a Hudson Job Search advisor, member of the HCSD Cultural Proficiency Advisory Committee, and also a soccer coach. In addition to running a thriving consulting practice, the Center for Peak Performance, and being a father to one Hudson graduate and one Hudson High School student, Dr. Maniar also serves as a Board Member for VenueTech Connect and a Member of the Board of Advisors for Athlete Foundry, Inc. Dr. Maniar is a champion for causes, such as youth mental health and life skills learned through sport; he is excited about contributing to HCSF Board for many years to come.
Elaine Yuhos, Secretary - Is a15-year resident of Hudson and the proud parent of two HHS graduates, both who benefited enormously from the academics, arts, and sports programs offered by the District. She is a retired engineer having worked for Lockheed Martin for over 25 years. Elaine has served the Hudson Schools in many volunteer roles including 4 years as Hudson High School Music Association (HHSMA) President, Tag-Day Chair, Concessions Committee member, HHSMA Webmaster, Cross Country/Track and Orchestra photographer, and Middle School Science Olympiad Mentor. Serving as BSA Troop 327 Treasurer and as a member of the Great Trail Council Eagle Scout Board of Review Committee allows her to help develop
leadership and service-minded youth in the area. She has seen the results of a Hudson education firsthand and strives to continue to give back in order to support the promise of greatest achievement for future grads in their well-rounded educational experiences through the Hudson City Schools.
Mary Margida, Treasurer - 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.
Lisa Charpentier - Has been a Hudson resident for 20 years. She works as a 4/5 year old preschool teacher at St. Mary preschool and is currently in her 18th year teaching. Lisa works closely with the Early Childhood/Elementary School in Hudson, supporting her students and families and connecting them with the amazing staff from Hudson Schools. Previously, she taught in Akron Public Schools and Midland Public Schools in Michigan as a Hearing Impaired and Intervention Specialist. Lisa has volunteered on many committees in the District including PTO Pancake Breakfast, VIP and other supporting roles with football, baseball and soccer. Lisa also volunteers in Akron working with Late Night Basketball League and Summit Lake Community Build Corp, a community group that supports youth and families in the Summit Lake community. She has two children who went to Hudson Schools with successful academic, athletic, and arts participation during their time as students. Lisa is looking forward to having a chance to give back and help create more opportunities to expand the amazing programs that benefited her children and others in this wonderful family of Hudson City Schools!
Jennifer Fisher - Grew up in Ohio and has lived in Hudson since 2003. She owns her own business, JSF Editorial, and works as an editorial consultant with writers across the country. An active member of the Hudson community, she has served on the board of Hudson Preschool Parents, was Pancake Breakfast co-chair and President of the Hudson PTO, supported several HCSD levy campaigns, and is currently co-director of Hudson Community First. She also continues to engage with her alma mater, Bryn Mawr College, by volunteering with their admissions and fundraising outreach. Her husband, Scott, owns his own IT business. Both her children are members of the 13-year club at Hudson. Joining the Hudson City Schools Foundation is a natural extension of her passion for volunteerism and belief in the importance and value of a public education.
Becky Hinkle - Together with her husband, Andy, have 3 children (HHS Classes of 2018, 2020, 2023). She moved to Hudson in 2005 and has served in numerous leadership roles supporting the Hudson City Schools including Hudson PTO President, PTO Grants Chairperson, Pancake Breakfast Logistics Chairperson, and Scholarship Committee. She currently is the Grants Chairperson for the Hudson Public Schools Endowment Fund. Becky has served on various committees supporting school board candidates, PIF and levy campaigns, and district communications. She participated in VIP and PTO Board volunteer roles in each of the six Hudson schools, every year, during the K-12 experiences of her three children. Becky also enjoys supporting the youth in Hudson for more than a decade through Hudson Community First programming, Hudson Kiwanis Hoop Classic, Hudson Athletic Boosters, and High School Team Parent for multiple sports. Becky brings a marketing and business development background to the Foundation having graduated from the University of North Carolina. A current preschool teacher, she is passionate about the education of the whole child and understands that many life lessons are best learned outside the classroom – through extensions of academic experiences, arts and athletics. She is a creative problem solver, collaborative team player, and independent project manager. Becky has a heart for community volunteer service, helping youth learn and grow, supporting teachers in our community, and working together with others to achieve success.
Sarah L'Hommedieu - A lifelong Hudson resident and 2016 graduate of the Hudson School District, where she was a four-year letter winner in girls’ soccer before continuing her athletic and academic career at Indiana University and Davidson College. She earned her Juris Doctor from Marquette Law School, worked for two years at the NCAA, and now practices at her family’s Solon-based law firm specializing in corporate transactions and compliance. Deeply connected to the community, she serves as an assistant coach for the Hudson High School girls soccer team, while her husband and uncle coach the high school swimming and volleyball teams, respectively. With a large extended family still in Hudson, she is passionate about giving back to the schools that shaped her and is honored to serve on the Hudson City Schools Foundation board.
School Board Members
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 as 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.
Emeritus Members
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.
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.
Laura Gasbarro - A 43-year Hudson resident and 13-year member of the Foundation Board was tapped to serve as Foundation President having served previously as the interim 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.
Ed Sogan - The previous 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.
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.
Staff
Stephanie (Raufman) Mowls - Stephanie serves as Executive Director of the Hudson City Schools Foundation. She attended Hudson City Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and is a proud graduate of the class of Hudson High School’s class of 1994. Stephanie lives in Hudson with her husband Mark and their two daughters, Edie and Tilly, both current students in the district. She holds a Master's degree in Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University and is passionate about the success of the district. Her combination of professional expertise in nonprofit management, community roots as an alumna, and personal investment as a parent gives her unique insight into supporting educational excellence throughout Hudson City Schools.
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