Each spring the Piedmont Education Foundation (PEF) Board of Directors welcomes new volunteer members who are enthusiastic to fulfill the 45-year-old organization’s mission to provide sustained financial support to Piedmont schools through fundraising and community engagement.
This year, PEF is thrilled to announce the following new trustees to its board:
Colleen Allan is a brand marketing professional with nearly 20 years of experience at LinkedIn, Clorox and General Mills. She and her husband, Brian Payne, moved to Piedmont for the community’s strong public schools and they have three daughters. “The schools are the cornerstone of the Piedmont community,” says Allan. “I am honored to join the PEF Board to help support and strengthen our schools, especially as we navigate the return to school post-pandemic, through academic programming, enrichment offerings and the Wellness Center to help all of our children to flourish.” Allan co-chaired this year’s Giving Campaign, and is looking forward to leading it again next year.
Tonya Antonucci is an entrepreneur and marketing professional, with leadership stints at Yahoo!, Women’s Professional Soccer, and the Oakland A’s. Tonya and her partner, Tasha Cupp, migrated to Piedmont from San Francisco to join a small and strong community to raise their daughter and son. Antonucci is particularly impressed by the impact of small class sizes, and shares, “PEF’s mission-based approach and engagement to support Piedmont schools and the broader community is absolutely crucial for sustaining quality public education for every child.”
Amber Brumfiel and her husband, Chris, have lived in Piedmont since 2001. She was a commercial and real estate litigator in San Francisco before the birth of her three sons (age 8 and 6-year-old twins). “I feel strongly about PEF’s emphasis on community engagement in its fundraising efforts,” says Brumfiel. “Bringing the community together to rally around our schools while fundraising produces an effect that is greater than the sum of its parts. I want to help make people feel excited about supporting our schools and about the sense of community that our schools provide.” Brumfiel’s commitment to Piedmont is illustrated by her past leadership of both Spring Fling and the Harvest Festival.
Francis Hoang is a software engineer at Salesforce and a California native. Francis and his wife, Kim Dao, have been a part of the Piedmont community for over 10 years and have three children in the district. Hoang is strongly supportive of PUSD’s holistic approach to education. “They’re not only focused on academics, but also emotional health, and the curriculum fosters the love and understanding of music, the arts, and social issues,” shares Hoang. He adds that PEF’s work in the community “is what sets us apart and makes Piedmont a truly special place to raise a family.”
Jean Takazawa is a professional educator with over 15 years of experience with primary to university-level students. Most recently, she is the creator and co-coordinator of the Piedmont Affinity Mentoring program that serves a dual purpose in reaching tri-school elementary students as well as offering guidance to high school students on an ongoing basis. Jean and her husband, Tadashi, have two children in Piedmont schools. “We are fortunate to have so many educators in the district focused not only on learning, but on the social emotional well being of our children,” says Takazawa. “PEF has a fundamental part in supporting and funding our schools and it is an honor to be part of that.”
Heartfelt thanks to outgoing board members
PEF would also like to thank its two outgoing directors: Abby Scott for her five years of service, including as board secretary, and Linda Song Wendel for her four years of service, including as vice chair. Additionally, Sara Davison DeVries will take a sabbatical from the board as she serves as the Piedmont High School Parents Club co-president during the 2021-2022 school year.
The leadership of the 2021-2022 PEF Board of Directors includes Nicki Gilbert (chair), Cortney Allen (co-vice chair), Amelie Kappes (co-vice chair), Charlotte Ero (treasurer), Dana Lung (secretary), and Emily Harrold (communications), working with Executive Director Heather Frank.
PEF staff and the 2021-2022 board of directors are already working to prepare for the fall fundraising efforts. More than $3 million was raised to support Piedmont schools during the 2020-2021 Giving Campaign. The board is optimistic the community will come together again to ensure the programs which make Piedmont schools so outstanding remain in place for its students. Learn more about the Piedmont Education Foundation HERE.
