board members
Our goal is to establish a volunteer Board of Directors that is dedicated to working towards the mission and vision of the Bridgewater-Raynham Educational Foundation Corporation.
We continuously seek to have members who represent each school/town as well as diversity in demographics. Please visit our Volunteer page to learn how you can be a part of BREFC.
Message from the Founder
Lillian Holbrook is the founder of the Bridgewater-Raynham Educational Foundation. The Foundation was founded in 2019. Lillian saw a need in the District to directly support the students and staff of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District and drove the creation of a 501c(3) non profit foundation. The foundation is not funded by any local, state or federal agencies and relies on contributions, grants and sponsorships to enhance the quality of the educational experience for the Bridgewater-Raynham students at all grade levels through grants available to the staff.
This is a partnership… between families, business, the community and the schools. Though we are certainly not the first to say it, it does ‘take a village.’ We would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing Board of Directors and volunteers for their support, commitment and efforts towards supporting our local schools and our vision!
Lillian Holbrook
Co-Founder
Lillian Holbrook is a graduate of Wheelock College in Boston and received her Master’s in Elementary Education at Cambridge College. She began her professional career as a first grade teacher in Middlebury, Connecticut. After marrying her husband, Jon, she moved to Bridgewater and was hired as a first grade teacher in Bridgewater. She taught for 30 years greatly impacting the lives of many children and families during her successful career. Lil was an active member of the B-R community serving on many committees, hosting math, science and literature nights for parents and students. In addition, Lil also served as a member of the Bridgewater Education Association and then upon regionalizing with Raynham on the Bridgewater-Raynham Education Association (BREA). She negotiated several contracts and was elected as Vice President of the BREA.
Lil resides with her husband Jon in Bridgewater where they have raised their two children. She is currently serving a second term on the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District’s School Committee as well as serving as the liaison between the Foundation and the School Committee.
Lil has always been dedicated to the students of Bridgewater-Raynham and feels privileged to be able to give back by overseeing the inception of the Bridgewater-Raynham Educational Foundation.
COLLEEN O’DONNELL
President
Colleen graduated from Lesley University with a Bachelor’s in Human Development/Early Childhood Education. She and her husband, Chris, moved to Bridgewater in 2011. Their children have been attending school in the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District since preschool.
Colleen decided to go back to being in the classroom setting in 2017. She has worked at the Mitchell Elementary for the last 5 years.
Colleen enjoys volunteering with GMSPA, the Girl Scouts, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and 501(c)(3) charities.
Melissa Rogers
Vice-President
Melissa Rogers is the Executive Director of Development, Major Gifts for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. She joined Harvard in 2018 to develop the West Coast and Asia regions for the FAS Capital Giving team. In her current role she oversees strategy to engage alumni and parents in philanthropic decisions that impact the University and manages a small portfolio of major and principal gift prospects.
Prior to Harvard, Melissa worked for over seven years at Boston University first as part of the East Coast Team within the University’s central office of Development and Alumni Relations and then at BU’s Questrom School of Business as Director of Development. While at Questrom, she supervised the fundraising team, created the parent program, and managed a portfolio of leadership and principal gift prospects. Prior to BU, Rogers spent a decade in development positions of increasing responsibility at Bentley University. She also served as a development specialist with the American Cancer Society in Florida, and with the March of Dimes in New York and Massachusetts.
Rogers earned her BS in Journalism from Kent State University, and currently lives in Raynham with her daughter and three beagles. She has held leadership volunteer roles with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Women in Development.
Kaitlyn Holbrook
Treasurer
Kaitlyn graduated from Dean College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. After graduating, she began a career teaching dance in studios and summer camps, as well as, performing in local theater productions. In addition to her dance career, Kaitlyn is a Certified Health Coach and Barre Instructor. For the past seven years, she has been working with individuals, offering group workshops and teaching at a local fitness studio. She loves supporting people in working toward their goals and encouraging them to reach their full potential.
Kaitlyn grew up in Raynham and has always been passionate about volunteering and being involved in the community.
Susan Prewandowksi
Secretary
Susan graduated from the New England College of Optometry and has been working as an optometrist for over 34 years in the greater Taunton area. Susan and her husband, Ronald, have lived in the town of Raynham for over 31 years. Their two children, Ron and Marianne, are graduates of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional school district. Susan started her volunteer work as a RAVE volunteer in the Raynham schools over 20 years ago. She served as a member of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee for 15 years. She has recently joined the Raynham Finance Committee.
Lori Cullen
Web Master
Lori graduated from Bridgewater State University with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. She then earned her Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology and Computer Science at Cambridge College. She taught as a Computer Science teacher at Natick High School in Natick, MA for over 12 years and is now teaching at Raynham Middle School. At Natick High Lori established the Web Design program which students were provided with hands on experience of working in the field in addition, they were provided with the opportunity to become Adobe Dreamweaver Certified (ACA.) Lori is also a member of the Adobe Education Leaders, this program is an exclusive community of innovative thought leaders in education who effectively use Adobe tools to promote excellence and critical problem solving. Lastly, her involvement in the Code.org organization aims to encourage people, particularly school students in the United States, to learn computer science.
Lori moved to Bridgewater in 2013 with her husband Jim. They have three children ages 2, 4 and 7. Jim is very involved in the Bridgewater Baseball little league and the entire family enjoys being a part of both the fall and spring season. Lori and her family also continue to have a passion to continue to raise funds for Boston Children’s Hospital Cardiac Unit as well as AGC Infertility Scholarship Foundation.
Lori truly believes and lives with the passion that education is the most powerful tool which you can use to change the world.
