About Us
We work hard to make sure Pennsylvania children get the best education possible
We realize education is vital to the future of our youth. With support from our donors and interested local citizens, Bridge Educational Foundation is boosting the educational achievement opportunities for children and families that would otherwise not be available to them.
Bridge raises funds through Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program and Pennsylvania's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) Program. These landmark educational tax credit Programs afford businesses the chance to enrich the lives of Pennsylvania children by improving the quality of their education and better preparing them for a future in the workplace.
The EITC and OSTC Programs are simple: businesses receive tax credits for donations made to Commonwealth-approved, non-profit scholarship organizations, like Bridge, and families in need are able to choose the best education for their children. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Bridge has connected corporate partners with thousands of families who need their help. Our goal is to continue to serve as the bridge between good corporate citizens and families in need.
Management Team
The Bridge Educational Foundation is governed by members of the Bridge Educational Foundation Corporation. The Corporate Members are responsible for guiding and directing the organization.
Natalie Nutt
Executive Director
Kelly Gerdes
Director of Scholarship Programs
Peter A. Gleason, Esq.
Chairman
James J. Tricolli
Corporate Member
Dennis Giorno
Vice Chairman
Directors
The Bridge Educational Foundation Board of Directors all serve as advisors to the Corporate Membership. The Directors provide guidance and recommendations to the Members of the Corporation.
Judy ArchibaldDirectorA native of Susquehanna County, Tony Aliano has over 15 years of distinguished service with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. During the first five years of his tenure, Tony served as a Research Analyst to the House Education Committee, assisting with issues like athletic oversight, school choice, and accountability. Currently, as Chief of Staff, Tony is jointly responsible for most operating aspects of the House of Representatives, including Caucus and legislative agendas and session schedules. In addition, he is actively involved in state budget negotiations, member and media relations, and the development of the House's many policy initiatives.
Gene Barr is the retired president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the largest broad-based business advocacy group in Pennsylvania. Barr joined the Chamber in 2003, became president in 2011 and retired at the end of 2022. He has almost 50 years of experience in politics, government affairs, public policy and business operations including work with BP America, Associated Petroleum Industries of PA, Triad Strategies, and the Harrisburg law firm of McNees Wallace & Nurick. He also served as a Senior Advisor to GSL Public Strategies.
He served three terms on the US Chamber Board of Directors where he served on the Nominating and Governance Committee as well as the Chamber’s Political Advocacy Committee. He has served on numerous boards including the United Way and the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg. Gene has been named to various state commissions by both Republican and Democrat governors, including co-chair of Governor Tom Wolf’s Keystone Workforce Command Center and worked on the transition team for Governor Tom Corbett. He is the vice chair of the Gettysburg Foundation and on the executive committee of America 250PA. He was appointed to the Early Learning Investment Commission by former Governor Ed Rendell and now serves on the Emeritus Advisory Council.
Gene ranked number nine on the 2022 City and State PA’s Power 100 list of the most influential people in the public and private sectors statewide. He was also named by his peers as “The Most Effective Association Lobbyist” in the Capitol in a poll conducted by the Pennsylvania Legislative Services and was included in the Pennlive/Patriot News list of the 17 most influential people in Pennsylvania politics in 2017.
He is a regular host of the public affairs program “Pennsylvania Newsmakers” on WGAL, the NBC affiliate in Lancaster, PA.
He is the author of a non-fiction work on the American Civil War, A Civil War Captain and His Lady: Love, Courtship, and Combat from Fort Donelson through the Vicksburg Campaign.
Gene is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and received a Certificate in Leadership Development as a participant in the 2017 National Security Seminar at the U.S. Army War College. He serves on the faculty of the Gettysburg Foundation Leadership Program.
A lifelong resident of South Philadelphia, Bill Keller served as a State legislator representing the neighborhoods of South Philadelphia that border the Delaware River and Port facilities. He is widely credited for his leadership on the issue of school violence and forcing the School District of Philadelphia to institute a stricter code of student conduct and a new “zero tolerance” policy that mandates the quick removal of violent and disruptive students from the classroom.
Jennifer has over 15 years of extensive business, marketing, and leadership experience. Most recently she served as the President of AmeriChoice/Unison Health Plans of Pennsylvania. Jennifer's significant knowledge of the healthcare industry and the interworking of state government allowed her to lead the charge in PA, integrating AmeriChoice and Unison Health Plans. She also worked as the company's primary liaison to the Commonwealth's legislative and administrative branches. Residing in Pittsburgh, Jennifer is President of the Cedars Charitable Foundation and sits on the Advisory Board of North American Martyrs Catholic School. Jennifer holds an M.B.A. from St. Francis University and a B.A. from University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
Chad Byers is Managing Partner of The Symmetrical Group, an integrated platform serving privately held businesses through M&A advisory, permanent family-office-style capital, and commercial real estate investment. Chad has participated in hundreds of transactions and specializes in navigating complex ownership transitions, including company sales, acquisitions, recapitalizations, management buyouts, succession planning, and transactions involving both operating businesses and real estate.
His background as an advisor, investor, and operator allows him to view transactions from multiple perspectives and understand both the financial and personal considerations behind them. Chad is particularly experienced in structuring practical solutions for founders, families, management teams, and investors in the lower middle market.
Erika Deyarmin- Young is the Public Affairs Coordinator for Waste Management in Pittsburgh, Penn. She manages community affairs, customer communication and internal and external communication for the company’s Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia operations. Deyarmin-Young holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Public Relations from the West Virginia University. She is a native of Pennsylvania with roots in Johnstown and Pittsburgh.
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. Locally, in Western Pennsylvania, the company employs more than 1,100 employees at 32 locations throughout the region, including the market area offices in Moon Township. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com.
Bobby has been a proven and successful leader at Enterprise Holdings for the past 33 years. During his successful career at Enterprise, he ascended the leadership ranks from Area Manager to Regional Vice President, and later to VP/GM for the greater Hartford area. In this capacity, he led a team of 600 employees across 60+ locations. Bobby later ascended to VP/GM of the Philadelphia Region, which consisted of 1600 employees and 160+ locations.
The teams that he has led have been consistent performance leaders in customer service, growth and profitability. He has been well recognized with 20 President’s Award and five Founding Values Awards. However, Bobby is most proud of the countless men and women that he has hired and trained, who now serve the company as executives throughout the world. Bobby led the company for 6 consecutive years, contributing developed talent to the leadership pipeline across the various teams of Enterprise Holdings. It is this distinctive set of achievements that speaks to his personal mandate to lift others.
Bobby has used his time and talents to serve the community. He has been a stalwart leader in the non-profit arena in the Philadelphia Region. Most notably, he was the Regional Campaign Chair for the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey in 2016, where he and his team set a new bar by raising $65M dollars. His board leadership includes serving as: The Urban League of Philadelphia as Board Chair since 2010. He continues to serve on the board of Father Judge High School, The Satell Institute, and Drexel Neumann Academy.
Bobby has been recognized with The United Way Regional Impact Award and Volunteer of the Year Award, Philadelphia Business Journal Outstanding Director Award, Urban League of Philadelphia Outstanding Business Leader Award, and Induction into the Father Judge Hall of Fame.
Bobby earned his Bachelor of Arts in Management from Hofstra University, where he was a four - year starter on the football team. His team finished his junior season undefeated and was ranked #3 in the country. Bobby was recognized with the Mayor’s Trophy. He was later inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
He and his wife, Phyllis, have been married 28 years. They are the proud parents of 3 successful children: Stephanie, Bobby and Brittany.
Chris Masciantonio currently serves as the owner and President of The Masciantonio Firm. He is also the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Steel Alliance. Chris began his professional journey as a lawyer for United States Steel. During his tenure there, he was invited by then-Governor Tom Ridge to join the governor's administration. In this capacity, Chris served the Commonwealth as the Deputy Secretary of Labor and Management Relations and Safety for the Department of Labor and Industry. As Deputy Secretary, Chris worked closely with the Governor and administration to promote labor and management cooperation throughout Pennsylvania. He played a key role in fostering an environment conducive to economic growth, enhancing workplace safety, and supporting family-sustaining jobs. After concluding his public service, Chris returned to United States Steel, where he took on the role of Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy. Chris is dedicated to giving back to his community. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Bridge Education Foundation and the Clelian Heights School. Additionally, he is Chairman of the Board for the Making Strides Foundation. His professional affiliations include membership in both the Pennsylvania and Westmoreland County Bar Associations, as well as the Board of Directors of Pittsburgh Works Together.