HWS News
20 September 2021 Paying it Forward: Breitfeld's Gift Boosts Geneva 2030
A three-year, $150,000 gift from former Genevan Dr. Philip Breitfeld will support Geneva 2030’s efforts to foster success for local students.
Over the next three years, Dr. Philip Breitfeld’s gift will enable Geneva 2030 to expand and deepen its work to improve education opportunity for students in the Geneva City School District.
The grant also supports the appointment of Dr. Karen Fahy as Geneva 2030’s first fulltime director. Fahy, who consulted previously for Geneva 2030, most recently served as director of English Language Arts and Literacy K-12 for the Rochester School District. She is a long-time Geneva resident who was a teacher and program director in the Geneva City School District for more than 20 years.
Breitfeld, chief strategy and innovation officer at Champions Oncology, is a Geneva native and a member of the Geneva 2030 Executive Board. Impressed by Geneva 2030’s equity action plan and partnership with StriveTogether, he recently led his fellow board members through an assessment of their work around racial equity.
“It can be daunting to know where to begin or how to make an impact,” Breitfeld says, but with his gift, Geneva 2030 now has new support to realize its goals. “I have been fortunate in my career and wanted to give back to my hometown,” he said. “I am inspired by Geneva 2030’s work and am especially excited to see Karen Fahy leading the program.”
Sage Gerling, Geneva City Manager and chairman of Geneva 2030’s Executive Board, said, “We are deeply grateful for Phil’s generous financial support and his time and wise counsel as a member of the board. Geneva is fortunate to have such a loyal native son.”
Following graduation from Geneva High School, Breitfeld earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Princeton University, medical degree from the University of Rochester and trained in pediatric hematology/oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He has held academic roles in Harvard University, Duke University, the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University. He has published widely on molecular biology and oncology. He lives in North Carolina. His previous gift to the Finger Lakes Institute helped fund the Seneca Watershed Steward.
Begun by HWS in 2011, Geneva 2030 is a collective impact initiative that harnesses community resources and engagement to support the success of Geneva’s youth, from cradle to career. Its work is focused on preparing children for kindergarten, improving literacy, supporting a bilingual curriculum (English & Spanish), STEAM engagement, increasing Geneva’s high school graduation rate, and building students’ preparedness for college and future careers. The Colleges serve as the anchor institution in partnership with the school district and numerous community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, Geneva Reads and Success for Geneva’s Children.
