To the editor:

We would like to thank our new and long-time supporters for contributing over $61,000 to the Newburyport Education Business Coalition (NEBC) 2006/2007 Membership Drive! This figure, which represents a new fundraising record for the NEBC, is a 33 percent increase over last year. Of equal importance, our membership grew by over 16 percent.

Nearly every dollar raised was used to fund our traditional programs within the Newburyport school district, including Partnership Grants, Jazz Festival, Technology Club, Intern and Externship programs, as well as the Book Bag reading program. Looking ahead to the upcoming school year, the NEBC will underwrite the high school's Entrepreneurship Program.

Maroon Sponsors: NAID Foundation, Newburyport Bank, Institution for Savings, Strem Chemicals, Inc., Union Specialties, Eastern Bank, Bixby International and TD Banknorth.

Gold Sponsors: Packaging Specialties and Alfa Laval- Contherm Product Center.

Silver Sponsors: The Financial Advisors, Newburyport Rotary Club, Anna Jaques Hospital, Zack Longley - Family Shield, St. Jean's Credit Union, Joseph's Winter Street Cafe, Castagna Construction, Document Research, Publishing Services, Currier & Associates, Seabrook Station, FPL, Resolute Financial, Ransom Environmental Consultants, Piper Properties, Page Insurance Agency, Neil Wilson, MacDiarmid Machine, Fitness Factory III, Elliot, Woodworth & Rogers, Electronic Products, Dr. Michele Sasmor/RiverSong Plastic Surgery, Chase & Lunt, Audiology Network Services, Arwood Machine Corp., Appleton Eye Associates, and Alden Merrell Corp.

Bronze Sponsors: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Zip Type Service, Zar-Tech (Zampell), Riley and Associates, P.C., Louis Bonasera, CPA, PFS, MST, Ngoc Cormier, Newburyport Teacher's Association, Massachusetts Electric, Mark Richey Woodworking, Leggett & Platt, Greater NBPT Chamber of Commerce, Murphy Construction, Inc., Keiver-Willard Lumber, Gerald Hirsch, DDS/Newburyport Dental Associates, David Tibbetts, Esq., YellowDog Design, Turning Point, Spellman Illustration, Salter Transportation, MetroRock, PCI Synthesis, Osgar Corporation d/b/a Abraham's Bagels, Newburyport Insurance, Hall & Moskow, Hero Coatings, Elephants Trunk, Connolly & Connolly, Colby Farm, Children's Health Care, Cheryl Zaino, Change Strategies, Beach Plum Farms, Attorney E. Douglas Bolick, Vine Associates, Schooner Financial, Riverbend Landscaping, O'Flaherty Law Offices, Inn Street Barber Shop, David Chatfield Associates, TZ Tees, Strand Marketing, James W. Koglin, DDS, Spalding Electric, River Valley Real Estate and Emmith Business Solutions.

Members: Taintor & Associates, Pure Bliss, Port Capital Mgmt., Pilgrim Web Products, Parker Products Solar, Park Lunch, Gloria and Alan Papert, Not Your Average Joe's, Minuteman Press, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Thomas and Kimberly Little, John Farley Clothiers, Jenny DeWilde, Jan-Co Publishing, Hughes Financial Management, Fritz & DeGuglielmo Trenholm CPA, Express Video, Eureka, Peter and Molly Ettenborough, Dean McLellan Investments, Carry Out Cafe, Anthony Triglione-Vista Construction, Andrew M. Sidford Architects, Amesbury Skate and Sport, Rosetta Group, Focus Publishing, Richard & Wanda Foskett.

Due to the commitment of our members, the NEBC begins its 18th year of incorporation stronger than ever financially and more involved in the business and education communities than at any time in its history. Please help us continue to grow and provide the resources to help our children succeed in the global marketplace. For more information and to learn how to become a member, please visit our Web site at www.the-nebc.org/join.

ROBERT MILLER, KEITH GIBBONS, KIM ROCK, JENNY DeWILDE

NEBC Membership Committee