Board of Directors

Nicholas Ascienzo, Founder

Nick’s career as a public school educator in Red Hook over four decades continues to shape his work and vision with the foundation - learning is ongoing - as the partnerships created and sustained are vital to community vibrancy and improvement. His outreach to those organizations effecting change marks the foundation’s commitment to listening and reacting - becoming educated - to the needs in the RH Community and surrounding region. Likewise, an ambassador corps of over 50 former RH High School graduates motivates Nick to maintain connection to further the foundation’s mission in other locales. He is also thankful for those within AFF’s circle of leadership. “We are fortunate to have a caring, proactive board of directors lending insight and guidance in now our 9th year.

Nick’s lives in Lake Katrine, enjoying all that the Hudson Valley has to offer from its rich history to its outdoor activities.

Ali Fraenkel (RHHS ‘11)- Founding Director 

Ali recognizes that it has taken the full cooperation and interplay of her studies in philanthropic innovations, work in social entrepreneurship, personal civic engagement, and daily expression as a changemaker to make her participation in the Foundation’s creation possible. 

More specifically, Ali’s journey in grantmaking started in 2012 as a student in a year-long experiential philanthropy course at Northeastern University and then continued as a 4-year exploration into the shifts and innovations in philanthropy, that when done in a different way, could be more democratic and accessible for any human to partake in and benefit from. This led Ali to a number of transformative experiences including creating the first-ever massive open online course around effective charitable giving with thousands of participants around the world, working for Doris Buffett’s Learning by Giving Foundation to ensure more young people had access to understanding the intricacies and experiences of the grantmaking process, and serving on the youth board of Positive Tracks to accelerate “philanthletic” pathways for young changemakers to give back through community-building, movement-inspired philanthropy. Community, advocacy, innovative practices, and a visionary spirit are at the center of everything Ali loves being involved with.

Today you can find Ali residing in the Hudson Valley area and in Kosovo with her family-in-law. In many expressions, Ali is a creator who is committed to her role as a member and co-leader of various communities spanning changemaking, social innovation in higher education, spirituality, youth leadership, and collective well-being. She works as a facilitator of transformative leadership pathways for Ashoka U’s community of higher education innovators, as a community consultant for several personal projects, and as a budding abstract watercolor artist. Each day is an opportunity for Ali to commit to the practices that bring her work, her creativity, and her spirit to life.

Sophie Laing (RHHS ‘12)- Founding Director

At the community level is where so many important decisions, change, and support happens. Sophie is grateful to be part of the Foundation and always looks forward to working as part of the AFF to help foster stronger bonds of support and connectivity within our communities. One of her favorite parts of being on the Foundation’s Board is getting the opportunity to connect or reconnect with fellow RHHS graduates who are now spread out over the country (and the globe!) doing amazing work.

Sophie is a legal services attorney in Portland, Maine, working on student loan issues and auto fraud cases.

Brittany Mosher (RHHS ‘05)- Director, Former AFF Ambassador

Brittany is second-generation Red Hook native whose father was also taught by Mr. A. She grew up on a family farm, unearthing a passion for nature, food, and animals that continues to fuel her today. 

Brittany served as an inaugural Ascienzo Family Foundation Ambassador, and advocated on behalf of an animal therapy organization she worked with in Colorado. Brittany joined the Foundation as a Director in 2018 and continues to be inspired by the initiatives that she gets to be a part of through AFF.

Brittany now lives in Burlington, Vermont and is an Assistant Professor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont. She spends her work days thinking creatively about connecting science with young people and on developing innovative conservation solutions.

Fran Thompson (RHHS ‘76)- Director

Fran has had a long history with the Red Hook community, not only as a graduate of Red Hook, but also as a teacher at both the Middle School and the High School. She retired from teaching German and French after 25 years and learned as much from her students as she taught them. She had been involved in many aspects of the district; from building level teams and department chair to taking part in spirit days and cheering on students from the sidelines of their diverse activities. Inspiring her students to become independent thinkers and confident students was always a driving force in her teaching. By working with the Foundation, she hopes to be able to provide the residents of Red Hook as many opportunities as she has been given. She is impressed with the work that the ambassadors do and the level of volunteerism that they exhibit, not only at home, but wherever their life journey has taken them.     

Fran currently lives in Kingston, New York and is the proud mother of three children and five grandchildren, who make her smile everyday. Watching her family grow is a constant reminder of the time, energy and support everyone needs to be safe and healthy. 

Jen Melitski- Director

Jen is a teacher at Linden Avenue Middle School where she teaches Technology Education. She is a club advisor for the  LAMS morning news, and a coach/advisor for the LAMS FIRST Lego League robotics team. Additionally, she is the assistant coach for the Red Hook High School boys varsity swim team. She loves teaching and is always focused on student engagement to enhance the joys of learning and tapping into the natural curiosity of her students to solve problems and think critically. Prior to teaching, Jen worked with people with disabilities in physical medicine and rehabilitation by providing therapeutic recreation services, and also worked as a community educator for a senior health and wellness program to provide education and resources for seniors in her community. She has been an advocate for people with disabilities and those who face other challenges for most of her life. 

Jen holds graduate degrees in both Education and in Public Administration. She comes to the Ascienzo Family Foundation with experience serving on a variety of nonprofit boards in the Hudson Valley. She believes in the mission and vision of the AFF and will work on the foundation’s board to further the mission as a connection to the Red Hook school community to provide educational resources to the underserved and ensure resources and food security for people in our community.

Jen loves the Red Hook community and has lived in Red Hook since 2003 when she relocated with her family to the Hudson Valley for her husband to join the faculty at Marist College. They have two sons who graduated from Red Hook High School in 2021 & 2023 and who are now continuing their studies at Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Sue Kaiser- Director

Sue was born and raised in Queens, where she began her career in education. After 13 years of teaching high school English there, and with two Masters degrees (one in Literature and one in Secondary Education) she and her husband Dave relocated to the Hudson Valley to start a family. Sue was lucky enough to land a teaching position at Linden Avenue Middle School, where she taught English for 21 years. Not only an advocate for students, she was also a voice for faculty through her service as a union rep.

Both of Sue’s children graduated from Red Hook School district, and through them Sue became enmeshed in the culture and community of Red Hook. Through years of soccer and swim team, dance and horseback riding, theater and Hardscrabble days, Red Hook became her extended family. Sue is excited to continue and deepen her connection to the people of Red Hook through her work with the AFF. She’s received so much from Red Hook and is ready to pay it forward.

Deb Fraleigh- Director

Deb is a teacher with Red Hook Central School District and just finished her 26th year of teaching. She’s taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades - she likes to keep things changing! Her first encounter with AFF was as a garden coordinator at Mill Road Elementary School, where AFF has provided grants to their garden program and backpack program to provide supplies for kids in need in her classrooms. In her free time, she likes reading, watercoloring, photography, gardening, traveling, and hanging out with her dog. Fun fact, she is one of seven children. One of her favorite quotes is Eleanor Roosevelt’s statement on universal human rights: “Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” She looks forward to helping others in her work here!