The Grishkot Foundation, established in 2009, is a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization established to provide college scholarships for residents of Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties.
The Walter Grishkot Scholarship assists students studying aviation, aeronautics and related fields.
The Joan Grishkot Scholarship assists students studying nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and related health care fields.
The foundation based in Glens Falls, is funded from a bequest by the late Joan Grishkot, and from private donations.
A volunteer board manages the foundation’s investments and operates scholarship programs in collaboration with the Glens Falls Kiwanis Club Foundation.
Maury Thompson, president of the Grishkot Foundation board, is a free lance writer, documentary film producer and lecturer who specializes in regional history and contemporary politics.
Thompson was a government, politics and business writer for The Post-Star of Glens Falls for 21 years before retiring in 2017.
He continues to regularly write freelance for The Post-Star, as well as The Lake George Mirror and Hill Country Observer newspapers, The New York Almanack blog, and the Behan Communications Facing Out online publication.
Thompson wrote the book “The Biggest Kid at the Balloon Festival: The Walter Grishkot Story,” published in 2011, and has written or contributed to several other books about regional history.
In addition to volunteering with The Grishkot Foundation, Thompson, of Ticonderoga, is secretary of the Adirondack Torch Club, a life-long learning organization, and previously has volunteered as a member of the Glens Falls Local Development Corp. and Glens Falls Industrial Agency boards, and as a member of the Stewardship and Staff/Parish Relations committees of Christ Church United Methodist in Glens Falls.
Thompson graduated from Middlebury College in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in English.
Scott McLaughlin was born in Warren County, graduating from Lake George and jumping right into the trades. He started his career with New York Telephone, then went to work for Warren County where he has been for over 34 years now. He started out with the Department of Public Works, but his strong IT and telecommunications background kept him in demand for the IT department where he has utilized his Master Certifications in Fiber Optics and Electronics. From Building Supervisor to IT Analytics, he has been able to utilize his many skill sets across the board.
Scott is a family man, coming from a large close knit family himself and he loves to travel, hike and boat when he’s not working on someone’s car or repairing their home. He was like a son to Walt and Joan and vowed to help carry on their legacy of giving back to the community and help the next generation of aviation and medical personnel.
Barbara Schrader brings her experience in marketing and communications to The Grishkot Foundation with over 40 years in sales and marketing, training, management and communications.
With a degree from SUNY Cortland, she started with the Xerox Corporation, was the first person hired to sell car telephones for Cellular One back in 1984, went on to work with then start up, AOL, followed by Verizon and eSchool News, an education technology media company. She has been in media and publishing ever since.
She is now the founder and owner of Positive Media Associates, LLC. and the publisher of three local magazines as well as the Market Manager for the capital region for Best Version Media.
Previously on the Zonta Foundation Board of Directors, she is now serving on the board of the Loudonville Business Association as well as the Grishkot Foundation and is active in the community, participating in three Chambers of Commerce and volunteering with the Adirondack Balloon Festival, the Glens Falls Collaborative and the Victory Garden.
Captain David Little, US Navy (retired) is a native of Glens Falls, NY. He was commissioned in June 1991 upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy and was designated a Naval Aviator in June 1995. During his 27 years in the US Navy, he flew the F/A-18A-F, EA-18G, T-34C, T-2C, and TA-4J. He deployed seven times, accumulated over 4,000 flight hours and 962 aircraft carrier landings. He flew over 350 combat hours in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE. Among his many Navy operational tours, he was the Commanding Officer of the DIAMONDBACKS of Strike Fighter Squadron 102 located at NAF Atsugi, Japan and Carrier Air Wing SEVEN onboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier home based in Virginia Beach, VA. After retiring from the US Navy in 2017, David began his commercial airline career where he has flown over 2,900 hours on the B-757 with FedEx Express. David is a graduate from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). He has earned a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from the U.S. Defense Intelligence College and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, where he graduated with distinction. His decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Individual Air Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, four Air Medal Strike/Flight Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (one with a Combat Distinguishing Device), and numerous unit and campaign awards. In the local community, David is a member of the Glens Falls Kiwanis Board of Directors, the Warren County Cooperative Extension Board of Directors, the Glens Falls Knights of Columbus Council #194, and the Grishkot Foundation Board of Directors.
D. Lawrence (Larry) Weaver is a retired beverage industry executive with nearly 50 years’ experience, most recently as sales manager of Fitzgerald Brothers Inc. of Glens Falls from 1994 to 2019.
He began work in the industry in 1971, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in business management from SUNY Plattsburgh.
Before college, Weaver graduated St. Mary’s Academy, a private parochial school at Glens Falls.
He and wife Teresa have three children and six grandchildren.
In addition to volunteering on the Grishkot Foundation board, Weaver has volunteered as Columbian Squires president, Glens Falls Kiwanis Club president, Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation president, Glens Falls Civic Center Foundation board member, and Queensbury Little League board member.
In his spare time, Weaver enjoys golfing, kayaking, cycling and spending time with his grandchildren.
A native of Washington D.C. Kerry Schrader attended college at Loyola University in New Orleans receiving a BBA in Accounting with a minor in Economics. Upon graduation he was employed with the local natural gas distribution public utility, The Washington Gas Light Company for 40 years. Twenty-two of those years was in the Internal Audit Department performing financial, operational and oil and gas Joint Interest audits. The remaining eighteen years with Washington Gas was in the company’s underground construction department as a Contract Administrator.
No stranger to the volunteer movement, he served 16 years as a volunteer accounting advisor in his company sponsored Junior Achievement program. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors of the company sponsored Federal Credit Union for close to 40 years growing it from a $22 million Credit Union to over $145 million. While on the Credit Union’s board he held the positions of Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee.
In retirement he has been a volunteer in the local Adirondack Balloon Festival for more than seven years aiding in the maintenance and growth of the festival’s financial support base. He also volunteers his time in the local community Victory Garden which distributes its produce to a local charitable food bank.
Bringing her expertise and experience in nursing and medical supervision to the board, Robin McLaughlin is a dedicated RN and administrator who is passionate about helping more young men and women enter the field.
Growing up in Lake George, she always had a desire to help others and interned with CWI and the special needs community during school. She attended Adirondack Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh for her RN degree and began her career at Saratoga Hospital in the Med Surge, Hospice and Pediatric Center.
From there she came to the Warren County Health Services where she started with the Certified Home Health Agency providing home health care to those in need and then onto the Maternal Child Health Agency providing prenatal programs and lactation consultation as well as educating the new mothers on proper child care. Robin is now the Nursing Supervisor for the county and truly sees the need for more qualified nurses and health care workers in the field.
When not working, Robin is an avid outdoorsman, hiking, boating and climbing, and now a certified 46er working on her Winter 46 and a mom to two great kids and two little dogs!
PO Box 91
Glens Falls, NY 12801
grishkotfoundation@gmail.com
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