NBC's Andrea Mitchell, Alvin and Gwen Clayton, Millie Radonjic and Deirdre Polow to be honored by New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence at Annual Gala November 13, 2014

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence announced today that NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Host, MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports" and an alumna of the New Rochelle High School Class of 1963 would receive the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award at the Fund's Annual Gala November 13 at the Fountainhead in New Rochelle.

Alvin and Gwen Clayton, long-time New Rochelle residents and owners of the very successful Alvin & Friends restaurant, will receive the Community Enterprise Award. The Claytons are widely recognized for their efforts to foster a sense of community, building bridges among diverse members of the community.

Millie Radonjic, who has galvanized the Barnard School community and beyond to create Amy's Greenhouse, a treasured community asset named in memory of Amy O'Doherty who died on 9/11, will receive the Kohlberg Citizenship Award. Amy was the 23 year-old daughter of Geraldine Davie, a former teacher at Barnard School.

Deirdre Polow, who recently retired from the New Rochelle Board of Education after 25 years of service, and who is a founding and current member of the New Rochelle for Educational Excellence Board, will receive the Foundation Award.

"I am thrilled to be honored by the Fund. It is doing important work to enrich the lives of the public school students in New Rochelle," said Mitchell. "I have always believed that my experience growing up in New Rochelle, with its great diversity and schools, paved the way for me in a world that is always evolving."

"We are excited to honor these exceptional members of our community," said Fund Co-Chair Meredith Adler Hilton. "They are tremendous role models for our students."

"The Gala is our main fund-raising event of the year," said Steve Silverman, Fund Co-Chair. "The money raised goes toward educational enrichment for students in all of New Rochelle's public schools."

"We focus on leveling the playing field for college access and providing exciting enrichment programming for New Rochelle's students," said Executive Director Susan Weisman.

The NR Fund has provided enrichment programming to thousands of New Rochelle students over the last 16 years. It makes possible Chess and Poetry Out Loud in the elementary schools, SAT preparation classes to NRHS students, Civics Week programming, and a performance of the students of the New Rochelle High School music programs at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center every four years.

"We are very grateful to the NR Fund for its efforts," said Reggie Richardson, the principal of NRHS. "Next June 3, our students will perform at Carnegie Hall, one of the iconic music venues in the world. It's a once in a lifetime experience, made possible by the NR Fund."

For information and to purchase a Gala ticket or a journal ad, please go to www.nredfund.org. Follow us on Twitter @nredfund or Like nredfund on Facebook.

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SOURCE New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence

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