About Us
Overview of the Serve & Succeed Charitable Foundation
The Serve & Succeed Charitable Foundation is dedicated to empowering students and veterans by providing educational opportunities, financial support, and career advancement resources. Our mission is to create a direct, positive impact by ensuring that those who have served their country and those striving to build a brighter future have access to the resources they need to succeed.
Our Story: Over 30 Years of Giving Back
Our story begins way back in 1995. The current Board Executive Committee members all worked at Red River, a firm focused on delivering technology solutions to government clients and enterprise commercial accounts. From the very beginning, the company had a philanthropic heart at its center. Leadership and employees worked together to determine corporate charitable donations, as well as organizing food, clothing, heating, and holiday gift drives.
Red River created programs that financially supported organizations that employees gave their time, talents, and money to. As the company grew, so did our desire and our ability to get more involved with philanthropic endeavors. We began to extend our partnerships geographically and to search for major initiatives to get behind and drive significant positive impact for.
Our first major event was in 2007. We held our inaugural golf tournament fundraiser at Lake Sunapee Country Club, NH. The event raised proceeds to sponsor a child from Make-A-Wish of New Hampshire, and she was granted her wish of visiting Cinderella’s Castle at Disney.
The event was such a great success with employees, business partners, and community members, that we wanted to do even more to give back. We decided to narrow in on our giving focus and support causes that were most important to employees. We chose Students and Veterans and in 2008 created our own 501(c)(3) public nonprofit and named it the Red River Charitable Foundation.
Our history is a long one as you can see from the list of our major past initiatives below. We are extremely proud of the positive impacts and relationships we have fostered in the last 30 years. Our longstanding scholarships, sponsorships, and donations, as well as full days of service with hundreds of employees and partners at various locations around the country are a testament to our unwavering commitment and willingness to roll up our sleeves and do good for others.
The foundation is now evolving into a new chapter with a new name, the
Serve & Succeed Charitable Foundation. We are more committed than ever to continue the mission of supporting veterans that have
served and empowering students to
succeed.
A Legacy of Service & Success
Since our founding, the Serve & Succeed Charitable Foundation has:
Provided life-changing scholarships
to students pursuing careers in STEM.
Supported veterans in their transition by offering financial aid, career mentorship, and emergency assistance.
Expanded our outreach to include initiatives in mental health support, service animal programs, and educational advocacy.
Our journey continues, but our mission remains the same: **to honor service, empower success
Past Initiatives Include:
Women in Technology Scholarship in Honor of Marcy Levesque
Women in Technology Mentorship Program
Girls in Technology Programs
Montshire Museum Military Family Discount Program
Sponsored SLED Hockey Clinics for NH and VT veterans
STEM Scholarship at Carnegie Mellon University
Think SMART program for middle and high school students – hands on summer learning about coding, networking, cloud, and programming with a special financial session presented by Claremont Savings Bank
Cybersecurity scholarship program at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
Award and creation of three STEM Labs for New England area schools in collaboration with the Boston Bruins Foundation
Sponsorship of multiple veterans and caregivers to attend the VA’s Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, CO and the New England Winter Sports Clinic
Organized multiple impactful large scale community service events throughout the country
Countless food, clothing, toiletry, and heating assistance drives
Revamped the Veterans Center at Manchester NH Community College in partnership with FSRP (Financial Strategies Retirement Partners)
Financial and mentoring support for the Rogue Robots of 4-H, as well as many other area Lego and Robotics teams
Expanding Educational Access
Empowering Futures Through Education
At Serve & Succeed Charitable Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of education. Our initiatives are designed to support students and veterans alike, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We offer $5,000 STEM Scholarships for high school seniors in New Hampshire and Vermont who show passion, resilience, and financial need.
For our veterans, we understand the unique challenges faced during the transition to civilian life. That's why we partner with expert organizations to offer financial aid and emergency assistance for veterans in need. We also provide career guidance and employment resources to help them leverage their skills in the workforce. Our commitment extends to supporting mental health and well-being, ensuring that veterans have access to the care and community they deserve.
Join us in our mission to expand educational access and empower individuals to achieve their dreams. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of students and veterans, fostering a brighter future for all.
S&SCF has awarded numerous scholarships to area students since 2007.
Students must have demonstrated qualities of good citizenship and character and must submit a separate essay on a given topic surrounding technology. We rate each submission by the creativity and overall quality of the essay, extent of the student’s financial need, their involvement with extracurricular activities, and whether their grades reflect they are a conscientious student. For more information please contact kim.vacca4895@gmail.com.
2026 Jeff Sessions Student Scholarship Recipients
Lebanon High School
Danielle Martin
Northeastern University
Nursing
Peyton Rutherford
Rutgers, New Brunswick
Biology
Fall Mountain Regional High School
Cerys Gascoyne
Colorado School of Mines
Environmental Engineering
Lennon Doescher
Quinnipiac University
Physical Therapy
Benjamin Weightman
Brown University
Economics/Finance
Pelham High School (2023)
Corinne Kelly
Regis College
Dental Hygiene
2025 Jeff Sessions Student Scholarship Recipients
Lebanon High School
Drew Kantor
Purdue University
Biomedical Health Sciences
Jenney Lutz
University of Maine, Farmington
Biology or Allied Health
Stevens High School
Evangelina Jordan
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Nursing
Connor Miller
University of New England
Medical Biology - Dental Track
Fall Mountain Regional High School
Ashlynn Smith
SUNY Cobleskill
Animal Science in Technology
Total Veteran Funds Given:
$965K
Total Student Funds Given:
$1.2 million
Deadline for Submission:
Friday, April 12, 2024
Sentiments from Scholarship Recipients
“I am so unbelievably thankful to have been chosen to receive this scholarship! I appreciate all the work that was put in to review and assess applications.”
CERYS, 2026
“I want to thank the committee, the donors, and anyone involved whose kindness and support granted me this award. Know that I am very appreciative of this recognition, and receive it with warmth and gratitude.”
LENNON, 2026
“Thank you so much for the gift toward my college education. You have no idea how much it means to me. It really makes a difference, helping me do something I never thought I would be able to afford to do. I am forever grateful.”
Jenney, 2025
“Thank you so much for such a generous scholarship. It is an honor to be awarded the Jeff Sessions Student Scholarship. It will help me obtain my goals for my future and is greatly appreciated.”
Connor, 2025
“I would like to wholeheartedly thank you for your charitable donation to both me and my future. I am very excited to see what lies ahead, and your kindness will go a long way in helping me realize my potential.”
David, 2024
“Thank you so much for the VERY generous donation and gift towards my college fund. It really means a lot to me. It helps me so much, and this with the other scholarships I’ve received will pay for a full year of SNHU online! You have made college possible for me!”
Sydney, 2022
“I would like to thank you for supporting me as I further my education at the University of New Hampshire. It was an honor receiving the scholarship, laptop, printer and the dinner was a wonderful event, which showed my family and me the wonderful services you provide for our community.”
Amelia, 2022
“I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity regarding the scholarship. I am so honored and appreciative of having been chosen. Your generous contribution will help me and my family immensely.”
Tess, 2020
Student Spotlight
CORINNE KELLY
What college are you headed to and what are you majoring in?
In the fall, I will be starting my senior year at Regis College. I will be completing my bachelor's degree in dental hygiene.
What do you plan to do with your degree?
For now, the plan is to earn my bachelor's degree and practice as a pediatric dental hygienist using my free time to educate students on the importance of oral hygiene. I also hope to work with low-income/unhoused veterans at Operation Stand Down or through clinic work. Ultimately, I hope to become one of the first dental health therapists (similar to a physician's assistant but for dentistry) to work in under-served communities.
What was your favorite class in college?
Local anesthesia was actually my favorite course in college. I loved the lab except for the day my partner's needle slipped and she gave me a hematoma. Of course, I was volunteering later that afternoon. I looked like I had been in a fight, as my cheek was swollen and black and blue. However, when it was my turn and after the first few stressful injections, the feeling of placing a needle correctly and knowing I could do it with minimal pain to my patient was extremely rewarding.
Who has been a favorite role model to you and why?
Deborah and Ted Luszey of Operation Care for Troops are my role models. Since the age of 11, I've followed Deb and Ted around at every packing event. They've patiently taught me how to lead teams, pack care packages with precision, and do every job at our packing events. My favorite job is still rolling socks! Their unwavering commitment to advocating for our military has taught me what service before self looks like. They inspire me to continue serving, and I hope to continue their mission with the same passion in the future.
CERYS GASCOYNE
What college are you headed to and what are you majoring in?
I am headed to Colorado School of Mines to study Environmental Engineering.
What do you plan to do with your degree?
I plan to work as an Environmental Engineer with a focus on clean wind and solar energy.
Name your favorite subject or activity in high school.
My favorite subjects in high school were calculus and biology.
Who has been a favorite role model to you and why.
My favorite role model has been Jessie Diggins, the most decorated cross-country skier in American History. She carries this title in my mind because she used her success to make a positive impact on others. She has spoken about her struggles, helping to break the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging people to seek support when they need it. She is also an advocate for protecting the environment, using her platform to raise awareness about issues that affect both athletes and communities; one of the reasons why I want to become an environmental engineer. Her resilience, compassion, and commitment to making a difference inspire me to be confident, care for others, and use my own voice to create positive change.
LENNON DOESCHER
I am a recent Fall Mountain graduate of the class 26’ who was able to receive the generous scholarship you provide. Back in June I received the Jeff Sessions Student Scholarship. Firstly I want to thank the committee, the donors, and anyone involved whose kindness and support granted me this award. Know that I am very appreciative of this recognition, and receive it with warmth and gratitude.
I am continuing my education into Quinnipiac University in the hopes of eventually practicing Physical Therapy. I want to assure that your kindness and generosity with help me achieve that goal, and for that I will make extra efforts to ensure success is driven from this kindness.
Thank you again, for all that you have done for me. I hope to maintain contact with the committee as my education persists.
We believe collaboration amplifies our efforts and exponentially expands our impact. Our partners are supporters, ambassadors, friends, beneficiaries, leaders: they are an inspiration for the kind of giving and dedication we work toward every day.
Community Partners
Operation Hat Trick
OHT generates awareness, support, and funding for the recovery of America’s wounded warriors through the sale of OHT branded merchandise, proceeds of which are distributed to selected organizations that provide direct services to our wounded warriors.
Friends of Veterans
S&SCF has partnered with Friends of Veterans since 2013 to assist them in funding service dogs for veterans with PTSD and/or TBI and preventing homelessness among area veterans living in New Hampshire and Vermont.