Swampscott schools receive $50G donation

SWAMPSCOTT – The school district has received a donation of $50,000 from the Gelfand Charitable foundation, a philanthropic effort by Marblehead resident Mark Gelfand.Gelfand, 57, founded Index Solutions, a software company, in 1985, and his foundation donates money to 75 different programs each year to fund Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) based science programs and activities.Gelfand said he grew up near Cleveland, Ohio where he worked in welding and steel factories when he was younger.”I love making things,” he said. “I was always a science geek. Growing up I built my own electronics lab out of old television sets people threw away.”Gelfand is passionate about engineering and science, which is something he wants to share with children.”I’m passionate about getting kids engaged in science at an early age,” he said. “I tried to help a number of school systems. I’m just starting this up and I have a lot of projects going on. I just try to do my tiny little part.”Gelfand attended Carnegie-Mellon University, where he earned a B.S. in Physics in 1973. After graduation, he worked at the National Bureau of Economic Research as a computer programmer and in 1979 he co-founded Integrated Planning, Inc., which produced software that combined econometrics and marketing analysis. In 1985 he co-founded Needham-based Intex Solutions, Inc., which is a leading supplier of analytical solutions for the structured finance markets.”I’ve had some really wonderful experiences,” he said. “And I’ve been very lucky in my business as a direct result of being involved in the sciences and engineering. I get paid back plenty by watching kids get involved in STEM. It gives me a great feeling of pleasure.”Gelfand does much more than donations to school districts, however. He has engaged students at KIPP Academy in Lynn in hands on science and engineering projects and he recently returned from Ethiopia, where he was promoting STEM.Superintendent Matthew Malone said the donation would be funneled into the STEM program in the middle school.”The Swampscott Public Schools is honored and grateful to be the recipient of a $50,000 donation from Mr. Mark Gelfand,” he said. “Mr. Gelfand is a successful businessman who attributes his success directly to his childhood STEM interest. His passion today is evidenced through his charitable foundation, which enriches today’s students with the exciting world of STEM possibilities. We are very excited about using his generous gift to enhance the STEM program specifically at Swampscott Middle School by creating real world, hands-on, interdisciplinary activities that engage student learners.”Malone pointed out Gelfand has ties to Swampscott.”Town Moderator Martin Goldman is grandfather to his stepsons,” he said. “I am particularly thankful for the due diligence of Goldman and (School Committee member) Neil Bernstein for introducing Mr. Gelfand to our school system. The Swampscott school community is very thankful for Mr. Gelfand’s generous gift.”Gelfand also recently made $50,000 donations to the Lynn, Salem and Peabody public schools.