MSS Receives Gift for Technology Initiatives

Hoboken Resident Awarded Graham & Dodd, Murray, Greenwald Prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Value Investing, Donates $50,000 Prize to Mustard Seed School for Technology Initiative

July 27, 2011, Hoboken, NJ—In May, 2011, Hoboken resident Erin Bellissimo received the Graham & Dodd, Murray, Greenwald Prize, known as the “Gabelli Prize” for outstanding contribution to the field of value investing. When Bellissimo received the $50,000 prize, she decided to pay it forward.  Bellissimo is giving the money to Mustard Seed School to kick-off a technology initiative. 

“This gift will create new opportunities for the school to prepare students to be digital citizens and use technology to delve deeper into their studies. We plan to use the gift to purchase two MacBook (laptop) Learning Labs, up-to-date software, and implement other cutting edge technologies in the classroom.  This gift accelerates the technology aspect of the school’s strategic plan.  I’m grateful that Erin is using the prize money to invest in our students,” said Thomas Postema, Mustard Seed’s Head of School.

“My work with students at Columbia University has come full circle to help the students of Mustard Seed School.  I hope this gift will inspire others to support education,” remarked Bellissimo, a parent who serves on the school’s Board of Trustees.

Recently, Bellissimo co-founded Linden Global Strategies, a wealth management consulting firm.  She was formerly the Director of the Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing at Columbia where she developed the value investing curriculum for the Business School Program as well as other initiatives. Ms. Bellissimo completed her undergraduate studies at Bucknell University with a BS in Management and holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.