MASFAA 2026 Conference Charity
MASFAA is pleased to announce this year’s conference charity will be in honor of Allene Curto, who was a long-time financial aid administrator at Springfield College and strong supporter of MASFAA. The funds we raise at this year’s conference will go to an organization that was near and dear to Allene’s heart, Springfield School Volunteers (SSV). Allene was a longtime volunteer and board member at SSV.
MASFAA is also proud to announce The Allene Curto Annual MASFAA Conference Award which will provide free full registration and hotel room (up to 2 nights) for one MASFAA member who would not otherwise be able to attend the conference each year.
Ways You Can Help:
Please bring cash to the conference so you can support this charity by purchasing 50/50 raffle tickets at the conference!
Donate items to go into our raffle baskets using this link: Donate Raffle Items Here, and bring your items to the conference.
Information about Allene’s involvement with SSV:
Allene’s involvement with SSV spanned nearly three decades, from the late 1980s through the 2014–2015 school year. During that time, she brought steady leadership as a member of their board of directors, showing deep care for students, and a belief in the power of community connection. Her commitment to young people extended far beyond the organization—through her work on the Springfield School Committee, her role at Springfield College supporting students in the financial aid office, and her broader advocacy for education throughout the city.
Information About SSV:
Springfield School Volunteers (SSV) is a nonprofit organization whose history can be traced back to 1958 when Evelyn Benedetti recognized a need and responded by volunteering to assist in the library at one of the elementary schools in Springfield, MA. It was that spirit and a similar need that started the organization now known as SSV.
With community support and a strong partnership with the Springfield Public Schools, SSV’s services have continued to expand through the years to meet the needs of the district. For more than five decades, SSV has connected caring community members with students, building meaningful relationships that help students learn, grow, and succeed.
We believe that educational opportunity is about more than access. It is also about having someone who believes in you, sees your potential, and is willing to invest time in helping you reach it. Through our School-Based Mentoring, Read Aloud, and Academic Support programs SSV provides opportunities for students to build skills, develop confidence, and connect with caring adults who encourage them along the way. SSV partners with schools to identify needs and then recruits, screens, prepares, and supports volunteers to help ensure we are having the intended impact.
SSV is honored to have been chosen as the conference charity the year in honor of a dear friend to both MASFAA and SSV – Allene Begley-Curto. With this gift they hope to carry her legacy forward as they continue creating the relationships and opportunities that help Springfield students thrive—one student, one volunteer, and one connection at a time.
