The Corning Rotary Club is pleased to announce its newest Paul Harris Fellow, Sam Sanfratello.
Rotarians designate a Paul Harris Fellow to recognize a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of the Rotary Foundation, to build world understanding and peace. Mr. Sanfratello earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from RIT and a Master’s in Education and Educational Administration from SUNY Brockport.
He began his career teaching at the Wheatland-Chili Central School near Rochester, NY, where he also served as a cross-country running coach for 10 years. During this time, he served on the Board and as President of the Employees Federal Credit Union. In addition, he started an adult education program and taught part-time at the Educational Opportunity Center in Rochester for eight years.
From 1983 to 1987, Mr. Sanfratello served as Assistant Superintendent for Business of the Sidney Central School District. During this time, he served on the Board of Directors of the United Way and as the United Way Campaign Chair while founding and serving on the Board of Dollars for Scholars and being a Boy Scout Leader. He also belonged to the Sidney Rotary Club, where Sam and his wife Audrey hosted a Rotary-sponsored foreign exchange student and he served as Chairman of the Annual Chicken Barbeque. He also served as President of the local chapter of the New York State School Business Officials and on the Board of Directors of the Bainbridge Canoe Race.
Moving to our area in 1987, Mr. Sanfratello worked his way up in the Corning-Painted Post School District from Assistant Superintendent for Business to Deputy Superintendent for Administrative Services. During this time, he served on the Board of Directors for the New York State Workman’s Compensation and School Safety Group, the New York State Association of School Business Officials, and was President of the Southern Tier Association of School Business Officials. He was awarded the highest certificate given to school business officials for his service. He also served on the Board of Directors and as Executive Director of the William Glasser Choice Community Project for eight years, working with jail inmates, area schools, and the community helping people make better choices. He was also a faculty member at the Glasser Institute.
Mr. Sanfratello served on several Boards, including Corning-Painted Post Education Foundation, the Committee for BOCES Merger, and Spencer Crest Nature Center. He also taught taxidermy through Corning Community College’s Continuing Education program, school finance to aspiring superintendents and school board members, and was named to Who’s Who of Professionals. He served 15 years with the Glen Region Corvette Club, which held events to benefit local charities such as Meals on Wheels, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, and the Salvation Army, to name a few. He retired in 2007.
Among his service to the Corning Rotary Club, Mr. Sanfratello served on the International Committee for 10 years, including one year as International Committee Chair. He also chaired the Foreign Exchange Committee and the Teacher of the Month Committee. He Co-Chaired the Watkins Glen Event Committee, and served on the Denison Park Gazebo Committee and on the Education Committee. He also volunteered for Salvation Army bell ringing, Camp STAR, and the LPGA Tournament.
Mr. Sanfratello was born in Batavia, NY. He and his wife Audrey live in Painted Post and have been married for 46 years. They have two sons, Michael and Samuel, and were foster parents for four years.
About the Paul Harris Fellowship
The Paul Harris Fellowship was named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905. The Fellowship was established in his honor in 1957 in appreciation for contributions to the humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation. Those programs include an array of projects that save and invigorate the lives of people around the world and enhance international friendship and understanding. Anyone who contributes – or in whose name is contributed – a gift of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Rotary Foundation Fund may become a Paul Harris Fellow. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, and a medallion.