Bank Street Celebration 2024

Honorees

Bethlam Forsa
CEO, Savvas Learning Company

Bethlam Forsa is the chief executive officer of Savvas Learning Company, a global next-generation learning solutions provider for K-12 education. A dynamic and visionary leader whose career in education and publishing spans over two decades, Bethlam is committed to the idea that a quality education has the power to shape lives, inspire new ways of thinking, and build better communities. With an innovation mindset and a focus on technology’s potential to personalize teaching and learning experiences, she is a recognized trailblazer and changemaker. Prior to Savvas, Bethlam held leadership positions at two major education publishing companies and the global professional services and consulting firm Accenture. One of a few women at the helm of a major learning-solutions company, Bethlam has guided Savvas to take an industry-leading position with its high-quality instructional materials and tools that engage students and empower teachers across the globe.

Dr. Nancy Rauch Douzinas
Board Chair, The Rauch Foundation

Nancy Douzinas, PhD, became president of the Rauch Foundation in 1990 after a 20-year career as a psychologist and family therapist. Under Nancy’s leadership, the foundation invested in ideas and organizations fostering systemic regional change in early childhood and the environment. From 2004-18, the Rauch Foundation published the Long Island Index, an annual compendium of data and analysis on issues facing the region. The Index helped to catalyze the region’s commitment to a $2.6 billion infrastructure project that expanded capacity and mobility on the Long Island Railroad. Today, Nancy’s two daughters lead the Rauch Foundation, which continues to pursue transformative projects. Nancy remains a prominent advocate for philanthropy’s capacity to raise awareness of regional needs and spark change through cross-sector partnerships and policy discussion. She serves on the boards of Teachers College, Columbia University; the Greentree Foundation; and North Shore Land Alliance. She is working on a book on philanthropy and enjoys spending time with her husband, Kostas, daughters, and five grandchildren.

Elizabeth (Betty) S. Pforzheimer
Former Chair, Bank Street Board of Trustees

Betty Pforzheimer is a lifelong community volunteer and champion for children and education. During her nearly 40 years of service on the Bank Street Board of Trustees, Betty held a number of leadership roles, including serving as chair from 1996 to 2001 and co-chairing “The Campaign for Bank Street,” raising more than $25 million. She serves as a trustee emerita of Blythedale Children’s Hospital and Wellesley College. She currently serves on the board of New Alternatives for Children, a social services agency she helped found. Betty, together with her husband Carl, have created scholarship and fellowship opportunities at Wellesley College, PACE University, and the ACLS that help students in the humanities succeed. Betty is an active volunteer with the Scarsdale Public Library and formerly served with the Westchester Community Foundation and Literacy Volunteers of Westchester County. Betty received her BA from Wellesley College. Betty and Carl have been married for 64 years and have three married children and seven grandchildren.