Mary Ann Esposito Fund
Food and culture have defined the Italian American experience. For generations, Italian American families have gathered at the dinner table, sharing traditions and values passed down by parents and grandparents.
The Mary Ann Esposito Fund was established for the purpose of preserving authentic Italian and Italian American experiences by providing culinary and cultural information for aspiring chefs and educational resources for students studying gastronomy in an accredited culinary program and by focusing awareness on the cultural contributions and impact of Italian regional foods worldwide.
The Mary Ann Esposito Fund is a donor-advised fund at New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, a 501-(c)(3) organization ensuring fiduciary excellence and legal compliance. Gifts of cash, stock, real estate, and hard-to-value assets are handled by New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s expert staff. All donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. New Hampshire Charitable Foundation will provide an acknowledgment and tax receipt for any contribution of $250 or more.
Checks for the Fund should be made out to NH Charitable Foundation and addressed to:
NH Charitable Foundation
Attn: Mary Ann Esposito Fund
37 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301-4005
Credit card donations can be made at https://give.nhcf.org/maryannespositofund
Learn more about recent fund recipients:
Leah Schneyer-VanZile has made an incredible impact on the Minuteman community through her leadership, compassion, and dedication to service. As a Culinary Arts student and the 2025–26 SkillsUSA Massachusetts State President, Leah has represented both her shop and her school with professionalism, confidence, and genuine care for others. Whether serving as a chapter officer, mentoring younger students, or leading on the state level, she consistently brings people together and creates a sense of community wherever she goes.
What stood out to our scholarship committee was not just Leah’s long list of accomplishments, but the way she spoke about the people around her. In her scholarship application, she reflected on campaigning for SkillsUSA State Office during her sophomore year and described feeling “incredibly grateful” for the support of her peers and the Minuteman community. She wrote about standing on stage in front of thousands of people and realizing she was surrounded by people who would support her no matter what. That sense of appreciation, humility, and connection to others comes through in everything Leah does.
Alongside her leadership roles, Leah has completed more than 350 hours of community service, maintained High Honors, and balanced work experiences in both education and the culinary field. She is thoughtful, driven, and deeply community-oriented, and our scholarship committee was proud to select her as a recipient of the Boston Dame Mary Ann Esposito Scholarship.
Boston University gastronomy students who received scholarships.