Debra De Jesus-Vizzi, MSW, LCSW

Executive Director and SSP Alumna

Debra joined Student Sponsor Partners as Executive Director in March 2018. She has a personal connection to the organization: Debra attended Cathedral High School as one of the first students to receive a scholarship from Founder Peter Flanigan. Debra has since dedicated her life and work to helping those in need. Prior to joining Student Sponsor Partners, she was President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization in the state. Debra is a thought leader on the topics of child welfare, education, and poverty. She received the 2015 New Jersey Humanitarian Award from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Monmouth County) and a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the State University College at Buffalo, and she was a finalist for the 2015 Smart CEO: Deals of Distinction Award. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and received her Master of Social Work from Rutgers University and her bachelor’s degree from the State University College at Buffalo. She is completing her doctoral studies in Social Work at the University of Southern California.

Board of Directors

Chairman’s Council

The Chairman’s Council is comprised of Student Sponsor Partners’ greatest supporters and advocates who are leaders in their industries.

Flanigan Society

The Flanigan Society, named for Student Sponsor Partners’ late founder Peter Flanigan, honors and recognizes organizations and individuals who have donated more than $1 million over the course of our history.

Peter Flanigan’s Children

Kimberley and William D. Anderson, Jr.

Carson Family Charitable Trust

Lisa and Richard Cashin

The Clark Foundation

Dee and Kevin Conway

Credit Suisse Americas Foundation

Credit Suisse Fixed Income Division

Diocese of Brooklyn

David J. and Marilyn B. Dunn

Susan and Jimmy Dunne

Peter M. Flanigan

Futures in Education

Goldman Sachs & Co.

Amy and James Healy

The Heckscher Foundation for Children

Inner-City Scholarship Fund

William Janetschek

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Colm Kelleher

Kovner Foundation

Katherine and Peter Lyon

Morgan Stanley

Chris and Lori Niehaus

Kate and Robert Niehaus

Amelia and Adebayo Ogunlesi

The Partnership for Inner-City Education

Valerie and Jack Rowe

Peter Jay Sharp Foundation

William E. Simon Foundation

John Stossel

Tiger Foundation

Conway Scholars

In 2019, Dee and Kevin Conway established the Conway Scholars Fund to support student scholarships for years to come.

“We have a deep belief in the power of education, not only due to the obvious lifelong impact an individual will experience, but also due to the positive effects education can have on society as a whole. Student Sponsor Partners offers the most under-served students and families in New York City a chance that can change the trajectory of their lives by providing scholarships and mentorship to students who might otherwise face insurmountable hurdles to their academic success. The results for SSP students are measurable and dramatic, and the rewards for the sponsors and mentors can be very meaningful. We have been supporters of SSP for over 30 years and are thrilled to see our children involved as sponsors and mentors. This year we were fortunate to be able to help SSP by creating a scholarship fund to ensure that even more students can benefit from the incredible SSP opportunity.”

– Dee and Kevin Conway