Board of Trustees
David F. Bolger
The Bolger Foundation was created in 1964 by self-made entrepreneur and longtime philanthropist David F. Bolger, who believed in giving back to his community and the world.
David Fabius Bolger was born on August 12, 1932, in Aliquippa, PA. He and his twin sister were the third and fourth of five children born to Jan Bolger and Jacoba Bunge Bolger. The Dutch couple had emigrated to the USA from The Netherlands in search of a better life.
It was during the Great Depression, and while the family didn’t have much, the Bolger children were taught early on the importance of helping those who were less fortunate. It was a lesson young David took to heart.
David F. Bolger graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954, working his way through college by laboring in the steel mills alongside his equally hardworking father. He then served in the United States Air Force before pursuing a career in real estate and investment banking.
In 1966, he founded Bolger & Co., Inc. Part of his legendary drive to succeed came from his lifelong desire to help others, which he did in spectacular fashion throughout his lifetime. David F. Bolger passed away in December 2018. His legacy continues with The Bolger Foundation.
Board of Trustees
Betsie Bolger
Dorothy Elizabeth Bolger (Mrs. Jon Mott), better known as Betsie, is the eldest child and only daughter of David F. Bolger. While growing up in New Jersey, Betsie spent most of her time on horseback, competing in the U.S. and abroad. She graduated magna cum laude from Lehigh University, then forged dual career paths as a journalist and professional equestrian, training horses and riders to local, state, regional, national, and world championships.
The internet opened up additional entrepreneurial avenues for Betsie and her husband, Jon Mott. They are Top Rated Sellers on eBay; Betsie was Creative Director of eBay Radio for eBay Inc. and now writes for numerous online publications. Betsie also serves on the board of Athletes Equity Resource Center and is putting together her own 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Rescue Them All: The Pookah Fund, which will give micro-grants to small animal rescue organizations nationwide. She and Jon live with several rescue dogs, several of whom compete in agility, and a rescue cat.
John Bolger
The elder son of David F. Bolger, John Greg Bolger grew up in Midland Park and Ridgewood, NJ. During high school and college, John volunteered as an EMT and firefighter in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After graduating from Ursinus College in 1985, he became a full-time paramedic, then served as flight paramedic on a medevac helicopter until retiring in 2022. John continues to be an active volunteer firefighter as Deputy Chief/Chief of Operations for Trappe Fire Company No. 1 in Trappe, PA.
In addition to serving as a trustee of The Bolger Foundation, John co-founded (along with his wife, Megan) Beachview Dreams Foundation, a small nonprofit that grants free beach vacations to people with disabilities and their families. John and Megan have three children — the next generation of Bolger Foundation board members.
JT Bolger
J.T. Bolger is the younger son of David F. Bolger. He grew up in Ridgewood, NJ, and attended Alfred University. Following in his father’s entrepreneurial footsteps, JT started his own business as a pre-teenager, snowplowing neighborhood driveways in winter. After college, he continued to grow and oversee his successful landscape construction and excavating company before joining Bolger & Co., Inc., to learn the family business of commercial real estate.
JT currently serves as president of Bolger & Co. as well as being the managing partner and chief visionary for multiple real estate development companies. He and his wife, Bevin, and their four children enjoy traveling via the family’s RV; JT is also an avid scuba diver. He is closely involved with his children’s school activities and coaches youth sports teams in his community. JT enjoys seeing the potential in people and helping them nurture it to fulfill their dreams.
Thomas M. Wells
Tom Wells is the founding partner of Wells, Jaworski & Liebman LLP, a commercial and corporate law firm. Based in Paramus, NJ, they specialize in real estate, land use, business, and nonprofit areas. Tom is also the managing partner of Wells Mountain LLC, a real estate development and management firm. In addition, he served on Cascade Bancorp’s Board of Directors and currently is on the board of Beach Bank in Tampa, FL.
A graduate of Bucknell University and Case Western Reserve School of Law, Tom is involved with numerous philanthropic and civil endeavors, including more than three decades of active participation in Rotary International and YMCA. He is the founder and president of Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI), a 501(c)(3) charity that helps young people in the developing world. Tom and his wife, Carol, have three daughters and two grandchildren. They divide their time between homes in New York, NY; St. Thomas, USVI; and Bristol, VT.
Tom is enjoying collaborating with the children, grandchildren, and associates of his longtime friend and client David F. Bolger to grow and expand The Bolger Foundation.
Kathryn A. Byrne
Kathryn A. Byrne has 30+ years of experience delivering accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting services to domestic and foreign corporations. She graduated from James Madison University with a BBA in Accounting & Finance, completed Mazars USA LLP’s EMBA Program, and leads the Women at Mazars Champions Committee.
She is a member of the Group Governance Council of Mazars Group as well as the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and AICPA, Women's Corporate Directors Group, and James Madison University College of Business Board of Advisors. In addition to service as a Bolger Foundation trustee, Kathryn is on the board of Signature Bank and volunteers with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
Patrick T. Crowe
Patrick T. Crowe received a Bachelor’s degree from Providence College and his MBA from Seton Hall University. He is a CFA charter holder and member of the CFA institute and the New York Society of Security Analysts. Pat is National Director of Investment Analytics, Advice and Solutions for BNY Mellon Wealth Management. He also chairs the Wealth Management Solution Strategy Committee and is President of the BNY Mellon Funds Trust Mutual Funds Board.
In addition to serving as a trustee of The Bolger Foundation, Pat is Director of the George Link Foundation and a member of the Valley Hospital’s President’s Council and Providence College Business School Advisory Council.
Michael Tozzoli
Michael Tozzoli, MSW, LCSW, is the Chief Executive Officer of West Bergen Mental Healthcare, a community mental health center based in Ridgewood, NJ, that serves the wider Bergen County area. West Bergen continues to grow and expand, currently offering more than 20 specialty programs with a special emphasis on children and families. Michael has been the center’s CEO for more than 15 years.
In addition to his position on The Bolger Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Michael serves on numerous other boards and committees. He is Vice Chairman of the Bergen County Professional Advisory Council and a board member of the Ridgewood AM Rotary Club. He also teaches and presents on both clinical and nonprofit issues.
AJ Bolger
Albert James “AJ” Bolger is the eldest son of JT Bolger and firstborn grandchild of David F. Bolger. He graduated from Mount Saint Mary College in 2021, having majored in Criminology with a minor in History.
During his time on campus, AJ served on MSMC’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee. He also played for the men’s lacrosse team following a successful high school athletic career.
In his free time, AJ enjoys going camping with his family, scuba diving with his father and brothers, and hiking, as well as spending time with his fiancée, Cassidy, and their dog, Willie. He looks forward to continuing his grandfather’s philanthropic legacy and currently audits board meetings as a non-voting junior trustee
Kaylee Bolger
Kaylee Rose Bolger is JT Bolger’s daughter and the elder of David F. Bolger’s two granddaughters. She graduated magna cum laude from Goucher College in 2023 with a BA in Psychology and is pursuing a master’s degree at Loyola University.
While at Goucher, Kaylee served as president of the Psi Chi honor society. In addition, she volunteers with the Trevor Project.
An avid equestrian, Kaylee showed successfully throughout her teenage years and also played high school volleyball. She enjoys baking, reading, and traveling. Kaylee is the second member of the third generation to become involved with The Bolger Foundation. She currently audits board meetings as a non-voting junior trustee.