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Welcome to Current News about the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation. This area of the Foundation website will be updated on a regular basis with brief news about donations, Adopt-A-School partnerships, alumni activity, grant developments and other relevant happenings. GOT NO MILK For the past three years, the Foundation has coordinated a community appeal to raise money to purchase milk at morning snack time for elementary school children whose families cannot afford the cost ($30 a semester or $60 for the year). Prior to the start of our Got No Milk program, there were literally hundreds of elementary school students who were not receiving milk. For some children, they had to wait until lunch time before they had something in their stomachs. That daily carton of milk or juice does so much - it raises children's self esteem, aids in their physical growth and health, and allows them to pay better attention in class. Low income families do receive federal assistance with either free or reduced cost school meals, but there is no assistance for the morning milk, so this is why a number of children go without. Fargo churches, service clubs, businesses, foundations, parents and the general community are encouraged to support the effort. Tax deductible donations can be sent to FPS Foundation, 415 N. 4th St., Fargo, ND 58102 and should be noted as for the "Got No Milk" appeal. 100% of donations will go toward the purchase of milk. GOT NO MILK 2007-08 "Dear people who gave us milk. Thanks for giving us milk. I picked choclote. If you did not give us milk I will not have any. Thank very much for the milk." "Thank you very very much for giveing us milk. It was very kind of you. I don't no how much thank yous I can give you. Now you make my days outstanding." "Thank you for your kindness. You should deserve some-thing too!" "Thank you for donating to Got No Milk. I like drinking milk because it is good for me!" GOT NO MILK 2008-09 I'm pleased to report we have reached our $60,000 goal, and were able to provide 958 low-income students with milk for the entire school year. Again this year, 100% of tax deductible donations went to the purchase of milk. Any additional donations will be carried over to buy milk next school year. Please note your donation (check payable to FPS Foundation) is for the Got No Milk program and send it to: FPS Foundation, 415 N. 4th St., Fargo, ND 58102. Thank you once again to all Foundation donors and supporters!! Your partnership in our mission to provide FPS students with enriched and enhanced learning opportunities that would otherwise not be possible is very much appreciated! GOT NO MILK 2009-10 As the past school year progressed, more students and families became eligible for free and reduced meals at their respective schools. With this in mind, we anticipate an increased need for milk assistance during the 2009-10 school year. Our goal will again be $60,000 and as of 7/14/09 our total is $24,453. We've been told the cost of milk should stay the same ($30 per semester/$60 for the entire year per student). As in prior years, 100% of tax deductible donations will go to the purchase of milk. Please send checks payable to FPS Foundation to 415 N. 4th St., Fargo, ND 58102 and note the gift is for the GOT NO MILK program. "Thank you for the milk and juice. I like milk because white milk make me strong and give me energy at school it make me concentrate" Deayeah "Thank you for the awsome milk & juice. Our school district are very thankful. Hope you love your job. Thanks again. It helps us think." Sara Thank you for the milk and juice that you give our schools because if we didn't have it we would have to wait until lunch." KaraLee ALUMNI WEBSITE AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS The Foundation is in the early stages of developing a website exclusively for FPS alumni and exploring the establishment of alumni associations for Fargo North, Fargo South and Woodrow Wilson High Schools. If you would like to be involved in the process or have some ideas to share, please call Steve Backsen at (701) 446-1041. |
SUMMARY OF FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2006-07 The Foundation is grateful for all the support we've received in 2006-07 from area businesses, alumni, parents, service clubs, district staff, retired educators and the general public. Thanks to you, the Foundation made significant strides in it's mission to provide FPS students with enriched and enhanced learning opportunities that would otherwise not have been possible. Our accomplishments included: GRANTS PROGRAM The Foundation awarded $50,458 for 93 innovative learning projects and programs in our schools during the 2006-07 school year. Most grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $1,000. Please visit the Grant Information section for further information and a detailed listing of the most recent grants awarded in February 2007, including named grant awards from endowed funds created with gifts of $10,000 or more to the Foundation. OTHER ENDOWMENT DISTRIBUTIONS The Foundation distributed $16,100 from the Eleanor Laing Law endowed fund (literacy and library needs) for author visits to the middle and high schools, and to purchase books for Reading Recovery students attending a summer reading program. $2,635 was distributed from the Alice Warren endowed fund in support of the Adult Learning Center, where Alice was a faithful and devoted volunteer until her death. SPECIAL NEED FUNDS The Foundation distributed $4,093 in special need funds to district elementary schools serving a high percentage of low-income students and families. The funds help to purchase school supplies, clothing, bus tokens, and other basic needs in a timely manner. In addition, the Foundation coordinated a community-wide appeal for donations to purchase milk at morning snack time for students unable to afford the $29 per semester cost. $13,598 was raised and distributed for use during the 2nd semester. For many children, the morning milk is the only nutrition they will have before lunch if they did not have breakfast. ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM The Foundation continues to administer the Adopt-A-School program, which brings business employees and other community volunteers into our schools to assist with reading programs, mentoring, tutoring, after-school activities, community service projects, career awareness presentations and other activities. Currently 13 elementary schools, the Eagles Education Center, the school setting at Prairie at St. John's, Fargo North High School, Fargo South High School, Woodrow Wilson Community High School and Carl Ben Eielson Middle School all have Adopt-A-School partners engaged at their schools. The most recent partnership involves a group of NDSU students from the Planning for College Success program mentoring with at-risk students at CBEMS. SCHOLARSHIPS The Foundation administers 16 scholarships benefiting deserving FPS graduates. The scholarships are funded with both annual and endowed gifts. $15,464 was distributed for scholarships in the fall of 2006. ALUMNI ACTIVITY The Foundation maintains and builds an alumni database (North, South and Woodrow Wilson grads.) to assist with class reunions (see Alumni Area section for 2007 reunion information) and other alumni events. In addition, an alumni newspaper for North, South and Woodrow Wilson graduates is produced quarterly. Alumni can receive the newspaper by paying a $15 annual subscription or a $150 lifetime subscription. The subscription fees help cover the costs of producing, printing and mailing the newspaper, as well as costs associated with maintaining the alumni database. Updated alumni directories for Fargo North and Fargo South graduates will also be published in 2007 in contract with Harris Connect. The Foundation is also working on the creation of an on-line alumni directory that will allow FPS alumni to register and stay in touch with each other. SISTER SCHOOL PROGRAM The Sister School Program is a cultural exchange initiative between the Fargo Public Schools and the Beijing New Oriental Foreign Language School in Yangzhou, China. The early stages of the program included sending art work, letters and other materials back and forth between the schools to increase a mutual understanding of our respective cultures and schools. Thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the program is now able to take the next step of actually exchanging teachers between the schools. Rob Arneson, a 3rd grade teacher at Clara Barton and our program coordinator, and Sharon Eide, the district visual arts specialist, will visit our Chinese Sister School from March 22 - April 13. We are also planning for a visit from a teacher with the BNOFLS later this spring. To our knowledge, this is the only partnership of it's kind between schools in the U.S. and China. Please see the Sister School Program section of the website for additional information. SAM NEIS FIELD Sam Neis was a beloved teacher and coach who touched the lives of many students and athletes during his distinguished career. The Foundation coordinated an effort to raise cash gifts and in-kind donations for the renovation of the outdoor athletic complex at Discovery Middle School where Sam last taught and coached. Sam Neis Field was formally dedicated on October 12, 2006. |
FOUNDATION GOALS FOR 2007-08
The Foundation will increase grants for innovative learning projects and scholarships for deserving FPS graduates. The Foundation will distribute student special need funds to schools serving a significant percentage of low-income students and families (school supplies, clothing, activity fees, meals, bus transportation, etc.). The Foundation will publish a quarterly newspaper for Fargo North, Fargo South and Woodrow Wilson alumni and increase the circulation. The Foundation will administer the Adopt-A-School program in all current locations and explore it's possible further expansion into other secondary schools. The Foundation will assist with all 2008 class reunions. The Foundation will administer the Sister School program with our partner school in China, the Beijing New Oriental Foreign Language School. The Foundation will seek additional annual gifts and continue to build it's endowment fund. |
ENDOWED NAMED FUND LIST CONTINUES TO GROW
Eleanor Laing Law Fund - Reading/Literature/Library grants to teachers and schools
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Named grants to teachers and schools are awarded in February of each year and named scholarships are awarded each spring. For further information, please contact Steve Backsen, Foundation Executive Director, at (701) 446-1041. |