HUNTINGTON – The Gateway Education Foundation set fundraising goals for the 2013-14 school year and is working to double the number of donors from last year. Gateway’s foundation is a charity that formed in 2011 to raise funds to enhance learning opportunities for the students, classrooms and schools of the Gateway Regional School District. Donations are tax deductible.
Goals for this year are donations from 100 percent of Board members; 53 percent of school committee members; and 10 percent of employees. They also want to increase the number of donors in other groups to having a minimum of 40 community members donate (up from 19); 25 alumni (up from 5); 20 parents (up from 5); and 5 businesses (up from 2).
“The Board was very appreciative of our levels of support from our many donors in our first year,” reported Wendy Long, Clerk of the Gateway Education Foundation. “We think we are much better known this year, and have demonstrated outstanding stewardship of these funds.”
The Gateway Education Foundation has funded a number of projects in the school district over the past year, including improvements to the sound and lighting systems of the auditorium; Littleville’s “Schoolyard Habitat” project with the Hitchcock Center for the Environment; healthy cooking classes at the Middle School; glass fusion classes for the Junior High School; a summer reading program for Chester Elementary students; a history and engineering study of the Keystone Arches at the junior high school; a visit from Mr. Everest climber, photographer and author Ed Webster to all schools and the community; and field trips to the Mark Twain Museum in Hartford and Body Worlds in New York City. Also funded for this school year is a visit from Grammy Winner Joseph Firecrow to high school English classes, and children’s author Billy Steers (of the Tractor Mac series) to Littleville Elementary School. The Foundation is also sponsoring the All Class Reunion and other events marking the 50th Anniversary of the Gateway Regional School District.
The Gateway Education Foundation will be one of over 300 non-profit organizations in Western Massachusetts to take part in “Valley Gives” Day on 12/12/13. “Last year, the foundation raised nearly $5,000 on Valley Gives Day,” said Shirley Winer, President of the Gateway Education Foundation. “This year, we hope that the convenience and excitement of Valley Gives Day will help bring us closer to $10,000.”
When people go to the Gateway Education Foundation page this year, they will be asked to identify themselves as staff, parent, alumni, or community member. Each of these groups that collectively raise $500 will be matched by an anonymous donor.
A minimum donation on 12/12/13 is $10, using a credit card.
For more information about the Gateway Education Foundation, please visit our website: http://GatewayEducationFoundation.yolasite.com.
