Gateway’s Education Foundation has just released their Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Report. I am very pleased with the foundation’s success this past year and the hard work and dedication by its board of directors and officers. The report clearly shows that the foundation is moving forward in a positive direction regarding financing, but more importantly, highlights the excellent projects and work that the foundation—in partnership with Gateway’s teachers—has sponsored this year. In three rounds of their “Funds for Learning” grants in 2016, the foundation approved thirteen projects totaling over $6,400. The foundation also, through the Shipman Memorial Concert, has been able to update equipment in the district’s Performing Arts Center. Most recently, the foundation created a separate dedicated fund to sponsor two Gateway students to the Massachusetts Girls State Conference and has already begun securing donations for the 2017 conference.
During the 2015-16 school year, the Foundation supported elementary summer reading programs, school-wide reading challenges at Chester and Littleville, classroom visits from 2 “Museum on the Go” programs (StarLab and Reptile Encounters); the third annual musical at Chester Elementary School; a stress management program for students; Family Literacy Nights, and the return of Emily Curro (GRHS ’03) to work with the high school show choir in a Master Choreography class. Several other projects were awarded funding last year, but will take place this year, including a history/technology study of the Keystone Arch Bridges; a Hispanic flamenco dance performance at Gateway, an improvisation seminar for vocalists, a half-sleepover night for Chester elementary students, and a STEM study on insulation that features model container homes.
We all recognize that these activities would not be possible without the generous donations of both individuals and businesses to the foundation. Unlike some larger and longer-established foundations, our foundation does not have deep pockets nor a large trust. We are dependent upon successfully raising funds each year, which is essential to our mission. The foundation recently broke the $30,000 mark for funding projects in Gateway classrooms and schools, showing that the funds raised are being used to enhance educational endeavors. As no one on the foundation is collecting any salary from the foundation, its percentage of donations applied to projects is nearly 100%. Everyone who made a donation during Giving Tuesday or Valley Gives Day (or anytime!) or took part in the Drive 4 UR School or Boston Celtics fundraiser last year, or joined our business sponsor campaign was vital to the Foundation’s success.
As always, we welcome individual donations to the foundation, which are tax deductible and may be made at any time during the year. In addition, you may specify if your donation is to the General Fund, the Shipman Memorial Fund (in memory of Rob Shipman in support of the Performing Arts Center), or to the Girls State Fund. In addition, the foundation also has Business Sponsorships available (with a cap of 25 businesses ) as part of our Business Sponsor Marketing Campaign. Information on all of these opportunities for donating to the foundation can be found on the foundation’s website at www.gatewayeducationfoundation.org.
The foundation is just one of the many ways that community members can support our students and the school district. Volunteering in the classrooms, in the schools, to chaperone field trips, or even to share your expertise (either during school or after school) are all ways to enhance the education of Gateway students. As we continue to move forward with planning the next 10 years for the district, we’re hopeful that individuals will also be willing to share their ideas for how to build upon an already excellent school system.
