The Back to School Grant Delivery Day is the best of the year at the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.
The foundation has awarded $213,528 in Back to School grants to Springfield Schools.
45 volunteers fanned out to 42 Springfield Public Schools to make 99 surprise grant check deliveries to teachers, librarians and principals on Tuesday.
Photo: L to R – Dr. John Jungmann, Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, Mrs. Jill Patterson Member of the Board of Education for Springfield Public Schools, Pamela Anderson Director of Development for the Foundation for SPS, Natalie Murdock Executive Director for the Foundation for SPS, Peter Lai Board President for the Foundation for SPS.
(Information and photo provided by the Springfield Public Schools)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Back to School Grant Delivery Day is the best day of the year at the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, especially for Foundation volunteers and grant recipients. “The Foundation for SPS is fortunate to have great donors and volunteers who make grant day possible. It is a day that teachers look forward to every year! To see the looks on the face of teachers, principals and students, is what our work is all about.” said Foundation for SPS Executive Director, Natalie Murdock.
Forty-five volunteers fanned out to 42 Springfield Public Schools (SPS) to make 99 surprise grant check deliveries to teachers, librarians and principals on Tuesday, September 17. The total amount raised for the 2019 Back to School Grant Program was $213,528.
“We are so pleased to be able to contribute this significant amount to Springfield Public Schools. Doing so, enabled us to fund 99 of the much-needed, innovative, Back to School grants and projects requested by our dedicated, SPS teachers and principals, across the district. The money awarded today will impact students at all grade levels.” said Foundation for SPS President Peter Lai. During the check presentation to SPS Superintendent Dr. John Jungmann, Lai encouraged Grant Delivery Day volunteers to “savor the moment of check presentations in the classrooms, remember the smiles on teachers and students faces” and keep it in their hearts and minds as an affirmation of why giving to Back to School grants is so important.
Since the Foundation’s inception in 1990, it has provided classroom and school grants to teachers and principals. The Back to School program has grown and evolved over the years and continues to positively impact thousands of teachers and students throughout the district. This year Back to School grants were awarded in the categories of student experience, modern learning environment, classroom projects and community engagement. Through each of the four categories teachers and librarians were rewarded for their efforts to support their student’s academic achievements and going above and beyond the call of duty to seek additional funding for their projects.
The Back to School grant program is made possible by generous donations from community members, businesses and individuals. “This grant program is the heart and soul of the Foundation,” said Murdock. “It provides resources that make an impact on thousands of students across our district. Through the financial support of so many generous donors, grant day is made possible.”
Additional Back to School grants may still be funded before the end of 2019, so the total dollars awarded to the program and number of grants funded could rise.
The Foundation’s online grant funding program, Pick-a-Project, will open for grant applications from SPS teachers in October. “Those teachers who didn’t receive funding today will have more opportunities for gaining support from donors for their classroom projects through the Pick-a-Project program,” shared Pamela Anderson, Director of Development for the Foundation for SPS.
