Education Foundation celebrates 25 years in Osceola County

Home

Editorial

Other Sun Publications

FREE DELIVERY!
Get Free Delivery! Request your Osceola News Gazette Today.

Login Form

2013 Osceola Health

2013 Sexual Predator Sexual Offender List sexualpredatorcover13

Windows on the Classroom March 2013

School Calendar
2012-2013

View our other Special Sections

Education Foundation celebrates 25 years in Osceola County

Community

Thursday, 11 March 2010 01:32

In 1985, the Osceola County business community and the Osceola County School District came together to form a partnership designed to bolster the efforts of schools in creating quality education. This partnership produced The Education Foundation-Osceola County.
The initial mission of the foundation included providing mini-grants to teachers for innovative classroom programs and supporting district efforts to recruit quality educators. Today, 25 years later, the foundation is a solid, nonprofit organization led by a 37-member board of directors made up of business, government and community leaders. This board has increased the programs of the foundation by serving educators, district staff, students and families in their efforts to give students the best education possible.
“The Education Foundation-Osceola County continues to be an amazing partner and supporter of the Osceola School District by bringing together community resources to enhance learning-enriched opportunities and experiences for children and teachers in our schools,” Superintendent Michael A. Grego said. “Over the last 25 years, they have united our community in support of a quality public education.”
Over the years, the foundation has:
• Awarded more than 1,800 college scholarships, valued at more than $2,267,000, to graduating high school seniors.
• Distributed more than $4.5 million in donated school supplies to help Osceola County’s most needy children through A Gift For Teaching, a free store for teachers.
• Provided trained mentors to more than 500 children through two mentoring programs – Bookmark Buddies and Take Stock In Children.
• Connected students with more than $1 million in outside scholarships through the Scholarship Counseling program.
• Provided $833,000 for teacher mini-grants and for student achievement programs.
• Sponsored recognition programs and events in an effort to retain quality teachers and district employees.
"The Education Foundation gets our kids to college with the help of a $2,000 scholarship – now that's economic development at its finest,” said Paul Kinser, retired provost for Valencia Community College who is now serving as chairman of the foundation board of directors.
Throughout 2010, the Education Foundation will have a series of celebrations to mark its 25th birthday. Look for upcoming announcements on how the Education Foundation is celebrating in the community. For more information, go to www.foundationosceola.org.