FEATURE – Having an education is an irreplaceable gift that lasts beyond K-12. The Washington County School District Foundation helps make that gift possible by providing extra funding to local schools and students.
The WCSD Foundation’s mission statement includes: “The students we serve are our future leaders of our communities, our state and our country. If our students are given a more enriched education and are learning stronger skills, they will help our country remain strong.”
“That’s what the foundation is all about,” Director Pam Graf said. “Helping children to become our leaders someday. With the growth that comes and the amount of students we have, the funding we receive isn’t enough to provide a quality education.”
There are a number of programs the WCSD Foundation has in place to enrich the education of students, such as Adopt a Classroom, Adopt a School and At-Risk Students. Donations made toward the Adopt a Classroom program are used to buy supplies or provide funding for classroom projects.
Similarly, donations made toward the Adopt a School program are used to provide funding for particular schools. Several businesses have been supporting the foundation and its programs for years, including Allconnect, BioLife, Boulevard Home Furnishings, Cache Valley Bank, Dixie Power and the Stephen Wade Automotive Group. Businesses can choose a specific school to donate to or ask where donations are needed.
The At-Risk Students program helps students and families with basic needs such as food, clothing and health care. It is perhaps the most crucial of the foundation’s efforts.
Donations don’t always have to be monetary contributions. People can donate services and equipment, such as musical instruments. One of the biggest contributors to the foundation is a supportive community.
“Support our events that come up,” Graf said. “When we do have a big event, we’d love to have (the community’s) support.”
Donations are tax deductible. Anyone interested can call Graf at 435-673-3553 ext. 5161.
Related posts
- Helping children in need; local mom’s coat drive for Dixie Sun students, district-wide fundraising efforts
- Office of Education grades schools; local schools get A’s
- Girls’ rugby team gun raffle draws resident’s concern
- Washington County ranks in top 50 Utah elementary schools
- Elementary success: Kids, kites raise $30K for Washington County schools; STGnews Videocast and Photo Gallery
Written by Katelyn Boulton for St. George Health & Wellness magazine and St. George News.
Boulton is a student at Dixie State University and works as an intern for St. George Health & Wellness.
Now available from STGnews.com
St. George Health and Wellness
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc. and St. George Health and Wellness magazine, 2014, all rights reserved.
I think that we need more funds available for teachers and classrooms. When I say more funds, I don’t mean more tax payer dollars, I mean more efficient use of the money already in the pot. I would start by eliminating 1/2 of the staff at the District Offices. Anyone who is a teacher or has been a teacher in Washington County knows that half of the people at the District could disappear and it would’t be noticed at the classroom level. It is a bloated, top heavy organization with no grasp on reality when it comes to running an efficient organization. They don’t have to be efficient when they are spending other people’s money. There are many unnecessary administrative positions that create more work for already overworked teachers. There are countless silly programs that cost money and valuable teacher time but don’t improve on quality education. Many of my teacher friends (I am a former teacher)have a very low morale level at this point. Some of the best are leaving or planning to leave to apply their skills in the private sector. I would love to see some changes in order to attract and keep the best and the brightest teachers. I would love to see a Superintendent out of the private sector who really knows how to run a well oiled machine and would be willing to look at cutting the fat. Instead, now we have a new one straight from the ranks who will most likely carry on down the current path.