TOLEDO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

Fiscal Year:  July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009 

Just like the foundation of a house provides a solid base, so does the Toledo Public Schools Foundation provide a bedrock for advances in teaching and learning.

2008-2009 TOLEDO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION GOVERNING BOARD

OFFICERS

Edna Robertson, (Woodward H.S. ’59), PRESIDENT

Frank Dick, VICE PRESIDENT, former Superintendent, Toledo Public Schools (1965-1978)

Manju Gupta, TREASURER

Keith A. Wilkowski, (Woodward H.S. ’73), SECRETARY

TRUSTEES

Deborah A. Barnett

John Foley, ex officio member, Superintendent Toledo Public Schools

Merrill A. Grant, Ed.D, ex officio member, former Superintendent, Toledo Public Schools (1996-2000) and a founding trustee of the Toledo Public Schools Foundation

William L. Harris, (Scott H.S. ’62)

Janice I. Kilbride

Hilton Murphy

Marcia Silverman

Gina K. Thompson, (Rogers H.S. ’84)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Susan K. Zurawski

ORGANIZATION

The Toledo Public Schools Foundation is a 501(©)3 charitable organization that operates separate and apart from the District.  It was established in 1987 and newly organized in 1999 to enhance teaching and learning opportunities in the Toledo Public Schools. 

Revenues are derived from contributions and fundraisers.  Fund-raising will continue so that the Foundation can make yearly grants for extraordinary learning experiences and exceptional students.  For supporters of schools, families, and the community, the Foundation provides a way to make a profound and lasting impact.

Our Vision

The Toledo Public Schools Foundation enables the dreams of students and educators by supporting teaching and learning opportunities.

Our Mission

The mission of the Toledo Public Schools Foundation is to promote quality public education through supplemental funding for programs, scholarships, and academic initiatives.

Our Goals

• Provide scholarships to outstanding and deserving students to create the community leaders of tomorrow.
• Support creative and innovative projects developed by educators to stimulate student excellence.
• Build the endowment to generate perpetual funds for excellence.
• Provide funds to support an enhanced learning environment.

Instructional Focus

The Toledo Public Schools Foundation is committed to funding educational projects and activities that would not otherwise be funded by the District due to limited financial resources.  Funds will focus on the needs of students and educators.  An emphasis will be placed on those aspects which will increase the likelihood of success in post-secondary education and beyond.

Background Information

Opportunity and Need for the Foundation

The Toledo Public Schools Foundation, Inc., an independent, non-profit corporation promoting quality education in Toledo Public Schools, was established in 1999.  It was organized exclusively for educational purposes to provide supplemental funds for scholarships and grants to TPS students and educators.  Specifically, the Toledo Public Schools Foundation seeks and distributes funds to enhance teaching and learning opportunities for public school students in the Toledo community.

Description of the Foundation

The idea for an education foundation started with Dr. Merrill A. Grant as he approached retirement as the District’s 26th superintendent.  The District had the remnants of an education charitable foundation that was established in 1987, but little or no funds.  A new Toledo Public Schools Foundation was organized in 1999 as a totally independent and separate organization from the District and an Executive Director was hired March 1, 1999.  The organization’s first Board of Trustees was appointed that summer.  The Foundation began awarding its first grants in 2001, and has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to students and grants to educators.

Toledo Public Schools Foundation’s grant-to-student awards give outstanding and deserving graduating seniors college scholarships to continue their education in their chosen field.  For many students, without the Foundation’s support they simply would not be able to continue their education.  In keeping with its tradition of serving students in the District, Toledo Public Schools Foundation is proud to involve and assist the private sector in expanding educational opportunities and encouraging educational achievement. 

Toledo Public Schools Foundation’s grant-to-staff awards give extraordinary teachers the recognition they truly deserve, but rarely receive.  These teachers find creative ways to stimulate curiosity, engage the imagination, and pass the joy of learning on to each of their students.  These awards salute gifted and dedicated men and women each year.  But more importantly, they demonstrate to all teachers in the District how much their work means to their students, colleagues, and community.

Toledo Public Schools Foundation Accomplishments

•   In 1999, Toledo Public Schools Foundation received two leadership gifts of $50,000 each from Block Communications, Inc. and Peter and Marcia Silverman (Peter and Marcia Silverman Fund for instructional grants) enabling the start-up of the Foundation.  The Toledo Public Schools Foundation was launched with these generous donations and those of other founding donors in a major Annual Fund Campaign.  

•   In 1999, 150th Anniversary Concert, marking the District’s sesquicentennial anniversary, was performed by the District’s seven high school choirs at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle.  A gala reception after the concert was held as a fundraiser for the Toledo Public Schools Foundation.  A CD was produced (and broadcast by WGTE FM 91.3 Toledo Public Radio) and distributed to District staff and major donors.

•   In 2000, Music from the Heart, Valentine’s Day Concert, was performed by seventh and eighth graders at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle.  A gala reception after the concert was held as a fundraiser for the Toledo Public Schools Foundation.

•   In 2000, former TPS Superintendents Frank Dick and Dr. Merrill A. Grant established the first named scholarship funds with the Toledo Public Schools Foundation.  The Frank and Shirley Dick Natural Science Technology Center Scholarship Fund was established for Frank Dick Natural Science Technology Center graduating seniors.  The Merrill A. Grant Sherman School Scholarship Fund was established for Sherman School graduating sixth graders to be awarded during their senior year with Toledo Public Schools.  These awards were presented at separate awards event held at each school.

•   In 2001-2003, Toledo Public Schools Foundation presented its Annual Celebrity Wait event, involving prominent alumni from each of its high schools.  

•   In 2001, Toledo Public Schools Foundation awarded its first grants.
     2001 - $8,365.50
     2002 - $9,585.60
     2003 - $9,960.00
     2004 - $11,100.00
     2005 - $25,990.00
     2006 - $69,175.13
     2007 - $70,500.00
     2008 - $94,150.00

•   In 2002, Let’s Hear It For America, a District-wide patriotic concert, was held at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle.  A gala reception after the concert was held as a fundraiser for the Toledo Public Schools Foundation.

•   In 2003, Young at Art, a District-wide art exhibition, was held at the Toledo Museum of Art. An art auction was held prior to the opening of the exhibition as a fundraiser for the benefit of the Foundation.  A 30-minute documentary of the exhibition was produced and aired by WGTE TV Channel 30.

•   In 2004, Toledo Public Schools Foundation created a new annual event, Salute to Scholars:  A Celebration of Learning, to award all of its scholarships at one location.  

•   In 2005, Toledo Public Schools Foundation created a new annual event, Engineering a Bright Future, to raise monies for scholarships for students interested in pursuing careers in architecture/engineering/construction showcasing TPS programs in these fields and appealing to contractors in the District’s Building For Success school renovation and replacement program.

•   In 2005, Toledo Public Schools Foundation awarded its first educational and childcare scholarships for the young women of the Polly Fox Academy, who are pregnant or with children to continue their education. Two shopping night fundraisers, Building a Road to the Future, were held in December 2004 and March 2006 to raise monies for educational scholarships (up to $7,500 per year) and childcare scholarships (up to $3,000 per year) to be awarded each year until funds raised for these purposes are depleted. The Academy serves over 125 girls per years, many of whom had previously dropped out of school and without childcare could not return.

•      In 2006, Toledo Public Schools Foundation received a major gift of $10,000 from Dr. William and Brenda Facey and ProMedica Health System for the Dr. William and Brenda Facey ProMedica Health System Scholarship Fund to be awarded to TPS graduating seniors interested in pursuing studies at the University of Michigan.

•      In 2006, Toledo Public Schools Foundation received a major gift of $20,000 from former TPS Superintendent Dr. Eugene T.W. Sanders and the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation for the American and Lena Sanders Lincoln Academy for Boys Scholarship Fund to be awarded to Lincoln Academy for Boys graduating sixth graders.

•      In 2006, Toledo Public Schools Foundation was the recipient of its first legacy gift with a bequest totaling $54,000 from the estate of a spouse of a prominent TPS administrator, Mr. Emory Leverette (Marietta G. Leverette Living Trust), to be awarded to TPS African-American graduating seniors interested in pursuing careers in education.

•      In 2007, Toledo Public Schools Foundation awarded $70,500 at Salute to Scholars:  A Celebration of Learning for 58 college scholarships to 44 TPS students and grants to five TPS educators for innovative classroom projects.

•     In 2007, Toledo Public Schools Foundation paid tribute to two prominent Scott High School graduates who pledged scholarships; former NFL Player Jason Carthen (Scott H.S. ’89) and Toledo Board of Education member Larry Sykes (Scott H.S. ’67).  Scholarships will benefit outstanding and deserving African-American young men and women.  TPS Foundation announced its eighth round of grant applications totaling $100,000, and the Foundation debuted its new website.

•      In 2008, Toledo Public Schools Foundation awarded a record $94,150 at Salute to Scholars: A Celebration of Learning for 72 college scholarships to 62 TPS students and grants to 12 TPS educators for innovative classroom projects.

•      In 2008, Toledo Public Schools Foundation awarded its first educational scholarships for the young women of Stewart Academy for Girls. A shopping night fundraiser, Shopping for Scholars, was held in December 2007 to raise monies for educational scholarships for Stewart Academy for Girls and for scholarships awarded in the spring for outstanding and deserving students of Toledo Public Schools.

•      In 2008, Toledo Public Schools Foundation was awarded a $10,000 student enrichment grant from the Toledo Rotary Foundation to purchase new wind, string, and percussion musical instruments for high school students. The primary schools that would receive instruments would be Woodward, Scott, Libbey, Waite, Rogers, Start, and Bowsher. Only students on free or reduced lunch would be eligible to use the instruments. It is the first commitment of grant requests totaling $55,000 that the Foundation hopes will be funded by local and area foundations for this purpose.

•      In 2008, Toledo Public Schools Foundation received major gifts of $10,000 each from Toledo Area General Contractors of Northwest Ohio for scholarships for TPS students pursuing careers in architecture/engineering/construction and from Medical Mutual of Ohio for the Foundation’s Annual Fund to continue its mission.