Foundation discusses fundraising

Published 10:16 am Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The Charlotte County Education Foundation met Monday to continue its mission of facilitating the growth of educational assistance throughout the community.

“The Charlotte County Education Foundation is run entirely by community members and serves as a source of support for teachers and students through supporting instructional, extracurricular and co-curricular programs for Charlotte County students,” said Division Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Leonard.

Newly elected officers for the foundation include Marjorie Pugh, chairman; Jane Rice, vice chairman; Patricia Randolph, secretary; and Ned Locke, treasurer.

During the meeting, facilitator Vege Pack said fundraising opportunities were important to help build the foundation’s account.

Pack reported foundation member Jane Rice sent a letter to golfers Steve Baker and Larry Dunn, which resulted in the discussion of a possible golf tournament to help raise money. “The only way you can do an effective fundraiser is to have someone who knows what they’re doing,” said Pack. “You’ve got to have the right people.”

Rice said after conducting research to see what other foundations were doing to create fundraising opportunities, she noticed golf tournaments appeared to be a consistent and successful method.

“(It is) nothing we can commit to right now, but at least we’ll have an idea …,” said Pack.

She eventually hopes the foundation will be able to offer scholarships, however, the main focus right now are the needs of students, such as paying sports fees for those in need.

According to its mission statement, the foundation is “organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes with emphasis on promoting, assisting and encouraging educational activities and endeavors of every kind and description of, for or connected with the Charlotte County Public Schools, their administrators, teachers and students, alone or in cooperation with government or other private bodies or agencies.”

The next meeting of the foundation will be held on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the David Bruce Building in Charlotte Court House.