| |
Origin
During the 1988-1989 school year, at the request of the
Superintendent, a group of Marion Independent School District supporters formed
a Foundation to help the students of Marion. The goal was to provide
opportunities for students not typically funded by the school district. The
projects were small and the Foundation’s existence not well known, but thanks to
the financial support of generous donors the Marion Independent School District
(MISD) Foundation and Alumni Association began to grow.
Growth
In 1994 the Board of Trustee for the
Foundation hired its first Executive Director to lead the charge in raising
$300,000 for Project C.O.N.N.E.C.T. The goal was to focus efforts on one large
fund-raising campaign to support educational enhancement within the MISD.
Technology and its use in education were making an impact in education, and
Marion wanted to be on the forefront of this new focus in education. The goal of
Project C.O.N.N.E.C.T. was to install a fiber optic network in all school
buildings, and thus enable classrooms to connect to the Iowa Communication
Network. This campaign was extremely successful, both in raising the necessary
funds and in developing the awareness in the community and school district of
the Foundation and its mission.
Development
Capitalizing on public awareness, the
Foundation grew from focusing its efforts on specific fund-raising projects to
supporting a range of projects to enhance educational opportunities for Marion
students. Thanks to a generous gift from Mary Anne White, the Jay White
Educational Enhancement Fund was established to support tutoring programs. Other
areas of support include the Kelly Grishaber Memorial Scholarship Fund, Michael
McGrew Memorial Scholarship Fund, Ratliff/Ames Memorial Scholarship, Jeff
Rehnstrom Memorial Scholarship, Justin Turner Memorial Scholarship, and the
Summer School Scholarship Endowment Fund, to name a few.
In 1999, the Marion Fund was established to provide an internal granting program
for the MISD. During its first year, $25,000 was distributed throughout the
District to support expanded curriculum, technology, capital improvements and
program development. As the Marion Fund grows and develops, the focus will
expand to encompass future needs of the District as detailed through the
strategic plan.
Future
Through developed, planned giving
programs, community collaborations, business partnerships and continued fund
appeals to alumni and community members, the Marion Independent School District
Foundation & Alumni Association will continue its mission to provide broader
educational service opportunities.
|
