Cape public schools foundation looks to grow

The Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation wants to raise more money for the local school system, but to do so it needs to do a better job of publicizing its existence, executive director Tammy Samuel said.

To that end, the foundation is holding a "Penguin Party" at the Cape Girardeau Country Club on Saturday night. Participants are encouraged to dress up in their favorite black and white party wear.

The event, featuring dinner, dancing and an auction, could generate as much as $25,000, Samuel said.

In the past, the foundation has held a luncheon to draw attention to fund-raising efforts. But the event drew few people, she said.

Samuel said the gala will draw a bigger crowd. "If they are spending their money, they want to have fun spending their money," she said.

Foundation board president Stacy Kinder said, "We're hoping to bring together community members who care about our students and want to help make a difference in their lives and education."

The foundation raised $46,000 last year from various fund-raising efforts. The not-for-profit group wants to raise $100,000 annually, she said. It also hopes to secure government or private grants that could be used to fund teaching projects, Samuel said.

The foundation board plans to hold the gala annually on the first weekend of February. The board may vary the theme from year to year, she said.

The foundation was established in 1994. "But it was more of a pass-through account, a way that donors could take tax deductions," Samuel said.

The foundation reorganized in 2004, establishing an active board of directors.

Unknown to many

Samuel said the school foundation holds several fund-raisers, including events at McDonald's restaurant on Broadway and a summer golf tournament. But the foundation still is unknown to many local residents, she said. Even some of the district's teachers know little about the foundation, said Samuel, who was hired as part-time director of the foundation in June.

Earlier this month, she attended faculty meetings at every school in the district to inform teachers about the foundation.

Samuel is the foundation's only paid employee. The foundation has a 13-member board of directors including school district superintendent Dr. David Scala. School board member Laura Sparkman also serves on the foundation board.

The foundation uses the money it raises to award its "Great Idea" teaching grants. The program funds teachers' innovative classroom teaching projects.

In the last two years, the foundation has awarded nearly $30,000 in teaching grants that have funded projects that have reached more than 6,200 students in the district. Projects have ranged from a character education program to prevent bullying to an after-school arts program.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123