Foundation Awards 10K to School District

In a time of budget cuts and economic uncertainty, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District got a small windfall at its last meeting on Sept. 1. Foundation 191, an independent non-profit, gave the cash-strapped school district $10,459 for 11 supplementary school programs that would otherwise go unfunded.

During this grant cycle, the foundation received 27 applications, said foundation President Stephen Fiebiger, almost double the number of requests last year. All told, the applicants requested $91,000 in grants.

It is the second year that the foundation has offered grant packages to the school district since the non-profit started up in 2005. Fiebiger believes the influx is due to positive buzz. He said the foundation's reputation among the teachers in ISD 191 has grown over the last year.

"I think they know that its a viable foundation for funding projects that staff can generate," Fiebiger said.

The foundation focuses on funding programs that directly affect students rather than buying equipment. For instance, the foundation has supported Empty Bowls For Full Bellies, an initiative to fight hunger that first got a foothold in Burnsville last year. With grant money fron the foundation, Burnsville High Art Teacher Tim Hammes pearheaded an event during the last school year in which students decorated ceramic bowls which were sold, along with a soup and bread lunch. The proceeds of the sale were used for BrainPower in a Backpack. In turn, BrainPower filled bookbags with foodstuffs, which were given to children who do not get enough to eat at home. Hammes said that the group was able to turn the foundation's seed money into $6,000 for the effort.

Empty Bowls is one of the few grantees to receive funding two years in a row.

"The foundation has been very generous," Hammes said. "We're excited to be able to do this again."

However, the foundation itself is now in need of the community's largesse.

"Financially, we've grown considerably though we're not where we'd like to be," Fiebiger said. "I'm not sure anyone is and it's a challenge as the economy has gone south to try and get individuals and company donations."

The foundation has two upcoming fundraisers. A golf tournament will be held to raise funds tomorrow, Sept. 16. For sponsorship information or to donate a prize please contact the tournament chair Tom Umhoefer at (952)707-4112, or e-mail tumhoefer@burnsville.k12.mn.us.

The foundation is also planning an annual fundraiser on Oct. 27. For more information please go to the organization's website.

Here is a complete list of programs that will be funded by the foundation during the 2011-12 school year:

ESL Co-Teaching 2nd grade classroom ($392.70)
Edward Neill Elementary
Contact: Dr. Elizabeth Vaught

Reader’s Theater
Edward Neill Elementary – 3d grade ($815)
Contact: Suzanne Hayden

Maud Hart Lovelace Awards ($602)
Rahn Elementary, grades 3-6
Contacts: Melissa Glavas/Jill Copp

Parent Involvement/Reading Project ($1,150)
Sioux Trail Elementary
Contact: Sharon Stalock

PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies) ($1,000)
Nicollet Junior High
Contact: Monique Roy

History Day Club ($1,000)
Nicollet Junior High
Contacts: Jennifer Stiles/Robert Schweim

BHS Bridge Program ($1,500)
Burnsville High School
Contact: Kerrie Troseth

Empty Bowls for Full Bellies ($1,000)
Burnsville High School
Contact: Tim Hammes/Fay Finn

FIRST robotics team competition ($1,000)
Burnsville High School
Contact: Jon Huber

The Edge Summer Program ($1,000)
M.W. Savage Elementary – Community Education
Contacts: Shar Lattery/Angie Rezny

Calculator Lending Library ($1,000)
Burnsville High School
Contact: Brooke Delmont