January 2019 - Named Classroom Grants through Perrysburg Schools Foundation

By Jeff Abke ’96, Director of Development, Perrysburg Schools

Perrysburg School Foundation (PSF) works with donors on a range of ways they can make a difference for our students. Whether an organization or individual, we sit down together and discuss what makes sense for them and where their passion lies. Sometimes there’s a theme that touches on multiple areas. For example, the Carol Fry Family is interested in supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), so a block grant was developed for Jackie Derr’s STEM class each year at Perrysburg Junior High School.

This type of classroom grant is a great way for individuals and organizations to make a very large impact in our school district. The minimum to start one of these grants is $500 and they can be one-time gifts or repeated annually. Typically, the organization or individual sits down with PSF and they review programs and innovative ideas that teachers have shared that may be new or that they may want to expand. PSF keeps a list of unfunded innovative ideas and program so that, when these conversations take place, the options are clear and ready to go.

Another example would be Mercy Health’s STEM grants. $4,000 is divided up each year, typically into about eight classroom grants, and any applications from teachers involving STEM go through this grant fund. The Bob Phillips Memorial Fund provides funds to provide a coordinator for the Peer Buddy Collaboration Program at Perrysburg High School. In this program, typical students are trained to become Peer Buddies and then they work with their fellow students who are living with disabilities.

The goal of classroom grants is twofold. They may fund projects that are not currently in our budget. They may also fund projects that are in our budget to free up those funds for other needs, such as roof repair, heating bills, intervention or tutoring. Classroom grants enable us to do more with what we have.

We work hard to find the best use for donor dollars that meets the donor’s intent. We match that with something we are doing or wish we could do to find the right project.

Ultimately, Perrysburg Schools and PSF have the intent of connecting donor wishes and our mission of ensuring all students achieve their greatest potential. If there's something specific that someone wants to accomplish, we work to find a way in the classroom to make that difference.

The Perrysburg Schools Foundation (PSF) was founded in 1983 on the belief that the entire community benefits from excellent schools. Private and business donors support and recognize the outstanding students, faculty and staff at Perrysburg Schools through:

• Classroom Grants
• Anti-bullying and Leadership Development
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Programming
• Campaign for the Arts
• Fraser Fund for Teaching Excellence
• Scholarships
• National Honor Society Support

PSF and the Perrysburg Schools Development Department work hard to connect with local businesses of all sizes to fund projects and programs, from cash donations and donated services to more complex relationships that may include sponsorships, naming rights and more.