Building a
Firm Foundation
Third Annual Staff Fundraising Campaign
Offering 2 Ways 2 Give
November 19, 2018
BFF Kickoff Breakfast Highlights
The Third Annual Building a Firm Foundation campaign began on November 6 with a motivational kickoff breakfast program for volunteers and will continue through December 7. Volunteers representing every school and department heard firsthand how gifts to DCEF and CISDC are used and heard some great reasons to give.
Above photo: Andy Goswick is a mentor and teacher at Turner Middle School. Mr. Goswick shared a little about his experiences as a mentor and the important impact mentoring makes on students experiencing various challenges.

Right photo: Carmilla Hilton is an Instructional Lead Teacher at North Douglas Elementary School and 21st CCLC Site Coordinator at Factory Shoals Elementary School. Ms. Hilton contributes to both DCEF and CISDC and shared some heartfelt reasons for giving. Giving is a calling that was instilled in her and her siblings by their parents. Ms. Hilton funds four different scholarships for graduating seniors, including one that remembers her late father and one that honors her mother.
Above photo: Amy Dobbs is a Program Challenge teacher at Bill Arp and Mirror Lake Elementary Schools. Ms. Dobbs is a current and prior-year Classroom Impact Grant recipient and shared with volunteers how Impact Grants have helped her better serve her students. The photo above shows Ms. Dobbs, center, receiving a grant check from Sissy Bunch, a foundation board member and retired educator. Looking on is MLES Principal Chandell Johnson.
What's the Purpose of This Campaign?
Good question. Building a Firm Foundation is a month-long campaign offering staff a chance to donate to the Douglas County Education Foundation (DCEF) and/or Communities in Schools of Douglas County (CISDC). This is the third year of the campaign, but the first year DCEF and CISDC have joined forces. Both not-for-profit organizations serve the Douglas County School System.

Prior to this year, DCEF was known as the Public Education Trust, or PET. The name was changed to more clearly identify the role of the foundation and whom it serves. This past year, the foundation awarded $156,105 to school system teachers and students through grants, honorariums, and scholarships! We'll share more about those awards in an upcoming newsletter.

CISDC is a dropout prevention agency that works with the school system. Some of the programs supported by CISDC are the fee-based after school programs and the MATCH Mentoring Program. In past years, the funds for these programs were supplemented by the United Way. This year, that's not the case, and that's why CISDC has joined the foundation in Building a Firm Foundation . We invite you to support the campaign and be a BFF!
Recent Foundation Events Are Successes!
November has been a busy but wonderful month for DCEF with the Inaugural Superintendent's Gala, the Seventh Annual Foundation Fun Run, and the kickoff for Building a Firm Foundation.

The Gala was an extraordinary evening that brought together school system staff, community leaders, corporate executives, and special education advocates. The glamorous evening of dinner and dancing had an ultimate goal of raising money for out-of-classroom experiences for students with special needs. These out-of-classroom experiences are vital to helping students gain confidence and independence but are not funded by district, state, or federal funds. Thank you to all of our staff who attended and helped us raise funds for such a worthwhile cause.

The Fun Run took place the morning of the Gala and brought out 360 runners and hundreds of parents, other family members, and school personnel who cheered on the runners. DCEF is grateful to all the participants and the wonderful elementary and middle school PE coaches who volunteer each year. Special thanks to Coach Butch Soles for coordinating set-up of the course. The majority of proceeds from the Fun Run will support Classroom Impact Grants.

Arbor Station Elementary School had the most students participating and the most students finishing in the Top 10. Holly Springs Elementary School had the second most runners finishing in the Top 10, followed by Chapel Hill Middle School. The photo below includes some of the many ASES runners at the Fun Run.
For more information about DCEF,
contact Lynn Murray at [email protected] or 770-651-2124.
For more information about CISDC, contact Mitzi Teal at [email protected] or 770-651-2039.
Douglas County School System |770-651-2000 | [email protected] | www.douglas.k12.ga.us