March 2022
The purpose of the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation is to raise, steward and distribute resources to enrich the education of students in the St. Joseph Public Schools District.



SJPS Foundation Board Approves Grants


$250,691
Student Foundation members Seth Walters '22 and Nolan Wertanen '22 congratulate
Principal Blomgren on his Foundation grant for Senior Career Day.
At its March 16 meeting, the SJPS Foundation Board of Directors approved sixteen grants from its March 1 Special Fund Request grant cycle. The grant applications were vetted by the Foundation's Project Committee, who then presented a grant summary and recommendation to the Board for approval in the amount of $250,691.

The budget was expanded from $100,000 to accommodate the number of great projects submitted in this round, according to SJPSF President, Sam Abdelnour.
Abdelnour commented, "I continue to be humbled and honored by the generosity of our donors. Their gifts allow us to support SJPS teachers and students in so many ways. The number and quality of projects submitted was outstanding. We are so fortunate to be able to provide this level of funding."

The SJPS Student Foundation is comprised of St. Joseph High School students grades 9 – 12.
Their purpose is to support the SJPS Foundation and its activities, and establish a relationship between the Foundation and the students of the St. Joseph Public Schools.
 
Members of the SJPS Student Foundation surprised
SJPS staff with news of their grant awards.
Isaac Zahrt '24 and Mya Dixon '22
Congratulate Mr. Roll,
Auditorium and Facilities Director
LED Lighting Upgrade for John and Dede Howard Auditorium Grant
Katie Hokanson '22 and Isaac Zahrt '24
Congratulate Mrs. Lear,
3rd grade teacher and Tech Team Coordinator
Tech Team Hits the Fab Lab at
Photo by Guneev Gill '24
Seth Walters '22 and Nolan Wertanen '22
Congratulate Mrs. Burnette,
Teacher Librarian
ο»ΏUpton MS News Broadcast Grant
Congratulations, Mr. Doe,
SJPS Director of Bands
JAZZ Band Update Grant
Mrs. Gaideski, you have a phone call!
GrapeSEED Grant
Project Wayfinder- Curriculum for SJHS and Upton MS Grant
Summer Reading Book Bonanza and Secondary Summer Send-Off Grant
"We loved delivering grants to our teachers, because they deliver for SJPS students!"
~Ceci Ruchti, Class of 2024


"The Student Foundation enthusiastically embraced this project. I'm proud of their initiative, and they showed genuine excitement for the grant recipients. The students learned a valuable lesson in philanthropy, but most importantly, experienced the joy of giving. Well done, Student Foundation!"
~Sue Riemland, SJPS Foundation Executive Director
The show is August 12-13,2022
Send your auditions to
Dennis Bowen!
ENCORE Auditions Due April 1
The SJPS Foundation is excited about this event! Plans are in the works to make it memorable for cast members and the community, but it all starts with the show. Accepting auditions now!

We Can Offer No Greater Gift to our Children than to dedicate ourselves to educational excellence.
February Memorials

In Memory of William Womer
John Aberethy
Steve and Kay Breunling

In Memory of John L. Porritt
Brian and Mary Bloomquist

We offer our sincerest sympathies in your bereavement. Gifts to the SJPS Foundation in memory of loved ones are a fitting tribute, and will assist the Foundation in our mission to raise, steward and distribute resources to enrich the education of students in the St. Joseph Public Schools.
February Donors
Marc and Anja Bitzer
Kris '89 and Sean '85 Ebbert
Fleming Brothers Oil Company
Robert '53 and Carol Gerbel
Peter and Anita Kapelke
Jim and Nancy '79 Kodis
Dale and Connie Kubicki
Keith Johnson '84
John Slawson
Sue Stewart '81
February SJPS Teacher and Staff Giving
Thank you teachers, administrators and staff for all you do for our students.
ο»ΏYour support means the world to us.
Bryan Arbut
Connie Bacolor
John Bacolor
Heather Bartz
Kristen Bawks
Tracy Becker
Lauri Berry
Melissa Binns
Greg Blomgren
Lauren Borre
Alaina Brady
Erica Brown
Kristin Burnette
Gandalf Church
Andrea Confer
Jenna Covert
Lara Crawford
Jamie Culver
Matthew Culver
Deborah Darr
Linda DeLapa
Kristin DeVore
Kim Dilley
Amy Dirlam
Megan Dongvillo
Colleen Elkins
Kelly Gaideski
Brenda Graham
Chris Greissinger
Kevin Guzzo
Joseph Haydon
Daniel Hernandez
Craig Hubble
Jamie Huber
Jason Huber
Susan Hunnell
Joyce Hunter
Cindy Igoe
Craig Jeffers
Lisa Knuth
Carolyn Kodis
Laura Kovnat
Claire Krieger
Jesseca Lafayette
Amber Lange
Stephanie Lear
Ann LeClear
Becky Lokey
Angela Mellott
Mary Ann Milletics
Kara Nicholson
Nita Nicholie
Tracy Olson
Amy Peterson
Sara Petrosius
Natalie Rank
Kathy Reck
Susan Schweir
Traci Smith
Sara Smothers
Tina Uzelac
Brianne VanHekken
Gail Wadel
Amanda Wallace '12
Dana Walsworth
Katie Werdann
SJPS Foundation | 2580 S. Cleveland Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085 | 269-926-3252 | sjpsfoundation@sjschools.org | www.sjpsfoundation.org

The St Joseph Public Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation.