We're excited to Announce!

September 2025

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.

Donate Online

The Foundation, the academic booster program at St. Joseph Public Schools, proudly marks its 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades of collaboration aimed at improving educational opportunities for every student.

Founded in 1996, the Foundation has partnered with educators, families, and the community to foster academic success.

Over the years, the Foundation has funded innovative classroom projects, provided critical resources, and championed initiatives aimed at closing opportunity gaps. Its impact has reached thousands of students, empowering them to thrive both academically and personally.

“We are proud to celebrate 30 years of meaningful work with our public schools. Our mission has always been rooted in equity, excellence, and collaboration—and we look forward to continuing that work for years to come. I invite everyone to join me and be a part of this important work.”

~Sam Abdelnour

President SJPS Foundation

WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

The SJPS Foundation is energized and already in our 2nd grant cycle of the school year!

Your kind gifts of any amount are so appreciated!

Elementary Kindness Quest Assembly

"Thanks to our St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation, our Clarke scholars will join Brown and Lincoln Elementary students at St. Joseph High School for a special back to school assembly called Kindness Quest!"

~Mrs. LaFayette

Principal E.P. Clarke

What is Kindness Quest? Check out this preview!

To view video from presentation click HERE

We're accepting

2026 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI APPLICATIONS

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION TODAY!

Do you know of an St. Joseph Public School alumni who should be considered for a Distinguished Alumni Award? The award honors alumni who have excelled in their professions and/or made significant contributions to their community. Past award winners include alumni who have made an impacts in business, education, the military, community involvement and volunteerism. With over 150 years of alumni, we are confident there are many deserving award winners, and we need your help identifying them. The Foundation will accept nominations for the 2026 awards until November 1. An application form is available on the Alumni page of the Foundation website, https://sjpsfoundation.org/alumni/

Contact Foundation Board member Bob Ehrenberg at sjpsfoundation@sjschools.org with any questions.

Student Foundation will

Kick-Off School Year this Friday

The Student Foundation is comprised of SJHS students grades 9 – 12 who were nominated by a teacher or administrator. Their purpose is to support the SJPS Foundation and its activities and establish a relationship between the Foundation and the students of the SJPS.

Thank you, Mr. Arbut,

for the use of your classroom for our meetings!

Modeled after the SJPS Foundation, students learn project management, meeting protocol, fundraising, marketing, and communication skills while accomplishing their goals.

Silver Beach Pizza FRIENDraiser

JOIN THE FUN!

SJHS Band and Cheerleaders

Perform at 5:00 p.m.

Whirlpool Field next to Silver Beach Pizza!

SJPS Foundation is ALL IN for ALL KIDS!

Come and be a part of it!

TAKE A PHOTO OF THIS FLYER TO SHOW THE SERVER

SJPS Annual Newsletter, mailed to 49085 residents and SJPS out of district families

We can offer no greater gift to our children than to dedicate ourselves to educational excellence.

September gifts will be listed in the October online edition of our newsletter.

June - August Memorials & Honorariums

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.

In Memory of Patricia Winger

Jill Aida

Connie Bruno

Michele and Wayne Demchinski

Jeri Essig

Nancy Fette

Jeri Golba

Betty Harfert

Bart Kruse

Les and Cynthia Miller

Mary Ann Milletics

Carol Morris

Mr. Goody's 3

Gretchen Peek

Robert and Patricia Salvano

Gregg Schaffer

Adrian Stevens

James and Marie Straub

In Memory of Kathy Burdick

Mary Cooper

Connie Shindeldecker

Joyce Wood

In Memory of Annabelle Tinberg

Deborah J Geib

Anne and Dave MacDonald

Donna Tinberg '74 & Robert Pallas

In Memory of Barb DeVries

Ginny Antonson

Sisson's 60th Wedding Anniversary

Michele and Wayne Demchinski

No Show Ball Donors

Donor names in blue indicate membership in the SJPS Foundation Superintendent's Circle

Mary Adams

James and Ann Alderink

Kenneth Ankli

Ginny Antonson

Barbara Bannow

Bob and Pat Barrett

James Bartley

Anthony and Judith Belski

Andrew and Kim Capes

Glenna Collins

Brian and Janna Conybeare

R.J. and Kelli Corning

Cecilia and Luis Lopez Diaz

Mike and Amy Dirlam

Chris and Tom Dixon

Mike and Donna Dumke

Kris '89 and Sean '85 Ebbert

Bob '71 and Cindy Ehrenberg

Tom '74 and Cynthia Ellspermann

Erik and Irene Fiskars

Dave and Becky Foster

Judith Fowler

Sarah Gendernalik

Robert and Mary Ann Gifford

Gladys M. Grieger

Ron and Mary Griffin

Robert and Janet Hahn

Mike and Claudia Hanley

Jim and Peg Harmon

Jim and Jennifer Havlik

Dan Hopp

Julie, Cameron & Owen Ives

Randy and Kim Keppeler

Kenneth and Janet Kleinhample

David and Vicki Koch

Joel '71 and Victoria Kruggel

Lalee Kuball '64

David and Karen Laetz

Mark and Julie Lester

Sharon Linden

Jan and Dave Mack

Philip and Loni Maki

Leanne Mancini

Jim and Beth Mandarino

Bill and Jane Marohn

John and Sue Marohn

Debora and Ernest Matlock

Mark and Sally Matzke

Linda McConville

Meryle M. Merritt

Barry and Carol Michaels

Michael Miske

Pat and Carol Moody

Dr. Rob and Amy Nolan

Dale and Alice Park

Pete and Diane Perron

Jenny and Toan Pham

Amy Porritt-Peirce and Michael Peirce

Elizabeth Pitcher

John and Kristy Proos

Steven Reed and

Susan Dietrich-Reed

Kristopher and Kelley Rich

Jim '81 and Sue Riemland

Regan and Alison Rineer

Jennifer Gibbs Rose

Rumsa Family

Mike and Kim Sarola

Gary and Becky Schaffer

Allen and Betsy Skibbe

Stephanie Slye

Peter and Kari Stevens

Sue Stewart '81

John and Susan Sukup Jr.

Bonnie Tenbarge

Dan and Jill Valenti

Matthew and Tiffany Voglewede

Michael and Lisa Weber

Elizabeth Werner

Steve and Deda Winkler

June - August Donors

Donor names in blue indicate membership in the SJPS Foundation Superintendent's Circle

Karol Banyon

John and Terrie Bollman

Chris and Katie Cook

Kelly and Ryan Daily

Kyle and Jolene DeJong

Cecilia and Luis Lopez Diaz

Kris '89 & Sean '85 Ebbert

Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Inc.

Fleming Brothers Oil Co.

Dr. Gyl and David Kasewurm

Bill and Jane Marohn

Daphne McClellan

Pat and Carol Moody

Dave and Betty Mundy

Alessandro and Marialuisa Del Perucchetti

Michelle Priefer

Michael and Jen Ruchti

Stephanie Slye

United Federal Credit Union

Fred and Amey Upton

Molly and Jimmy Van De Wege

Thomas and Maria Yeager Family Trust

SJPS Teacher and Staff Giving

Thank you teachers, administrators and staff for all you do for our students.

GO BEARS!

Morgan Altergott

Julia Appel

Bryan Arbut

Connie Bacolor

John Bacolor

Heather Bartz

Kristen Bawks

Lauri Berry

Gabrielle Bishop

Kimberly Borlin

Lauren Borre

Alaina Brady

Erica Brown

Avery Burnette

Kristin Burnette

Rachel Cabanilla

Heather Caid

Jessica Chivell

Gandalf Church

Ashley Chynoweth

Lara Crawford

Jamie Culver

Matt Culver

Linda DeLapa

Amy Dirlam

Colleen Elkins

Gary Etter

Andria Ettinger

Kimberly Fordham

Jennifer Francis

Kelsey Froelich

Brenda Graham

Kelsey Griffith

Kevin Guzzo

Jaime Hall

Gabby Hardy '18

Sarah Hassenger

Jenna Hawkins

Joseph Haydon

Daniel Hernandez

Kristina Hernandez

Amber Higdon

Jennifer Hill

Ashley Hooker

Alli Hoskins

Jamie Huber

Jason Huber

Joyce Hunter

Cynthia Igoe

Benjamin Jager

Kaitlyn Karpus-Lawrence

Sarah Keener

Maria Kern

Kelly Kietzerow

Alex Klunder

Lisa Knuth

Allison Koch

Carolyn Kodis '13

Robyn Kubsch

Jesseca LaFayette

Dan LaFond

Amber Lange

Darcie Lawrick

Stephanie Lear

Ann LeClear

Kent Lignell

Burke Lokey III

Bridget Lorenz

Kimberly Lottridge

Mindi Mach

Katie Mandarino

William McComber

Keith McLaughlin

Angela Mellott

Samantha Miller

Mary Ann Milletics

Kim Mishler

Dana Morris

Kara Nicholson

Tracy Olson

Amy Peterson

Chelsea Pollyea

Andrew Pratley

Troy Pratley

Natalie Rank

William Rath

Joe Rommel

Stephanie Rugg

Abigail Schmidt

Jill Scroggins-Hubble

Elizabeth Seering

Sara Smith

Traci Smith

Sara Smothers

Jennifer Suarez-Marquez

Alexandra Udell

Tina Uzelac

Brianne VanHekken

Ellie Volpi

Ryan Vree

Tracy Wagner

Amanda Wallace '12

Dana Walsworth

Amy Wells

Ashley Wells

Ryan White

Lauren Wiltsie

Melanie Wolf

Jeanna Younger

DONATE ONLINE

SJPS Foundation | 2580 S. Cleveland Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085 | 269-926-3252 | ww.sjpsfoundation.org

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

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