Spotlight On
Bob & Karen Buesing |
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The Buesings write:
How can an ordinary family help the schools? That is what we asked ourselves. And can't we make this fun and educational for our family and deeply rewarding at the same time? That is when we read an article in the Wall Street Journal about Mini-Grants. School systems around the country were receiving Mini-Grants from ordinary people like us. Corporate and Foundation support is great, but here was a way that an ordinary family like ours could help.
The Hillsborough Education Foundation people were great and willing to work with us. They are all set up for Corporations and Foundations but they agreed to work with an ordinary family too. We convened a committee meeting of our members (Dad, Mom, Son Rob then 12 and Daughter Juliet then 10) around our kitchen table and created the "Buesing Family Unrestricted Classroom Grants" and we funded it with $5,000 a year ever since. Our goal is to give Mini-Grants of $250-$500 each to teachers to enhance the classroom experience for disadvantaged kids.
Every year we would excitedly receive a thick package of applications and convene the family around the kitchen table to choose our winners. Our kids provided great insight into what would really work in the classroom and we would choose our winners. We funded special art projects; equipment for disabled kids; field trips to TBPAC (for most of those kids, the first time they were ever in a theater); picture books for little ones to take home; and dozens and dozens of other great projects. We would receive heartfelt thank you notes from teachers and photos of the class holding their art projects. It is really cool. These days, the applications come by email attachment and our kids are at college, but it is still really fun to fund these projects.
But every year, we can't fund anything close to all the applications and we have to hope that there are others like us who want to do their part to improve the education of the next generation.
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Upcoming Events
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Grants Online Next Week!
September 2nd - October 6th.
School district personnel are invited to apply online for the following grants: 1. Classroom
2. School Excellence
3. Technology Match
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'Excellence In Education' Recognition Reception
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Lion's Eye Institute
Every year we take a moment to say Thank You to our 'Excellence In Education' Recognition Program donors. For more information please contact Cris Vatalaro at (813) 231-1864.
Amscot Financial's 8th Annual Comedy Night
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tampa Theatre.
Come join us for a night filled with laughter in support of at-risk students in Hillsborough County. Headliner, Brian Bradley will crack you up while you enjoy an evening out at the historic Tampa Theatre.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or in personat the Theatre's Box Office.
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Score a Winning Touchdown for Students on Game Day!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Raymond James Stadium
Buccaneers vs Green Bay Packers
Help us "Stuff the Bus" full of school supplies and score a winning touchdown for Hillsborough's students by donating school supplies (paper, composition books, pencils, glue, rulers, backpacks, etc.) at the upcoming Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. the Green Bay Packers game, September 28th at Raymond James Stadium. You can drop off your donated supplies at any of the Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools' tents located at all four entrance gates and the club entrances around Raymond James Stadium. |
| The Hillsborough Education Foundation In The News! |
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This month's FOCUS, New Tampa Edition, featured our very own Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools! Click here to read the article. Thank you for the support FOCUS! |
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Note From The President
School is back in session - and the Foundation is kicking off its 20th school year of serving the students, teachers and schools of Hillsborough County Public Schools. It's hard to believe it's been that long as we continue to work on our mission "to invest community resources to help students achieve academic success". Twenty years has shown us the power that collaboration brings to assure the highest quality in our public schools.
For those readers who would like a trip down memory lane, click here to read some history of the Foundation and a timeline of significant milestones.
All of our programs, new and existing, are only possible through the generosity of the partners who work to make public education better. Some donors have been with us for 20 years, others have just recently begun supporting programs, and still others have established legacy gifts which will continue to provide for years to come. We, and the beneficiaries of our programs, appreciate your generosity! |
Laugh It Up For Education
 Call your friends, neighbors and colleaguesess to join you at the historic Tampa Theatre to enjoy an evening of side splitting entertainment and laughs. At the same time you will be helping support Hillsborough County's students. We welcome you to attend the Amscot Financial 8th Annual Comedy Night, September 18th, at the Tampa Theatre.
 Proceeds will benefit mentoring and tutoring
programs in our schools. A Sponsor Reception will be held at the TECO Plaza Atrium preceding the show at 6:30pm and the laughs will begin at 8pm, featuring headliner Brian Bradley. Sponsorships are still available for the event and individual tickets can be purchased for $25 by visiting the Tampa Theatre's website. For more information, please contact Mindi Zink at (813) 231-1952. | |
Hewlett-Packard continues to support the Foundation's Technology Matching Grants program. With this presentation, HP has provided $240,000 for this program! |
Tools 4 Schools Breakfast Serves Up Support
Thank you to all of the generous donors to Teaching Tools; you gave a record level of support at our third annual 'Tools 4 Schools' Breakfast - $132,000!!
Special thanks to the L.V. Thompson Family Foundation who committed to match the first $20,000 given!
The Education Foundation was able to play a part and make that wonderful contribution a $50,000 match in total!
Attendees learned first hand about the struggles and challenges facing many of our students, while gaining insight into the program's overall mission. The program created an appreciation and understanding of the need for basic school supplies and learning tools, (pencils, filler paper, crayons, glue, etc.) for the students and teachers of Hillsborough County.
Many thanks to our sponsors:
Platinum
SMPS Tampa Bay
Gold
Covanta Energy Corporation
Hinks and Elaine Shimberg Family
Lazydays Partners Foundation, Inc.
The Bank of Tampa
The Tampa Tribune - News In Education
Yale Industrial Trucks
Silver
Bay Cities Bank
Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves, P.A.
Ciminelli Real Estate Services of Florida, LLC
Fowler White Boggs Banker
Hill Ward Henderson
James & Amy Shimberg Foundation
Merchants Association of Florida, Inc.
Mosaic Company
Mr. & Mrs. Alton C. Ward
National Graphic Imaging
The Beck Group
Time Customer Service, Inc.
Wheelabrator McKay Bay |
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Thank You To Our July Supporters
American Legion Auxiliary Town & Country Memorial Unit 01-52
Mr. Donald Becker
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island
Camden Property Trust
City of Tampa Mayor's Office
Clearwater Wine Club
Community Bank
Covanta Energy Corporation
Creative Recycling Systems, Inc.
Emmett A. Beesly Family
Florida Laser Printer Service, Inc.
GCI Residential
Hill Ward Henderson
HSBC Mortgage Services
Huntington Learning Center
Island Walk Apartment Homes
John Lynch Foundation
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Langford Law Group, P.A.
Lodge at Lakecrest
Gov. Bob Martinez
M.E. Wilson Company, Inc.
McDonald Elementary School PTA
NOVA Southeastern University Fischler School of Education and Human Resources
Office Max
Regions Bank
Saint Leo University
Shriner's Children's Hospital
Society for Marketing Professional Services
St. Petersburg Times Newspaper In Education
Mr. Brian T. Staley
Tampa Bay Uncorked, Inc.
Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Inc.
Tampa Convention Center
The Friends & Family of Tony Sledd
The Tampa Tribune - News In Education
Time Customer Service
University of Phoenix
University of South Florida
University of Tampa
Walker Brand Communications
Mr. & Mrs. Alton C. Ward
Mr. John Zambito |
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We hope you enjoyed our E-newsletter. Please send us your comments and story ideas.
Bill Hoffman
President
Hillsborough Education Foundation |
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