The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation mission is "Your Legacy. Their Opportunity" — and they brought that mission to unprecedented heights in the 2022-23 school year!
Kari Hooker-Leep, GIPS Foundation Executive Director, and Maggie McDermott, GIPS Foundation Annual Giving Coordinator, shared an exciting report at June's Board of Education Meeting. Hooker-Leep and McDermott highlighted the Foundation's largest initiatives from the 2022-23 school year, which culminated in a number of record-breaking milestones.
Here is a look at the impressive support The GIPS Foundation provided this year to district students and teachers:
- Classroom Mini Grants were awarded over $16,000 this year to classrooms throughout the district. The impact of the 16 awarded grants reached over 4,400 students districtwide through innovative programs, teaching initiatives, supplies, and more.
- Over $22,000 was donated from the GIPS Foundation to Grand Island Senior High for Dual Credit support. These funds provide opportunities for Senior High students to take Dual Credit courses without having to worry about enrollment fees.
- 174 scholarships were awarded this academic year to 100+ high school students. The scholarships total eclipsed $639,000 which is a new record for most scholarship dollars awarded in a single academic year by the GIPS Foundation.
- The Annual Staff Giving Campaign reached historic heights as well. 93% of GIPS staff contributed to the staff campaign this year, another record number for the GIPS Foundation. $111,142 total was raised through the Staff Campaign, which marked the third consecutive year the efforts surpassed $100,000 — another GIPS Foundation record.
"The Foundation is dedicated to providing students with a rich educational journey and robust opportunities to help them thrive and dream big." Kari Hooker-Leep shared during her report, "Meeting these students [we support], I can tell you, it is life-changing to see them when we presented them with scholarships. It just changed your heart and fills your heart with so much joy!"
What a landmark year for the GIPS Foundation and the unmatched support they bring to our students and staff!
