As the Argyle ISD Education foundation gears up for a new fundraising campaign, Development Chair Marcus Doyle said there are numerous objectives at hand.
“Our goal is to have every family, teacher and business help by showing their support and participate in raising the much needed funds by pulling together so that we can make a difference in every child’s future at AISD,” Doyle said. “But we don’t want to stop there. Another goal is to get everyone involved and informed on what our teachers, schools, and children are facing with these cutbacks in state funding and how if everyone would help, we can make a difference.”
The AISD faces more than $1.3 million in funding cuts over the next two years, which ultimately decreases the amount of funds available to support excellence above and beyond the standard state curriculum, and that is where the foundation comes in.
The Argyle ISD Education Foundation is comprised of a group of business, community and neighborhood volunteers working together to provide resources to enhance the learning environment in AISD schools. The goal is to provide educational learning experiences that would not be allowed with traditional state funding. The Education Foundation does not replace state fund deficits but provides supplemental funds to increase educational excellence.
This new campaign is called “Back the Red and Black,” and runs until March 31, 2012.
Doyle said it was a team effort deciding what the Education Foundation would do to raise funds.
“Our foundation collectively researched a series of other charity campaigns,” Doyle said. “By doing this, we were able to identify not only the most successful programs, but the programs that best fit our community and our goals. In effect, we enable ourselves to not only provide financial support in all AISD classrooms, but unite the community with common goals.”
Education Foundation members are asking for corporate and individual donations, and there are a number of options available.
A donation of $35 to $99 receives a yard sign, a donation of $100-$249 receives a yard sign and T-Shirt, a donation of $250 to $999 receives a yard sign and two T-shirts and donations of $1,000 or greater receive a yard sign, two T-Shirts, and 20 percent off two tickets to the AISD Education Foundation’s annual Black Diamond Affair, or 20 percent off a table sponsorship to the Black Diamond Affair on March 3, 2012. All donations are tax deductible.
Doyle said funds from the event go to help with a variety of expenses the district incurs in providing supplemental educational experiences.
“Donations will impact many important functions within the district,” Doyle said. “Our goal is to not just affect today’s AISD students and teachers, but impact future students and teachers as well. These functions include, but are not limited to grants to teachers, campus site grants, teacher enrichment grants, student enrichment grants, scholarships, special education funds, teacher excellence and appreciation events and [providing for] every student, present and future in the AISD.”
Doyle said he cannot help but be impressed at the amount of support the AISD Education Foundation has received from Argyle residents and the surrounding communities.
“We would like to take a moment and give gratitude to the people who have already donated to our campaign,” Doyle said. “Not only do we appreciate your donations, but we stand amazed by the ongoing support given to us by proudly displaying our signs throughout town.
“I want to encourage everyone to join in our cause and our community spirit…I am proud when I pull into a business and see their signs displayed, when I drive around our neighborhoods and see the signs in yards, or when I attend events and see individuals wearing our T-shirts. It simply reinforces the true meaning of community spirit and why I moved to Argyle to raise my family.”
Contact the AISD Education Foundation at [email protected] or call Mary Stein, Director of Operations, at 940-390-8960 for more information or to learn how to make a donation.
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