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Building a solid foundation

Kentucky School Advocate

May 2019

By Kristin Campbell

KSBA Development Manager

“We all work for the students, and why not recognize students?”
– former KSBA President Tom Blankenship

What is the Kentucky School Boards Association Educational Foundation, Inc.? That’s the question I have been frequently asked since I became the development manager at KSBA last fall, and one of my primary responsibilities at KSBA is to provide the answer.

The foundation, formed in 1992, is the charitable arm of the association. And while the foundation has seen modest activity in recent years, KSBA hopes to breathe new life into the foundation to ensure that it remains a vital part of supporting KSBA’s mission of increasing the effectiveness of school boards, promoting the well-being of students and strengthening public schools.

The foundation is led by a nine-member board of directors appointed by the KSBA president. The members meet quarterly to guide the foundation.

Through donations and grants, the foundation provides support to KSBA and, by partnering with other organizations across the state, seeks to fulfill its priorities of training for school board members, research, community engagement, student support services, technology and school safety.

One of the foundation’s main goals is to secure donations for the First Degree Scholarship Program. Every year since 2012, KSBA’s Board of Directors has awarded two $2,500 scholarships to eligible Kentucky high school seniors who would be the first in their immediate families to receive a postsecondary degree. The foundation’s board of directors hopes to increase the amount raised for the First Degree Scholarships and, in turn, provide more scholarships to allow more Kentucky students to become the first in their families to pursue a postsecondary degree.

Thanks to the efforts of one KSBA Educational Foundation board member, we are ahead of the game in doing just that. Foundation board member Carl Wicklund, chairman of the Kenton County Board of Education, has pledged a portion of his monthly board per diem to the foundation. Not only that, but Wicklund recruited his fellow Kenton County board members and the superintendent to join him. All have now pledged to support the foundation through a monthly payroll deduction.

The recurring donations will be the first in the history of the foundation! When asked why he chose to donate, Wicklund said he wanted to ensure the support by the Kenton board long after he and the other members have moved on. If your board would like to follow in Kenton County’s footsteps, please contact me at [email protected] for more information.

In the meantime, an easy way to give to the KSBA Educational Foundation is by participating in our first Day of Giving. On May 14, the foundation will join other non-profits from across the state in Kentucky Gives Day, an online 24-hour fundraiser. The event is your opportunity to make a profound impact on Kentucky high school students. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised during Kentucky Gives Day will go directly to the First Degree Scholarship fund.

We have seen the difference the scholarship program has made in the lives of recipients. With your help, we can give more Kentucky students the opportunity to achieve their dreams by becoming the first in their families to get a postsecondary education. You can support our campaign by visiting www.kygives.org and donating on May 14. Follow us on social media to stay updated on our progress using the hashtag #KYGives19.