www.acsf.org
Celebrate the Past. Thrive in the Present. Strive for the Future.
2013-2014 Annual Report
Executive Director’s Note Responding to Community Needs Since 1988
Kate Pett - Executive Director
From humble beginnings, the Asheville City Schools Foundation has grown from a small group of concerned parents and community members in 1988, to a thriving network of parents, educators, community leaders, businesses, volunteers, non-profit partners, donors, and civic leaders. We celebrate the thoughtful, dedicated group of individuals who came together to ensure that our schools matched the promise of this community - their vision and hard work launched a movement in our community to support and shape our schools so that each child might succeed.
Fast forward 25 years, and the Asheville City Schools Foundation is thriving, impacting directly 2,000 children each year, and protecting excellent education for each child in the Asheville City Schools through advocacy work across the state. Through ACSF programs, children experience top-notch instruction from teachers inspired by Fellowships and grants; struggling learners find new success with volunteer tutors and mentors; young teens enrolled in In Real Life explore and experience the world through afterschool learning; and young adults get necessary support to make their college dreams come true. But there is so much more to do. We are striving and reaching to achieve our highest purpose - to ensure that each child has the best education so that they can succeed in school and in life. With a dynamic and engaged board of directors, we have never been more dedicated to working with our schools and community to address the disparities in opportunity and achievement that prevent some children from reaching their potential. We simply must realize the full promise of public education in Asheville by raising the achievement of each child. Please join us in bravely examining the barriers that hold children back, and gathering the resources to ensure that each child has a path to a life of worth and dignity. Thank you,
Kate Pett
Asheville City Schools Foundation
P.O. Box 3196 Asheville, NC 28802
828-350-6174
Engaging Community The ACS Foundation is founded by a group of concerned parents, community members and school personnel to increase local support for public education.
Snapshots over the years Watch how we’ve grown!
Addressing Achievement Gap ACSF teams up with the Education Coalition, a community-wide collaboration “to provide volunteers who will help eliminate achievement gaps and help public school students graduate.” ACSF adds a Tutor Coordination Program.
Acknowledging Inequity ACSF leads the Listening Project providing an opportunity for the community to express it’s concerns on low student achievement. The report reveals inequities in the distribution of services to students and plays a part in bringing about a Student Achievement Task Force.
Aiding Families in Crisis The Emergency Assistance Fund is created to fill urgent needs of the most vulnerable children to provide access to food, clothing, and shelter to ensure children are ready to learn. Supporting Teachers The Teacher Grants Program is expanded from Mini-Grants to include Major Grants, providing funds for innovation in classrooms from $200-$5,000.
Listening to Our Teens Research shows 182 crimes were committed by young people between the ages of 6 and 15 and between 3-6pm in Buncombe County in one year. ACSF interviews over 200 stakeholders, data is compiled and ACSF leads a summit to share findings and propose solutions to reduce juvenile crime and engage young people after school. The groundwork for the In Real Life after school program is laid.
Involving Parents & Communities ACSF recruits VISTA volunteers to work directly in the schools on parent and community involvement, and address student, teacher and schools needs. Closing the Opportunity Gap IRL (In Real Life) after school program launches and 235 middle school students attend; 48% receive free and reduced lunch and 80% attend two or more days a week throughout the year. Elevating Arts in Education UNCA, LEAF in Schools and Streets and ACSF partner for the creation of TAPAS (Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools) and provide 62 days of residencies with local artists who integrate their craft into the curriculum.
Connecting PTOs ACSF brings together PTO representatives from all of Asheville’s public schools to share ideas that can help make PTOs more effective. Diving Deeper on the Achievement Gap ACSF awards $20,000 in racial equity grants to four schools to understand the barriers to success and full inclusion for our students and families of color. Investing Scholarship Funds ACSF moves scholarship funds to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to grow our ability to make college accessible to all. Responding to Legislation ACSF leads a response to NC legislation that hurts ACS students and teachers. This becomes the catalyst for WNC for Public Education, a regional group of parents who advocate for public education.
PROGRAM IMPACT 2013-2014 Afterschool
Teacher Grants
Last year, 252 students engaged in math lab, theater, chess club, Cross Fit and much more. ACSF led community organizations and hundreds of volunteers to provide life-changing afterschool opportunities through the IRL (In Real Life) program at Asheville Middle School.
Teacher grants allow teachers to add special projects and creative learning opportunities to their everyday curriculum, creating enhanced classroom experiences for 3,179 students. $110,000 in grant awards were distributed to more than 100 outstanding teachers.
TAPAS
More than 2,054 students developed new connections to the core curriculum through hands-on arts experiences. With our partners, ACSF provided 231 days of artists in residence. The Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools (TAPAS) program places highly-trained artists in ACS classrooms.
Advocacy
College Scholarships
ACSF mobilized the community to support public education by raising awareness. More than 700 parents and community leaders questioned representatives at a forum, sported Love A Teacher t-shirts, and participated in a social media campaign to raise teachers’ salaries.
ACSF awarded $206,200 in new and renewed scholarships to 89 college-goers from Asheville High/SILSA. ACSF makes these investments because it’s critical that local graduates have the opportunity to move on to higher education and brighter futures.
Volunteers in our Schools Hundreds of ACS families were impacted by the ACSF AmeriCorps VISTA team. More than 700 volunteers were placed in Asheville City Schools to tutor and mentor students. VISTAs facilitated family education and outreach to enhance the success of students living in poverty.
THANK YOU DONORS 28th Judicial District Bar Bob and Peg Adams Joel & Marla Adams Carrie Allen Gamma Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority William Anderson Anonymous (4) Ballet Conservatory of Asheville Lesley Bartlett Patricia Bastain Michael Brown & Ameena Batada Henri Kieffer & Ann Batchelder Keith Black Michael & Judith Bohan Benefit Brewing Co. Joyce & Andy Brown Jean Buchanan Robert & Glenda Burgin Bill & Shelagh Byrne Christopher & Katie Campbell Pamela Clarkson Reid Chapman & Cathy Cleary Fletcher & Melissa Comer Robert & Peggy Dalman Robert Deutsch Different Strokes! Virginia Duquet Steve & Sandra Dykes
Richard & Bridget Eckerd Charles Krekelberg & Amy Ellingsen William & Carol Falender Evelyn & Connor Fay Marshall & Heidi Fields Mike Figura Ola Flynt Whole Foods Glass Foundation Brian Friel, Gutter Helmet Julie Furdyna Althea Gonzalez Grace Episcopal Church Cynthia Grady Robert & Pauline Hanich Keith Hargrove Scott & Linda Wilkerson of Harmony Motors Earlyn Hart Eva Hericks-Bares Melvin & Naomi Hines Zachary & Lockie Hunter Gregory & Nancy Hutchins Bruce & Jo Ikelheimer William Irby Ed Isbey Nateesha Johnson Allen Johnson Jostens Michael & Monica Koerschner
Foundation Partners
Altamont Brewing Company Asheville City Schools Beattie Foundation Big Brothers Big Sisters Burroughs Wellcome Fund City of Asheville Claxton Elementary PTO Community Development Block Grant Crossfit Pisgah Duke Energy Progress Handmade In America LEAF Schools and Streets Make a donation: www.acsf.org
Bruce & Jean Larson Tim Plaut & Robyn Latessa Gretchen Leatherwood Mark & Christine Lenderman M.B. Haynes Corporation Vernon Martin Matthew Maultsby Lenoir Medlock Marc Rudow & Deborah Miles John Menkes & Honor Moor North Carolina Retired School Personnel Brian Newport Andy Pooser & Rachel Paar Dudley & Elizabeth Peeler Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. Vincent Floriani & Kate Pett Timothy & Judith Phelan Julie Porter-Shirley Marc Hunt & Catherine Potts Mary Powell Tanya Presha Allen Proctor Frank Patton III & Susan Reiser Roberts & Stevens
Tiece Ruffin Mitch & Betsey Russell David Hurand & Martha Salyers William Scarborough William & Joyce Sederburg Jo Setzer Scott White & Missy Sherburne David Olson & Susan Shilcock Dr. Bobbie Short Tom & Pam Siekman Brooks Sizemore John & Yvonne Smith Laura Stone Joel Storrow Virgil Thrash Russell & Laurie Towers David & Denise Turner Craig White & Sasha Vrtunski Dianne Ward John Bell & Judy Whisnant Kern Parker & Betsy Wilson Winfield & Margaret Word-Sims Eric & Lucinda Wykle-Rosenberg Helen Thomas & Kathleen Young
ACSF is grateful for all of our donors at every level of giving. This list reflects donors over $250 in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
Page & George Bradham Family Foundation Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. Read to Succeed Asheville Sisters Of Mercy Of NC Foundation Sutherland Foundation, Inc TD Charitable Foundation The Midgard Foundation Unitarian Universalist Church Of Asheville United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County Wells Fargo Foundation Windgate Charitable Foundation Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Interested in making a planned gift? development@acsf.org
ACSF FINANCIALS Financial Statement Revenue and Support $445,000 Contributions $267,371 Foundation & Nonprofit Grants $22,045 Program Service Revenue VISTA-Organization Contributions $37,710 $55,153 Special Events $25,740 In Kind Contributions $87,612 Investment Income $940,631 Total Revenue and Support
Expenses Program Services Management and General Fundraising Total Expenses
For a copy of our most recent audit & 990 please visit www.acsf.org.
Revenue and Support
Expenses Fundraising 3% Management & General 9%
Investment Income 9% In Kind Contributions 3%
Program Support & Advocacy 4%
Special Events 6% VISTA-OrganizationContributions 4% Program Service Revenue 2%
$720, 4 6 3 $62, 2 5 1 $24, 5 2 0 $807, 2 3 3
VISTA & Volunteer Tutor Program 10% Contributions 47%
TAPAS 5%
Foundation & Nonprofit Grants 29 %
Board of Directors 2013-2014 William J. Anderson Executive Committee: Danielle Arias Sasha Vrtunski, President Steve Dykes, Past-President Fletcher Comer Garvin Deters Shelagh Byrne, Secretary Eva Hericks-Bares Joyce Brown, Treasurer William Irby, Jr.
Student Scholarships 33%
IRL Program 19%
Debby Maugans Matt Maultsby Honor Moor Tamiko Ambrose Murray Tanya Presha
ACSF Staff Kate Pett, Executive Director Erica Bell, Development Director Jay Lively, Volunteer Training & Outreach Programs Director Miranda Bailey, Foundation Administrator & Student Scholarships
Teacher Grants & Scholarships 17%
Tiece Ruffin At Large: Betsey Russell Peggy Dalman Dan Shaw ACS School Board Missy Sherburne Denise Turner
Kern Parker, ACSF Volunteer Bookkeeper Molly Russell, VISTA Grants Volunteer Travis Herbert, IRL Campus Director Tiffany De’Bellott, IRL Programs Coordinator Megan Grandfield, IRL VISTA Volunteer
ACSF SPONSORS Premier Sponsors $1,000-$10,000+
Making College Possible Sponsors $500+ Asheville Radio Group Asheville Scene 5 Walnut Wine Bar Asheville City Schools Bizamajig
Dixon Hughes Goodman Etchville Equinox Environmental Fraternal Order of Police French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Genova Diagnostics Home Energy Partners RHA Management Siemens Law Firm Tupelo Honey CafĂŠ
Ensuring Academic Achievement Sponsors $250+ French Broad Brewing Co. Asheville Pediatric Dentistry Ballet Conservatory BB&T
Great Beginnings Pediatric & Orthodontic Specialists Honor Moor and John Menkes Retro-fit Design LLC
ACSF is committed to the responsible use of funds and the environment. Only 1,000 of these Annual Reports were printed and made possible thanks to a generous printing sponsorship by Printville. Online copies of the report are available on our website at www.acsf.org.
Roberts & Stevens Samsel Architects Webb Insurance