Tee sponsorships totaling $24,900 were disbursed directly to schools and the
Foundation received $16,883 which will support classroom grants, Students of Promise
scholarship program and grants for new teachers.

The Foundation wishes to thank event sponsors, Tee sponsors, raffle prize donors
and the many committee members who worked tirelessly to make the Golf Invitational
happen.

Click here to see Tee Sponsor dollars for each school.

One of the signature programs that the Foundation supports annually is the “Classroom
and School Grants” program. Grants awarded through this program provide innovative
and creative educational experiences which help students succeed academically and
personally.

According to Mike Flynn, Foundation Chairperson, “the Foundation received requests
for projects totaling $287,343. It was evident that teachers and staff put a lot of thought
and care into writing their applications. Every request was for a quality program and we
regret that we could not provide funds for all 55 projects.”

Grant amounts awarded ranged from $195 to $10,000. Community Day School
received $195 to purchase “Brain Pop” which is an animated, interactive website
that uses fun animated characters to teach vocabulary and concept development.
Buchanan High School received $10,000 for a Mobile Netbook Lab that can be moved
from classroom to classroom. The Netbook Lab will teach students how to make
interactive presentations with the latest technology.

Click on the link below for a complete list of projects funded.

A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY . . .

Recently, a group of parents and business owners met to discuss how to raise dollars to help our schools cope with the biggest budget reductions in the school district’s history. Over the past 18 months, the State has taken $50 million from Clovis Unified’s budget. This represents 15% of the school district’s total budget!

Out of that meeting came the idea for the “Doc” Buchanan Golf Invitational to benefit the Foundation for Clovis Schools. The proceeds will be directed to K-12 schools across the district in addition to classroom grants and student scholarships sponsored by the Foundation.

A variety of sponsorships are available including Tee Sponsorships for $300. 100% of proceeds from Tee Sponsorships will go directly to schools and Tee Sponsors may designate which school(s) will receive their sponsorship.
Additional sponsorships for up to $10,000 will provide funding for critical programs that District leadership has asked the Foundation to support.

Click on the Brochure PDF below to access information about sponsorship levels and benefits. In addition, you may print the Sponsorship Agreement and the Golf Invitational Registration Form. Instructions for submitting forms and payment are on the brochure.

This inaugural event is sure to stand out among the best. Each player will be provided great food, a beautiful day of golf and a tee prize package you won’t soon forget! We invite you to be part of this prestigious event by becoming one of our valued sponsors, by playing in the Invitational, or both. You will be helping our schools at a critical time.

Please join us.

Honorary Co-Chairs
Nick Zinkin
Steve Poindexter
Dennis DeLiddo
Jim Fugman

Event Chair
Danny Parra

PDF - Golf Tournament for the Foundation for Clovis Schools

For more information, contact Danny Parra at 281-1264 or at danny.parra@lennar.com.

Wes Qualls, Director of Irrigation and Industrial Surfaces, Franklin Electric

Wes is a graduate of Clovis High School and has three children currently attending Clovis Unified schools. He has served on the Cedarwood Elementary Soccer Board and the Clovis High School Cougar Foundation Board. When asked why he wanted to serve as a Director for the Foundation for Clovis Schools, Wes said, “As a product of Clovis Unified, I want to help our schools continue to provide the excellent education I received and that my children are receiving. There is not another school district anywhere that can match Clovis Unified in what it does to provide children with opportunities to be successful. My goal is to increase the community’s understanding of the low amount of funding the District receives to educate our children. It’s really important that we correct the misperception that Clovis Unified is a wealthy school district. Clovis Unified is a special place. As a new director, I’m constantly amazed at the dedication of school district employees and volunteers and the countless hours they commit to our children. Being part of this team is truly rewarding.”

Ed Dunkel, Jr., President/CEO of Precision Civil Engineering, Inc.

Ed spent his entire K-12 school career in Clovis Unified schools. He attended Jefferson Elementary, Clark Intermediate and graduated from Clovis High School. In addition to serving as a Foundation for Clovis Schools Director, Ed serves on the Saint Agnes Foundation Board, Building Industry Association Board, Bulldog Foundation Board and the Fresno State Athletic Council. When asked why he wanted to join the Foundation for Clovis Schools Board, Ed explained, “The one Foundation program that really touched me initially was Students of Promise. I can fully relate to these students. I know how important a program like this can be for a child that might be financially disadvantaged or lacking the support of a traditional family unit. Also, I know how much the school district needs financial help from the community. My hope is that the Foundation can raise enough funds to significantly impact the needs in our schools. I’m hoping we can touch every student and every teacher.”

Betsy Sandoval, President, Clovis Unified School District Governing Board

Betsy was elected as President of the Clovis Unified Governing Board at their December 2009 meeting. As President of the Governing Board, Betsy will serve as an active, voting Foundation Director for the next year. Having the Governing Board President serve on the Foundation Board of Directors ensures that Directors are aware of current District needs and goals, that the Foundation adopts educational programs identified as a priority by the school district and that Directors establish appropriate fundraising goals to support those programs. Betsy has served on the Foundation Board of Directors numerous times during her tenure on the Governing Board and has been a tremendous help to the Foundation in building community support for our schools. When asked how it feels to be back on the Foundation Board, Betsy commented, “It is my pleasure to once again serve as the CUSD Board’s representative to the Foundation Board. This board is a dedicated group of volunteers that puts in countless hours of their time to raise money to help our students and schools.”

The Superintendent’s Back-to-School Breakfast is hosted by the Foundation for Clovis Schools with proceeds going to educational programs in Clovis Unified schools.

The event will be held at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Clovis. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. followed by Dr. Cash’s presentation. For reservations, call Melinda Lail at 327-9093.

Download Breakfast Invitation

Seven local community organizations are beneficiaries of the Home of Hope fundraiser including the Foundation for Clovis Schools. Proceeds received by the Foundation will support Project SMART, a mentoring program for at-risk students in grades 4-8, at Community Day School. Other beneficiaries include: Community Food Bank, Poverello House, Hinds Hospice (Angel Babies), Assistance League and the Foundations for Central and Sanger Schools.

Darius Assemi of Granville Homes said, “This home is a symbol of what each of these organizations do each and every day by giving hope to those in need in our community. Please join all of us at Granville Homes by purchasing your ticket today.”

Those wishing to participate in the raffle can purchase tickets for $100 each and will be eligible to win the grand prize of a brand new Granville Home. Ticket buyers will also be eligible to win numerous other prizes, including LASIK surgery (two-eyes) by EYE-Q Vision Care, a .43 carat diamond from Orloff Jewelers, two Trek Bicycles from Rubber Soul Bicycles, $500 gas cards and more.

To purchase tickets, call the Foundation for Clovis Schools at 327-9090 or visit the “Home of Hope” website at www.gvhomeofhope.com.

Each year, the Foundation raises dollars for the “Classroom and School Grant Program” which supports innovative and creative programs that help students improve academically and personally.  According to Mike Flynn, Foundation Chairperson, “the Foundation received requests for projects totaling $562,222.  This is an increase of 17% or an additional $100,000 over last year.  I believe this reflects the tight budget issues that Clovis Unified schools, and all schools, are facing in these tough economic times.  When all of us on the review teams read the projects that teachers want to implement in their classrooms and at their schools, it made each of us more determined to take their stories to the community and ask for more support.”

Grants funded include a unique handwriting program for kindergarten (Fancher Creek Elementary), a plant-renting enterprise to teach students business and marketing skills (Clovis East High School), and a campus TV/radio broadcasting system to teach students video and audio technology (Alta Sierra Intermediate).

(See below for complete list of projects funded.)

2009-2010 Classroom Grants Funded

The “Students of Promise,” all juniors at CUSD high schools, were selected for maintaining good standing in school despite formidable personal obstacles or unusual challenges.

Each year, the Foundation for Clovis Schools sponsors the awards, with each student becoming eligible for a $1,500 scholarship upon graduation. “When Foundation Directors reviewed the nominations that were submitted on [these students’] behalf, we were humbled and in awe of their character and strength. They truly are remarkable,” said Foundation for Clovis Schools Chairperson Mike Flynn.

The Foundation raises funds for the scholarship program through individual and business donations. Educational Employees Credit Union was the major sponsor of this year’s event.

Students and guests were surprised with the announcement that Foundation Director J.P. Sethi and his wife Renu were giving each of the 12 students an additional $1,500.00 for a second year scholarship. Mr. Sethi commented, “Three years ago, I was a guest of Foundation Director Vasanta Shantharam at the Students of Promise dinner. My children went to Bullard High School so I did not have a connection to Clovis Schools. On the way home, my wife turned to me and said, ‘we need to support this program.’ We’ve been huge supporters of this program ever since and it led me to becoming a Foundation Director.”

This program serves as motivation for these students to finish high school and advance to higher education. Previous recipients have gone on to UC Berkeley, Cal Poly, Fresno State, the Clovis Center, Clovis Adult Education, vocational schools, beauty school and other specialty educational institutions.

This year’s “Students of Promise” include:  Kirstie Breshears, Gateway High School; Seaira Delgado, Gateway High School; Lewis Dutra, Clovis West High School; Hazael Gonzalez, Clovis High School; Gilberto Lerma, Buchanan High School/CART; Vanetta Mata, Clovis West High School; Sarah Mullin, Gateway High School; Sahana Ashok Nayak, Buchanan High School; Hailey Ricord, Buchanan High School; David Samuels, Clovis High School; Steven Smith, Clovis West High School; Sammantha Wood, Clovis High School

According to Mike Flynn, Foundation Chairperson,

Each year, Foundation Directors read letters from school counselors and teachers about some extraordinary young people who have beat the odds. As we read these letters and learn what these students have faced in their young lives, we wonder how they found the strength to overcome so much. Their stories really are extraordinary. I encourage anyone who wants to be inspired by tremendous examples of overcoming adversity, please join us at this year’s dinner. I guarantee you won’t leave that night thinking about life in the same way.”

The Students of Promise award is given to students in their junior year to reward them for persevering through tough times and to encourage them to keep up the good work. When told they have been selected as a Student of Promise, most students say, “I never expected to be recognized for anything. I was just doing what I needed to do.” Upon graduation from high school, each Student of Promise is eligible to receive a $1,500.00 scholarship for college or technical school.

This year’s recipients are:

Kirstie Breshears - Gateway High School
Seaira Delgado - Gateway High School
Lewis Dutra - Clovis West High School
Hazael Gonzalez - Clovis High School
Gilberto Lerma - Buchanan High School & CART
Vanetta Mata - Clovis West High School
Sarah Mullin - Gateway High School
Sahana Ashok Nayak - Buchanan High School
Hailey Ricord - Buchanan High School
David Samuels - Clovis High School
Steven Smith - Clovis West High School
Samantha Wood - Clovis High School

The 2009 Students of Promise Scholarship Dinner will be held Tuesday, March 31, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at TorNino’s. Cost of the dinner is $40.00 per person. Reservations may be made by calling the Foundation office at 327-9090.

“The new website is going to be a great way for our supporters to learn more about the good work the Foundation is doing. The site will feature on-going stories about students and teachers and the impact community contributions are making. We’re very excited about all the features we’ve been able to incorporate on this website.” Ms. Holmes added, “One of the most important features is that supporters now have the convenience of making their contributions online. More people are shopping and paying bills online and, yes, making charitable contributions online. We wanted to offer that option and the new website allows us to do that.”

A new giving program featured on the website is Tribute Gifts. Tribute gifts provide a meaningful way to memorialize a person’s life, honor a special milestone, or honor a friend or colleague while helping the children in our schools. When a tribute gift is made, the Foundation sends a tribute gift card to the family or individual being honored. Gift cards are unique as they feature original artwork by students in Clovis schools.

A committee of Foundation donors gave input on the content and design of the new website. Foundation Chairperson, Mike Flynn commented, “It was very important to design a website that includes information that is important to donors and include tools that donors will use to interact with us. We appreciate the time these busy individuals spent to help us develop a site that our community will want to visit.”

Website Development Committee members: Doug Benik, Jeff Larson, Patty Martin, Gilbert Nye, Scott Odell, Doug Reitz, John Smith, Bill Walls, Diane Genco, Jeanne Hatfield, Cheryl Rogers, Jerry McKune, Linda Holmes, Melinda Lail.