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Local education foundation reports $243,000 in scholarships, nearly $3 million endowment and expanded grants
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Summary
Representatives from the Bridal in the Tiger Foundation told the Marshall Public School District board the nonprofit awarded roughly $243,000 in scholarships to graduates, manages more than $3 million in endowed funds and continues classroom and career-technical education grant programs.
Representatives of the Bridal in the Tiger Foundation presented to the Marshall Public School District board, reporting the foundation’s scholarship and grant activity, recent donations and upcoming fundraising events.
Chris DiViella represented the nonprofit and highlighted that the foundation’s endowed funds are “actually over $3,000,000” and that scholarship and annual gifts recently reached roughly $243,000 awarded to graduating seniors. “I still get a little bit of goosebumps when I say nearly $243,000 were given to our graduating seniors,” DiViella said, noting 134 members of the class of 2025 received awards.
DiViella described the foundation’s focus on scholarships and teacher impact grants. He told the board the group is a 501(c)(3) and operates with a volunteer board; he listed current and past officers and several board members by name. He said the foundation has raised more than $245,000 in donations specifically to support career and technical education (CTE), including a gift reported from Buffalo Ridge Wind, part of NextEra Energy. DiViella also identified several grant partners including U.S. Bank Foundation, Taco Bell Foundation (final notice pending), and the Carr Family Foundation, which added 15 scholarships this year targeted to trade-school students.
DiViella described the foundation’s grant process: a one-page teacher application, two deadlines (October and March) and a rubric that prioritizes educational impact, longevity and number of students served. DiViella said the foundation supports both public and private schools in Marshall and often funds partial awards when full funding requests exceed available resources.
Board members thanked the presenter and praised the foundation’s work. DiViella urged support for the foundation’s upcoming fundraising events — a July golf tournament (12:30 p.m. shotgun start) and a raffle — and previewed a Hall of Honor event that will be held in conjunction with homecoming to increase community attendance.
Clarifying details
- Endowed funds: “actually over $3,000,000” reported; speaker said the foundation was getting “close to getting back to that 3.6 number.” - Scholarships: roughly $243,000 awarded to approximately 134 graduates (class of 2025); figure presented at the May 14 award ceremony. - CTE donations: reported more than $245,000 in gifts for career and technical education, including a donation from Buffalo Ridge Wind (part of NextEra Energy). - Grant process: teacher impact grants use a one-page application with two funding cycles (October and March); foundation evaluates longevity and student impact. - Fundraising events: golf tournament in July (12:30 p.m. shotgun) and raffle; Hall of Honor recognition to be held at homecoming.
Proper names, partners and donor notes cited by the presenter included the Carr Family Foundation, Buffalo Ridge Wind/NextEra Energy, American Legion, U.S. Bank Foundation and Taco Bell Foundation. The presenter also named several foundation board officers and volunteers and described the foundation’s practice of posting stories and newsletters on its website to raise awareness.
No formal board action was requested or taken on the foundation report.
