Canyons Education Foundation reports $2.5 million in assets, details scholarships and resource closet

The Canyons Education Foundation told the Canyons School District Board of Education on May 6 that it holds about $2,507,750 in total assets and has expanded scholarships, teacher grants and student supports.

The foundation said unrestricted donations, targeted gifts and in-kind donations support scholarships, family assistance and classroom or program needs. Denise (Foundation presenter) told the board, “Our actual, total assets right now are 2,507,750.” Board president Fred Lowry said the foundation has given “over a million dollars now” in teacher innovation grants over time.

Why it matters: The foundation’s private fundraising and in-kind donations fund student supports that the district does not directly provide, including emergency family assistance, holiday gift cards, scholarships and teacher innovation grants. That supplements district programs for McKinney‑Vento students and other targeted needs.

Foundation leaders described how donations are handled. They said restricted gifts are routed to the program or school the donor designates; unrestricted dollars go to the foundation’s general fund for flexible use. Foundation staff said they maintain endowments and plan to add several new named endowment funds in the coming year.

The presentation listed recent fundraising results and program highlights. The foundation reported a record gala that raised about $90,000 this year, and said annual fundraisers and events — including a golf tournament and community donation drives — contribute more than $200,000 a year in cash fundraisers plus another $150,000–$200,000 in in‑kind donations. The foundation said one in‑kind receipt included hundreds of pairs of basketball shoes donated through a Utah Jazz connection.

Leaders described scholarships and grants the foundation administers. Foundation staff said private donors now back a set of “Canyon Strong” scholarships and that the foundation facilitated more than $100,000 in scholarships this year, up from roughly $53,000 at the time of the previous report. Foundation representatives said they administer about $100,000 a year in teacher innovation grants and have distributed more than $1 million cumulatively.

The foundation described its resource closet operations, saying school staff request items for families and the foundation fills and returns the items to schools. Foundation leaders said the resource closet fulfilled more than 2,000 requests this year for food, clothing and school supplies.

Foundation governance and transparency were also addressed. Presenters said the foundation documents its meetings and trainings and posts agendas, minutes and recordings to the foundation website and the state public‑notice site; they said board members are asked to complete required state trainings and Open Meetings Act education.

The foundation named local business and philanthropic partners that have contributed support, including the Larry H. Miller family, Lone Peak Hospital, Cypress Credit Union and America First Credit Union, among others. Foundation staff said they are increasing outreach on legacy and planned giving and are exploring additional endowment funds to sustain long‑term programs.

The foundation presentation concluded with an invitation to the public to participate in upcoming fundraisers and donation drives and with an offer to answer board questions. Presenters said the foundation would continue expanding partnerships with the district and community organizations.

The presentation was for information; no formal board action followed.

Ending: Foundation leaders asked the board and the public to contact them with questions about donations, grants or the resource closet and said they would return with updates at future meetings.