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Success Foundation reports $4.2 million raised for Smart Labs, expands food pantries and activity funding
Summary
The Success Foundation updated the school board on projects completed and funded in 2024, including districtwide Smart Labs, 34 school food pantries, and new funding for youth athletics, music instruments and teacher grants.
The Success Foundation told the Greeley Evans School District 6 Board of Education on Feb. 10 that it completed installation of 21 Smart Labs across elementary, middle and K–8 schools and raised about $4.2 million for the project.
The report, delivered by Success Foundation board president John Shetler and Executive Director Julie Hill, said the foundation invested “almost $870,000” in Smart Labs in 2024 and highlighted other 2024 investments and donor support across district programs.
Why it matters: The foundation’s money supports instructional equipment and student access to technology and supplements district budgets for extracurriculars and student needs.
Foundation highlights included: - Smart Labs: 21 districtwide labs completed; roughly $4.2 million raised overall; about $870,000 invested by the foundation in 2024. - School food pantries: 34 pantries now operate at all school sites (including charter schools); the foundation said an unsolicited donor gave $150,000 to support pantry sustainability. - Youth athletics and coaches: The foundation raised a little over $530,000 in 2024 to support fourth- and fifth-grade athletics equipment and coaching stipends, leveraging a statewide youth sports giving day that included a 3:1 match for Weld County donors. - Music program: The foundation reported $175,000 in donations to purchase and repair instruments; the stated goal is a 1:1 instrument-to-student ratio for grades 6–12. - John W. Hafley Opportunity Fund: More than $55,000 distributed for student needs; individual awards up to $500 to cover items such as conference fees, driver’s education or instruments. - Innovative learning grants: The foundation moved to two funding cycles per year; applications rose from 9 to 31 in the fall cycle. The foundation said it awarded 15 grants totaling a little over $20,000 so far this year.
“We were new, and I think I give a lot of credit to our founders,” Shetler said while reading the foundation’s mission. “Our mission is to build a strong and healthy community by bringing resources together in support of pre‑K through 12 education.”
Board members and students at the meeting praised the foundation’s work. Board member Mr. Azari said the foundation’s individual grants and supports “directly impact our kids and change their lives,” and a student speaker credited foundation-funded instruments with strengthening Northridge High School’s band and competitive ratings.
The foundation also previewed upcoming events, including the Success Foundation breakfast on March 11 at Northridge High School and the annual Success in 6 awards. Executive Director Hill said the foundation is fielding a larger donor base than in its early years: she contrasted roughly $187,000 in revenue in 2015 to more than $3 million raised in 2024.
Ending: Foundation leaders said they will continue targeted fundraising to sustain Smart Labs, food pantries, instrument replacement and teacher innovation grants and invited board and community questions at future meetings.
