PUSD Education Foundation marks 10 years, reports $147,000 in district grants and new endowed funding

The Prescott Unified School District Education Foundation told the Governing Board on July 1 that it has grown into a regular funder of district projects and community programs, reporting $147,000 in contributions to the district in the last fiscal year and marking its 10th anniversary.

Board members heard from Dave Clever, president of the PUSD Education Foundation, and Paul Kirchbaver, the foundation's executive director, who said the foundation’s support ranges from large one-time projects to ongoing programs that supply teachers and families.

"We've been around for 10 years," Clever said as he opened the update. He and Kirchbaver highlighted several major initiatives the foundation supported last year, including site grants that helped purchase new desks at Mile High and a focus on recruiting and retaining middle school math teachers. "One of the big ones...we contributed dollars 147,000 to the district," Clever said.

Kirchbaver described the Teacher's Closet, a free supply program for teachers, saying the foundation spent about $16,000 in cash purchases and raised about $14,000 in community donations to support it. He said in recent years the foundation has increased tracking of teacher pickups and will start recording supplies picked up on behalf of other teachers to better capture the program’s reach.

The foundation also reported it will serve as the fiduciary for the Prescott Honey Kids project after an individual donor contributed roughly $266,000, money the foundation says will fund the project for about eight to 10 years. The program prepares weekend lunches for students in need and distributes them to schools, and foundation representatives said approximately 75–100 children currently receive the program on a regular basis.

Clever and Kirchbaver described fundraising events that sustain the foundation’s work: the foundation's gala raised about $75,000 last year, and other community events such as a beer garden have supplied both revenue and volunteer support. The foundation said it now manages more than $1 million in assets built over its 10-year history.

Clever and Kirchbaver also noted scholarships and targeted supports the foundation funded this year, including three scholarships for Prescott High School students, contributions to the district resource center and meal or clothing supports through partnerships with local law enforcement rangers. The board was invited to the foundation’s presentation at the Arizona Community Foundation’s Joy of Giving event on Aug. 8; Clever said a table costs $450 and individual tickets are $60.

Board members thanked the foundation volunteers and asked clarifying questions about how the foundation uses donations and how the Teacher’s Closet tracks community-donated supplies. Kirchbaver said local organizations, retiring teachers, college students and businesses regularly donate materials, and that the foundation will begin tracking secondary pickups more carefully this year.

The board did not take action on the presentation; the session was an informational update.

Ending: Foundation leaders asked board members and the public to consider supporting the foundation’s upcoming events; they said the foundation will continue to prioritize site-level grants and program work that directly affects classrooms and student supports.