Success Foundation says Smart Labs complete, reports $3M-plus annual fundraising and expands pantries, athletics and music support

The Success Foundation reported to the Greeley Evans School District 6 Board of Education that it completed a districtwide Smart Labs project in 2024, has substantially increased fundraising compared with earlier years and is expanding school food pantries, athletics and music support across the district.

The foundation said installation of 21 Smart Labs across elementary, middle and K–8 schools finished in 2024. Julie Hill, a Success Foundation leader who gave the update, said the foundation invested almost $870,000 in Smart Labs during 2024 and that the total raised for the project from community funders and grants was $4,200,000.

The foundation also reported that 34 school food pantries are now operating at all school sites, including charter schools. Hill said one anonymous donor gave $150,000 late in the year to support the pantries; the foundation does not know the donor’s identity, Hill said. The pantries are stocked and serviced by school nutrition teams and volunteers, and the foundation highlighted efforts to package and reclaim food that otherwise would be wasted.

John Shetler, president of the Success Foundation board, said the foundation has broadened its support to athletics and music. The foundation described raising a little more than $530,000 in 2024 tied to a statewide youth sports giving day and related matches; those funds supported equipment and coaching stipends for expanded fourth- and fifth-grade athletics pilots and middle- and high-school capacity-building. The foundation also reported $175,000 in donations to a music initiative to reduce instrument shortages and repairs and a goal of achieving a one-instrument-per-student ratio for grades 6–12.

The Success Foundation said it gave more than $55,000 this year from the John W. Hafely Opportunity Fund to support individual student needs (for example, conference costs, driver training or musical instruments), and it continues directed gifts and grants for internships, career-technical education kits (a gift from Chevron), and other school-level needs. Hill said the foundation moved innovative learning grants to two application cycles per year and awarded about $20,000 across 15 grants in the fall cycle after applications rose from nine the prior year.

Board members and students thanked the foundation for the pantries and instrument support. Student speakers and board members described measurable impacts, including improved band performance and weekly food access for students in need.

The foundation noted annual events including the Success in 6 awards (January 30) and a breakfast fundraiser planned for March 11 at Northridge High School; it said the awards had 48 nominees and about 400 attendees this year. Hill said the organization’s annual revenues have grown dramatically since its early years, rising from about $187,000 in 2015 to more than $3,000,000 in 2024.

Board members and administrators praised the foundation’s fundraising growth and targeted grants. The presentation concluded with an invitation for board questions and ongoing collaboration between the district and the foundation.