WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Schools Foundation continues its long-standing commitment to raise and provide funds for the benefit of the staff and students of Wilmington City Schools.
What has proven to be one of the more successful fundraising drives is the Employee Gift Campaign where teachers, administrators, support staff, and members of the board of education come together to support one another through giving, knowing that their donations will culminate to provide Foundation Grants that will further supplement and enhance the education of Wilmington’s school children.
After raising $11,700 in funds in 2015-16, the Foundation was determined to push forward, setting the 2016-17 Gift Campaign goal at $13,200 — promising employees a celebratory luncheon if they rallied for the cause.
Some donors chose to give through payroll deduction, while othesr wrote a check, and others still offered up cash.
Keeping a detailed accounting as the donations continued to rise, Chastity Flanigan, who serves as the executive director of the WSF, reported that every school building showed an increase in the percentage of dollars raised over last year, and every member of the WCS Board of Education also made a generous contribution.
When the final numbers were calculated, the bottom line showed a total of $13,700 — monies earmarked for the education of Wilmington’s school children.
According to Flanigan, the generous donations of district employees allowed the foundation to award 27 grants valued at $27,203.
Previous Foundation Grants have been used, in part, to update a sensory room, purchase educational software, curriculum resources for Mapping North America, Chromebooks, engaging science stations, classroom learning centers, Seeing the Word Magiscopes, ACT Prep books, a book library, and several independent novel books that will allow students to participate in reading circles.
In an effort to show their appreciation to educators supporting the Gift Campaign, foundation director Chastity Flanigan and past president Steven Haines, made the rounds throughout the district pushing a shopping cart filled with fun supplies and sweet treats — small tokens of appreciation.
And as promised, district employees were treated to a delicious meal catered by the General Denver — compliments of the Wilmington Schools Foundation.
Information for this article was provided by Diana Miller, who coordinates communications for several area schools.
