Annual FCSS Employee Campaign supports grants to schools
By Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher
Every year I look forward to the launch of the Employee Campaign to support The Foundation @ FCOE Innovation Fund. It is always held the week that precedes the beginning of the new school year, and for all of us, students in classrooms across the county are “top of mind.” The Employee Campaign features a daily story of IMPACT made by Innovation Grants given to all school districts in the county last fall. We are proud of the stories featured this week that afforded students the opportunity to enhance their education in the areas of science, career tech, arts and differentiated instruction. An overview of the 2017 Innovation Grants is available at fcoefoundation.org. Proposals for 2018 are now being accepted.
Pictured with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yovino are Denise Miller, Christine Villegas, Angelica Perea, Phouvanh Chaimontree, Rocio Fernandez, Christina Borges, Sharon Christodora and Angelo Bautista, who represent the approximate 150 generous employees who give through payroll deduction, and the many more who support the employee campaign through other fundraising activities that benefit the Innovation Fund. You can see through their smiles the pride they feel in making a difference, as a group, in the lives of Fresno County students.
What they may not realize is how far-reaching that difference-making goes. When I tell a community member that the Innovation Grants are exclusively funded through the generosity of FCSS staff, they see the culture of giving and caring these staff members exhibit. When a superintendent tells me that the teacher who “won” the grant was first thrilled, then humbled by how many people supported his/her efforts in the classroom, I am so proud of my team.
This year our goal was to grow our FCSS supporters of the Innovation Fund by at least 40, moving us closer to the annual target of raising $32,000. I would like to encourage new supporters to sign up this week through voluntary payroll deduction, which starts as low as $5 per pay period, and we are extremely grateful for those who contribute more. In fact, this year we had several employees who increased their monthly giving amount.
Together, FCSS employees ensure students will continue to benefit from innovative programs in schools that are not funded by regular school dollars.
