The Carrollton City Schools Education Foundation reached a new record surpassing $1 million in net assets in the first quarter of 2021 despite a pandemic that has crippled charitable organizations nationwide.
What began from humble beginnings with a $20,000 donation in 1993 has now grown into a robust non-profit awarding close to $1 million in scholarships and grants to support students and teachers at Carrollton City Schools since inception.
Dr. Mark Albertus, superintendent of Carrollton City Schools, has made the foundation a priority in his tenure at the district knowing its full impact will be realized in the years to come.
“Our foundation’s sole purpose is to support students and teachers. Building strong schools contributes to a strong community for future generations,” Albertus said. “ Achieving this milestone is a testament to our community and the priority they put on our students. Our foundation is just another example of The Gold Standard.”
The foundation primarily focuses on three program areas: scholarships for graduating seniors; classroom grants to support instruction; and enrichment field trip experiences for students throughout the school year. This past year, 58 classroom grants were awarded to support instruction and 28 scholarships were given to the Class of 2021. Additionally, students from Carrollton Junior High School received an enrichment field trip opportunity to visit the Chick-fil-A College Hall of Fame where they were able to enjoy an interactive day learning STEM and Math concepts in a setting to which they could relate.
Ben Garrett, president of the foundation, has been a part of the organization for almost a decade and has seen the impact it has had on students each year.
“Many students who visited the Chick-fil-A Hall of Fame had never been to Atlanta. That may seem unbelievable to some but it is the reality of many students in schools today,” he said. “Many families are unable to provide these types of opportunities for their children. Schools are busy trying to meet instructional needs and budget constraints each year so this is a way that we can afford those opportunities to students who would not otherwise receive them.”
The foundation has leaned on the collective support of community donors to reach this important achievement. Laurie Fleck, executive director of the foundation, began work growing the endowment when she joined the organization in 2017.
“We knew we had something special but, we wanted to find a way to impact kids in more than just the classroom,” Fleck said. “Building upon our scholarship and classroom grant programs, we knew that exposing our students to enrichment experiences outside of school would allow our vision to take root encouraging students to become life-long learners who take personal responsibility for improving our world.”
The foundation will begin its second year of annual giving with its Golden Giving campaign which begins in August, coinciding with the start of school.
“Our goal is to have every family become a Golden Giver, whether that’s giving $10 a year or $10 a month,” Garrett said. “Our goal is to continuously grow and develop a sustainable organization so that we can provide incredible opportunities for more kids in the years to come.”
