| Katy ISD Education Foundation Announces Officers: Thirty-five Member Board of Directors Governs Non-Profit Benefitting Katy ISD Classrooms | Katy ISD Education Foundation Announces Officers: Thirty-five Member Board of Directors Governs Non-Profit Benefitting Katy ISD Classrooms | 2018-08-31T19:58:25Z | <div class="ExternalClass0E51D407669E451385F1360105574460"><div>Katy, TX ~ The Katy ISD Education Foundation recently elected officers to lead the non-profit organization in its mission to provide resources to enrich teaching, inspire learning and enhance opportunities for students enrolled in Katy ISD. The foundation is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors made up of Katy-West Houston business leaders, Katy ISD campus namesakes, current and former Katy ISD parent volunteer leaders, retired Katy ISD teachers and community volunteers. Elected officers include Susan Smith, President; Mike Van Hoozer, Vice-President; Robyn Pye, Treasurer; Tara Wilson, Past-President.</div><div><br></div><div>The Katy ISD Education Foundation brings big-dreaming teachers’ ideas to life. The organization’s primary purpose is to award Inspiring Imagination teacher grants that fund innovative classroom programs that go beyond school district budget capabilities. In its first six years, the Foundation has raised and invested approximately $1.3 million in Katy ISD classrooms by funding grants to 1,227 classroom teachers. Primary funding for the program comes from the foundation’s Groundbreaking and Keystone Investors - a group of individuals and businesses who pledge annual support for at least three years.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting members of the foundation’s Board of Directors include: Rob Bamford, Cross Creek Ranch; Chris Borreca, Thompson & Horton; Thomas Butts, Hargrove Engineers+Constructors; Dawn Crabtree, VIPS Executive Board; Chris Crockett, Community Volunteer; Keiko Davidson, Community Volunteer; Paul Dickens, White Rhino Financial; Rick Ellis, Katy Area Economic Development Council; Ken Janda, Community Health Choice; MayDell Jenks, Katy ISD Campus Namesake; Yvonne Kershner, Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union; Shantania Loving Leggins, Katy ISD Parent Volunteer; Shani Matheson, Katy ISD Parent Volunteer; Bob McAuliffe, Wealth Design Group; Wendi Meyers, Big Frog T-Shirts; Randy Petty, Shell Oil Technology Manager (Ret.); Jeffrey Poole, AXA Advisors; Robyn Pye, Mueller, Pye and Associates, CPA; Lance Redmon, Specialized Building Systems; Allan Rundell, Chase Bank; Matt Schomburg, Matt Schomburg State Farm; Patti Shafer, Katy ISD Campus Namesake; Brenda Shaver, Community Volunteer; Marsha Smith, Community Volunteer; Susan Smith, Two Forks Catering; Georgia Strickland, Katy Council of PTA’s; Karen Thornton, Community Volunteer; Mike Van Hoozer, Van Hoozer & Associates; Marta Vasel, BP America, Inc.; Downy Vickery, Prosperity Bank; Tara Wilson, Eventsia Group; Foster Williams, Jr., Seven Lakes High School Band Booster Club; Jamie Wolman, Katy ISD Campus Namesake; Rusty Wylie, Chick-fil-A.</div><div><img src="/PublishingImages/2018-2019%20Fd%20Board%20of%20Directors.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:500px;height:304px;" /><br></div></div> |
| Sewell Automotive Companies - Katy ISD Education Foundation Keystone Investor | Sewell Automotive Companies - Katy ISD Education Foundation Keystone Investor | 2018-08-31T19:39:56Z | <div class="ExternalClassC392A4FD1C4B401CB14C53B51BE7802A"><p>(Katy, TX) – The <strong>Katy ISD Education Foundation</strong> is pleased to welcome<strong> Sewell Automotive Companies</strong> as a foundation <strong>Keystone</strong> Investor by pledging a three-year annual contribution. The Katy ISD Education Foundation’s sole purpose is to fund innovative classroom programs through our Inspiring Imagination teacher grants. The foundation raises the necessary funding and manages the grant application process. Support from investors makes a difference as together we provide educational resources that propel Katy ISD students to excellence and make a positive difference in the lives of thousands. “Sewell joins us as a first in their industry to provide this level of support for our foundation,” said Tara Wilson, Katy ISD Education Foundation Board President. “Our teacher grant program impacts thousands of Katy ISD classrooms annually due to faithful investors like Sewell Automotive. We are tremendously grateful for their support and partnership with us.”<br></p><p>“It is our honor to support the Katy ISD Education Foundation, an organization that places a high value on inspiring learning and creating opportunities for our teachers,” said Carl Sewell, chairman at Sewell. “We strive to be great partners of the communities in which we serve, and nothing is more important than providing for the education – and educators – that will enrich the lives of young people now and into the future.” Sewell is committed to giving back and improving the communities the company has the privilege to serve. Sewell proudly supports hundreds of local events and organizations each year and focuses on partnering with organizations that benefit education, the arts, and children’s charities and causes. Sewell community partners in the Katy area include Katy ISD Athletics, the Katy Area Economic Development Council, the Katy ISD Education Foundation, and the Katy Chamber of Commerce. For more information on Sewell, visit sewell.com</p><p>The Katy ISD Education Foundation has awarded <strong>$1.3 million in its first six years of Inspiring Imagination teacher grants</strong>, impacting students in classrooms all around the district. Funding for the program is provided in part by long-term investors like Sewell Automotive and annual foundation fundraising events Fireflies & Foodtrucks and GROOVE. To learn more, contact us at 281-396-6031 or visit www.katyisdeducationfoundation.org.</p><p><strong>About Sewell:</strong> </p><p>Sewell Automotive Companies was founded in 1911. Today, Sewell employs more than 2,800 associates and operates 17 full-service dealerships throughout the state of Texas including Sewell Audi North Houston, Sewell Audi Sugar Land, Sewell Cadillac of Houston, Sewell INFINITI of North Houston, and Sewell Mercedes-Benz of West Houston. Sewell represents Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, GMC, INFINITI, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, MINI and Subaru, with locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Houston, McKinney, Plano, San Antonio and Sugar Land.</p><p><img src="/PublishingImages/Sewell%20PR2.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:500px;height:333px;" /><br></p><p>From left: Dennis Nobles, General Manager, Sewell Cadillac of Houston; Susan Smith, President, Katy ISD Education Foundation; Lance Baker, General Manager, Sewell Mercedes-Benz of West Houston; Tara Wilson, Katy ISD Education Foundation.<br></p></div> |
| Education Foundation Announces Teacher Grant Recipients | Education Foundation Announces Teacher Grant Recipients | 2018-08-28T18:16:50Z | <div class="ExternalClassDC2D2679E221439A9E9817A69C265D93"><p></p><p>Katy, TX ~ The Katy ISD Education Foundation recently announced its sixth year of <em>Inspiring Imagination</em> teacher grant recipients. Over 300 Katy ISD teachers at 42 different campuses were chosen for grants this year. Grant activities range from school gardens to robotics and extend to all subjects and grade levels. Funding will be provided for the 2018-2019 school year.</p><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p>This school year, the Foundation raised and distributed more than one-half million dollars to its Katy ISD community: $250,000 in Harvey relief for Katy ISD staff and students followed by $314,691 in teacher grants. The Foundation exists to raise support for and manage the grant program, an initiative that funds innovative classroom instruction not possible within the parameters of a school district budget. The Foundation's Board of Directors launched its one-time Harvey Fund special project in response to the storm's effect on the Katy ISD community.</p><p> </p><p>Grants are made possible by annual pledges from business and community investors, one-time contributions and events. The Foundation hosts two major fundraising events every year: Fireflies and Foodtrucks, slated for October 18, 2018, and GROOVE on March 29, 2019. BP, the Foundation's Cornerstone Investor, funded multiple grants for its BP STEM Grant Program. The Katy ISD Education Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization for which donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. To learn more, contact <a href="mailto:foundation@katyisd.org">foundation@katyisd.org</a>, 281-396-6031 or visit <a href="http://www.katyisdeducationfoundation.org/">www.katyisdeducationfoundation.org</a>.</p></div> |
