University School Foundation

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Dear University School Families,

Thank you for everything you have helped the Foundation do this year. We have accomplished so much, and are looking forward to our largest fundraiser of the year, our Annual Spring Gala and Auction. This year, the Fundraising Committee has selected “Back to the 80’s” as our theme and exciting plans are being made for the evening of Saturday, April 9, 2022 at the Carnegie Hotel. The University School Foundation acts as a PTA for University School and we rely heavily on this event which generates much needed funds for our school, with proceeds used towards technology, sports, playground improvements, teacher appreciation, and to meet other needs of the school’s operation.

To make this event a success, we need your help. We are in dire need of items for both our silent and live auctions at the event. Please take a few minutes to think about the places you visit every week. Maybe you have a favorite restaurant or sneak away for an occasional massage. Maybe you use a personal trainer or enjoy a mani/pedi. Think of the places you visit and spend your money, and please approach these businesses for a donation. You can also help us by donating personal items or your own business services at our event. Do you own a Beach House or a Mountain Cabin? These make great auction items! The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 58-1453829, and donated items are tax deductible. We will provide receipts for the fair market value of the items donated. The Foundation will also provide our tax exemption letter or any additional paperwork you might need upon request.

We are happy to pick up any donated items or you may drop them off at the University School front office. Please email Christine Hutchinson at hutchinson.christine@gmail.com if pickup is needed. Alternately, items can also be mailed to University School Attn: University School Foundation, PO Box 70632, Johnson City, TN 37614-1702. Attached you will find a donation form. Please fill it out after you receive a donation. We also have hard copies available in the front office.

In addition to the above, we offer the opportunity for support via monetary sponsorship of the event, which helps defray the costs and increases our overall success. Please see the next page or visit our website https://tinyurl.com/uschool-80sgala for exciting sponsorship opportunities for your family or business. In return for your generosity, we will highlight your business on the evening of the event. To do so, we ask that you provide a high-resolution company logo (jpeg or png file) which can be emailed directly to: usfoundation.fundraising@gmail.com Subject Line: Back to the 80’s Sponsor Logo. Tickets are limited to 150 and are available for purchase through our website. You can pick up your tickets and auction paddle at check-in at the event.

If you have any additional questions, need more information, or are interested in volunteering for this event, feel free to contact us. On behalf of the Foundation, thank you for considering supporting our school. We look forward to music, food, fun and fundraising with you!

With Gratitude,

Dionne Ganger & Melanie Richards

University School Foundation

Fundraising Co-Chairs

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Please save the date for University School's "Back to the 80's" Spring Gala! The adult only event will be held April 9th at the Carnegie from 6-10p.m.

Yes, we are doing a “Back to the 80s” theme! So feel free to bust a move in that poofy prom dress or your old Bon Jovi t-shirt and ripped, acid washed jeans. You do you, McFly!

There will be food, music, dancing, and both a silent and live auction at the event while we rock out to some totally awesome 80s jams. Tickets will be $100 per person or $175 per couple and all proceeds go to fund our amazing school foundation, which supports both our teachers' and students' needs throughout the year.  Tickets and additional information can be purchased by following this link: https://tinyurl.com/uschool-80sgala

NOTE: Additional information about the Gala for our families along with donation and sponsorship information can be found by clicking on this link or in the PDF letters below:

US Foundation Parent Letter

2022 Spring Gala Donation Letter

2022 Spring Gala Sponsor Letter Form

Class Basket for Silent Auction (Grades K-8)

Attention parents: Classroom Baskets are a fun and easy way to contribute to the Spring Fundraiser! Plus—- Whichever basket raises the most money, we will win a fun Pizza Party for the winning class! Be on the lookout for information from your classroom representatives about the theme of your basket and how to contribute to this fun project!

Our Auction Team is busy looking for items for our Live and Silent auctions. To make this event a success, we need your help! If you or your business would like to donate something please let us know. The auction is the primary source of income for the Foundation. Any items donated will showcase your business within our community and are tax deductible. As a small school, we understand the importance of supporting the Johnson City and Washington County economy and know that the more we connect and collaborate with our community, the stronger we all become. Please email usfoundation.fundraising@gmail.com. Thank you!

Unique Business Opportunity to Support University Athletics

The Athletic Committee of the University School Foundation seeks to support all University School athletes and to raise awareness of the school and its athletic programs. The initial objective of this committee is to purchase and distribute a common "University Athletics" branded practice jersey for all high school and middle school athletes. We are seeking a University School family or business to cover the costs of the jerseys in exchange for the advertisement of their business on the jerseys. This is a unique opportunity to place your company name or logo on a jersey that will be worn by at least 100 student-athletes this Spring. (Additional jerseys and t-shirts will also be available for sale for anyone wishing to support University Athletics.)

Sponsorship options:

1. $1500 donation - Large name/logo of a single sponsor will appear on the back of all of the jerseys
2. $1000 donation - Medium name/logo of sponsor will appear on the back of the jerseys; additional sponsor names/logos will appear on the jersey sleeves
3. $250 donation - Small name/logo of sponsor will appear on one sleeve of the jersey

Spring practice season begins February 14, and we hope to have these jerseys ready for distribution ASAP. If interested in serving as a sponsor, please contact Stacey Wild at drstaceywild@yahoo.com or text 423-943-7791 immediately.

Thank you for your support of University Athletics!

Note: Please make donation checks payable to USF Athletic Committee.  The University School Foundation is a 501(c)3 and all Sponsorships are tax deductible!

Foundation Meeting: Monday, February 7th @ 4:30 PM

Thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion about Athletics with the University School Foundation. For those that were unable to attend the session, you may access the recording by clicking on this link.

As a follow-up to the University School Foundation athletics discussion, we are forming a group to discuss adding middle school soccer. If you are interested in being part of that initial discussion please email Mike Hoff, hoffmb@etsu.edu.

Thanks to everyone who supported and/or joined us for our fall festival Friday evening. We couldn’t have pulled it off without all of the amazing volunteers, parents, kids, sponsors, faculty, and administrative folks who put their time, energy, and heart into this fabulous event!

The event was so successful, we actually ran out of some shirt sizes, but are happy to order more for anyone who didn’t get their preferred size for a reduced cost. Please just send an email to Usfoundation.fundraising@gmail.com or message the foundation through the University School Foundation Facebook page and we will get you taken care of!

More photos and videos on University School Foundation Facebook  Facebook

We welcome and need your involvement in the University School Foundation, which is our version of a Parent/Teacher/Student association that serves the faculty, staff and students at University School.  We are a volunteer group of dedicated parents, teachers, and administrators and YOU are a member.   Like and follow us on Facebook. 

What does the University School Foundation do?

The primary mission of the University School Foundation is to support the children, students, and faculty and staff that attend and are employed by University School, to assist in providing an enriched physical and intellectual environment so that each individual has a positive place to learn and/or work, to operate exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, physical, and educational purposes and more specifically for the support, improvement, and perpetuation of the University School of East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee.

How does the University School Foundation raise money?

We organize fundraisers.  We run a fall fundraiser and a spring fundraiser each year and will host additional fundraisers as necessary to meet the needs of our school.  An opportunity to make monetary donations directly to the Foundation or specific projects is also available.  Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and all donations are tax deductible.

What does the Foundation do with money that is raised?
We fund requests from teachers which may include tools and materials, curriculum (educational materials), and technology.

Who can be a member of the Foundation?
Any parent/guardian of a University School Student who subscribes to the purposes of the Foundation.

When does the Foundation meet?
2nd Monday of the Month at 3:30pm. Meetings begin in August and we do not meet during breaks.

Where does the Foundation meet?
In the 3rd Grade Classroom (Room 103)

What are some of the Volunteer opportunities?

Volunteer Committee
Using these completed forms the coordinator and this committee will plug volunteers into various events throughout the year via telephone calls or emails. This is a great way to meet people.

Box Tops Committee
You know those box top labels you see on products in the grocery store? Well, they can add up to a lot $ for our school. Our coordinator could use one or two committee members to help collect, count, and mail box tops throughout the year. These committee members will collect box tops twice a year (Spring and Fall) and total time necessary is about 5 hours.

Field Day Committee
Everyone loves Field Day! If you choose this, you'll work one on one with Coach Cradic to coordinate volunteers for the special day. Committee members will spend 1-2 hours pre field day and can spend up to 7 hours on field day.

Hospitality Committee
Let's make our teachers feel special with some hospitality. As a member you will work along side the coordinator, to help with school wide teacher appreciation projects (i.e. breakfasts/lunches), teacher appreciation week, and other special events your group may decide upon together. Committee members will help with these special events throughout the year, total time necessary is 1-2 hours per event.

Spring Fundraiser Committee
Every spring, around Mothers Day, University School sponsors a plant sale. Our Fundraising Coordinator could use several committee members to help with the planning and coordination of the plant sale. Committee members will help with this once a year event for several weeks before with planning and during the event; total time necessary is 5-10 hours.

Fall Fundraiser and Committee
Work with Fundraising Coordinator and the University School Foundation board to plan and execute the fall fundraiser, collection of money, and distribution of materials. Time needed 4-5 hours planning, 4-5 hours collecting and tallying monies, 12+ hours distributing. (This committee needs several members)

Community Service Committee
If you like to help others than this is for you. Team up with the coordinator and University School faculty and help with Drives. Canned food drives, coat drives, clothing drives, etc. Time needed varies with each drive.

Special Events Committee
Volunteers in this area will help with school special events like Pickin in the School Yard, Annual Musical Productions, School Beautification Days, Middle School Mixer, etc. The Special Events Coordinator and you will work with the University School Faculty member or foundation representative for each grade level. Time needed varies with each event.

Come to a meeting! Join us!  Participate in fundraisers!

How can you get more information? 
Contact any of the board members listed or show up at a meeting.  Everyone is welcome. 

Signing Up for Publix Partners

1. Go to www.publix.com/partners
2.  

2. Click on “Club Publix”.

3. - If you don’t have an account – Fill in the required information and click “Join Now”. - If you have an account – Click “Log In”.

4. Click on your name (top right corner) to take you to your profile.

5. 
   On the far-right side of the tool bar, click on “My Publix Partner”.

Note: You must have selected a store and provided an address for this option to appear.

6. 
   Enter your schools name, city or zip code in the search field.

Printable USFAC Sports Pass 2021-22 Order Form

To aid in the support of athletics at University School, the University School Foundation Athletics Committee (USFAC) will be selling Sports Passes this year to cover the cost of operating the USFAC programs.  Passes include admission to all HOME Athletic Events for the entire 2021-22 school year.  Passes do not include admission to away games or tournament play.  Family passes are non transferable and must be presented at the gate for admission to the athletic event.  Each family member (immediate household) will receive his or her own pass that must be presented for admission into home contests.

Click on the link provided to access the order form.  Contact Ginger Hare at hareginger@gmail.com for more information.

Recordings for Town Hall Meeting

Thank you to all who were able to attend the Town Hall Meetings with Dr. Partin and Dean Scarborough this past week. Links to the recordings are listed below:

Grades 6-12:

https://tinyurl.com/USchool-6-12-Townhall

Grades K-5:

https://tinyurl.com/USchool-K-5-Townhall

Did you know that University School has its very on Fairy?

Last fall, a group of parents started an initiative to make school staff feel special and say “Thank you” for all of their hard work and dedication to make our year a success. As a result, the University School Foundation Hospitality Committee is continuing this project by leaving special notes of thanks, drinks, and treats in the staff lounge each week. If you would like to contribute to the “Fridge Fairy Project”, please make donations to the Foundation via our PayPal account, usfoundation.treasurer@gmail.com please just make sure to tell us that this is for the Fairy.

The funds will be used to purchase items needed on a regular basis to help give back a small token of appreciation and gratitude for their ability to continually go above and beyond for our school’s success. We know now more than ever the hard work and love the teachers, faculty, and staff pour into our children on a daily basis. For more ways you can help, please reach out to Christine Hutchinson at hutchinson.christine@gmail.com to get involved with the University School Foundation.

Printable Funding Request Application

University School faculty and staff may apply for funding through the Foundation by completing a Funding Request Application. Email or return to Leisa Harvey ltharvey@charter.net or UniversitySchoolFoundation@gmail.com