Westlake Educational Foundation returns with raffle fundraiser

The Westlake Educational Foundation, along with the Westlake Music Boosters, the Westlake PTAs, the Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters, and the Westlake Alumni Association, will hold a drawing to give away a new 2020 Chevy Trax, donated by Serpentini Chevrolet of Westlake.

“We’re delighted to be in partnership with Serpentini Chevrolet for the ‘Win This Car" give-away," said Westlake Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Scott Goggin. "What an exciting way to jump-start our fundraising to start the new year.”

After a brief hiatus, the Westlake Educational Foundation is once again an active 501(c)(3) organization within the Westlake community. The Foundation’s newly stated mission is to enhance opportunities and experiences of Westlake City Schools’ students in the endeavor to Educate for Excellence.

Similar to past activities, the Foundation will raise funds and award grants to Westlake City School District teachers and staff for educational initiatives not typically funded by the school district’s operating budget. While the new mission of the resurrected Foundation is much more succinct than its former mission statement, its method for achieving its mission will still involve raising funds to enhance education within the Westlake City Schools beyond the parameters of traditionally funded programs. 

Grant possibilities are limitless. Teachers, students and administrators have recently written grants and have received funding for mental wellness programs; literary arts programs; performing arts programs; and engineering department projects including UAS/UAV (Unmanned Aerial Systems/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), laser technology and 3-D printers.

The Foundation is actively building its resources by seeking and securing funding from its relationships with local businesses, community members, families and other foundations. To maximize the benefit within the Westlake City Schools, the Foundation is partnering with the following organizations: Westlake City Schools PTAs, Westlake Music Boosters, Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters and Westlake Alumni Association. These organizations will share in the fundraising effort and have donated additional prizes for the drawing, including the Ultimate Demons Fan Package, gift certificates and cash awards.

A limited number of raffle tickets are available through Feb. 14. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online at WEFCarRaffle2021.cheddarup.com. The drawing will be live-streamed on Feb. 16 during halftime of the Westlake High School boys varsity basketball game. Each ticket will include a service coupon from Serpentini Chevrolet ($20 value). For more information go to www.wlake.org/about-us/westlake-educational-foundation. If you would like to make a general tax-deductible donation to the Westlake Educational Foundation, you can do so by visiting wefdonations.cheddarup.com.

The Westlake Educational Foundation, sanctioned by the Westlake City Schools Board of Education, was founded in 1987 as a community trust to meet the needs of education beyond the parameters of traditionally funded programs.

The Board of Education breathed new life into the Foundation recently, initiating the necessary steps to reinstate its non-profit status. To that end, the BOE redrafted the Foundation Code of Regulations and established a new board of directors: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Goggin, chairman of the board; Associate Superintendent Kathi Maxwell, board member; Ann Beyer, secretary of the board; Craig Catanzarite, board member; Mary Essig, president of the board; Paul Nebraska, treasurer of the board; Joe Kraft, board member. The board is further advised by Westlake City Schools Treasurer, Todd Hopkins.

Additionally, the membership of the Foundation shall be comprised of the current members of the Westlake Board of Education. These recent organizational changes ensure the Foundation’s ongoing viability, including Board of Education oversight.

Joseph Kraft

Director, Baird & Co. Inc.,  Westlake Board of Education President, Past President Westlake Bay Village Rotary

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Volume 13, Issue 2, Posted 10:01 AM, 01.19.2021