Very involved in the community! Members are ready to listen and are constantly thinking ahead for our children. If not for OFFER, our children wouldn't have the technology or other benefits available to children in larger, well funded school systems.
I have been honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the past three years. Our efforts have expanded the role of The Foundation in the school system exponentially! It is a joy to see the technology we work to raise money for go directly to the students. Not only have we received rave reviews from students and faculty, test scores have increased and attendance has been highest in grades utilizing the technology.
I look forward to expanding our initiative and creating a competitive future for Oneonta City School students!
Oneonta Foundation for Educational Resources (OFFER)
The mission of Oneonta’s Foundation for Educational Resources (OFFER) is to support Oneonta City Schools in providing a challenging and enriching educational experience, maximizing the learning potential of every student while forming the cornerstone of our community’s future.
Who We Are:
501(c) (3) nonprofit - tax exempt, philanthropic organization of citizens.
Volunteers sharing a vision to enhance education at OCS.
What We Do:
Provide funding for educational programs that fall outside the system budget.
Expand community involvement through fundraising events.
We Believe and Are Committed To:
All students deserve the best education our community can deliver.
Oneonta City Schools are the foundation for our community.
Working in partnership with the system to understand educational priorities.
Operating ethically with the utmost professionalism and integrity, with clarity, transparency and accountability in all we do within the organization and community.
Improvement and organizational renewal through continuous board planning and development.
A comprehensive approach to fundraising and responsible stewardship of all donations.
Why You Should Support OFFER:
Through community support OFFER continues to expand our annual income in order to ensure long-term viability for Oneonta City Schools. As our school grows, so should our foundation in order to meet greater needs. Currently OFFER has begun working to help support the system’s goal of transitioning to a One to One technology environment. The system goal of every student having access to their own device, supported by digital content with immediate access to needed resources, will help our schools engage students and support teaching and learning. College and career readiness is a key priority in our education community. The increasingly competitive global economy makes it imperative more students enter career fields, enabling higher wages and greater potential for growth. Technology opens these doors and gives our students a clear advantage to help them succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Oneonta Foundation for Educational Resources
Strategic Plan & Business Statement 2015 – 2018
Formed in 2001, Oneonta’s Foundation for Educational Resources continues to expand our annual income in order to ensure long-term viability for Oneonta City Schools. Working in partnership with administration, OFFER undergoes continual organizational renewal and frequent board planning, improvement and development to understand educational priorities. Since it’s inception, OFFER has assisted OCS by placing classroom assistance and new technology into Oneonta City Schools. Projects include: iPads, MacBook carts, Chrome Books, Overhead Projectors, Graphing Calculators, Smart Boards, iMacs, Professional Development and local classroom grants.
In 2012 OFFER introduced ‘Capital Campaign,’ a program launched to provide monies for classroom technology that fall outside the system budget. As Capital Campaign and OFFER continue to expand so has our ability to service the needs of the entire system. In 2015 OFFER was awarded a matching federal grant in the amount of $150,000.00 to begin a three-year system wide transition to a one to one technology environment. Pending sustained funding of $75,000.00 per year, OFFER will place over $450,000.00 of new technology into Oneonta City Schools over the next three years. This plan includes personal devices for every student and teacher as well as professional development for our educators.
OFFER continues to provide additional assistance to our students and teachers through the following fundraising events. Targeted at expanding community involvement and awareness, these efforts further OFFER’s mission by providing a challenging and enriching educational experience while maximizing the learning potential of every student:
Capital Campaign - College and career readiness is a key priority in our education community. The increasingly competitive global economy makes it imperative more students enter career fields, enabling higher wages and greater potential for growth. Technology opens these doors and gives our students a clear advantage. Monies received into this program are utilized in system-wide projects, impacting all OCS students.
Homecoming Tailgate Party - Tailgate Party is an annual event designed to thank and honor our partners, sponsors and corporate contributors. As a community awareness and outreach, we open our gates to the public and welcome everyone. Former Alumni may use this opportunity to gather as well as groups or organizations.
Family Movie Night – In an effort to provide a low cost, local alternative for our families without the expense of traveling out of town, these movies are shown in the OCS auditorium. Promoting local businesses and providing an outlet for entertainment, this multi year event is used to inform parents and students on exciting new technology made possible by OFFER.
Teacher of the Year Grants (TOY) – OFFER awards the OCS peer chosen educators from each school (elementary, middle and high) a $500.00 local classroom grant annually. These classroom grants allow teachers the opportunity to purchase needed classroom supplies.
Classroom Assistance Program (CAP) – Designed to support educators by providing resources for local classrooms throughout Oneonta City Schools. CAP allows faculty members the opportunity to participate without restrictions and time commitment required in writing a grant while receiving promotion and assistance from OFFER.
Educational Grant Writing – OFFER’s Coordinator and Executive Committee pursue and execute local, state and federal grant opportunities in order to further its mission in supporting Oneonta City Schools.
Community Support – In 2015-‘16 OFFER has been chosen by Hometown Bank of Alabama as their charitable designee of the year. OFFER will participate in the following additional community outreach fundraising activities:
Bake Sale
Rose Sale
Campaign Kickoff Party
A Mid Summer’s Night Run Hometown Focus on ABC
Semi-Annual Raffle Fundraisers – In support of matching grant funds as well as local teacher grants, these fundraisers are opened to the public multiple times in the school year. Whether the winning prize is a yeti cooler or a round of golf, 100% of ticket sales go back into the school system to fund technology and academic needs. Our board members value our local businesses and strive to raise funds for the school while at the same time urging our citizens and students to shop local and support the businesses that support us. Through each raffle we are able to provide for the school, our foundation and promote our supporting businesses at the same time.
Facebook/Social Media/Advertising & Promotion – OFFER maintains an active social media Facebook page to engage with both the community and the world at large. Promotion of all school related events, special recognitions, faculty and alumni updates has raised awareness for the Foundation and its purpose. OFFER utilizes all media and promotional outlets including radio, TV and newspaper. All of these services are graciously donated to the Foundation.
As a group of volunteers sharing a vision to enhance education at Oneonta City Schools, we believe and are committed to providing resources for the best education our community can deliver to all students.
The OFFER Board Members take pride in all they have accomplished in recent years, foremost being, 100% of our funding goes back into the system.
•Increased annual incomes from 10K to over $200,000.00.
•Awarded $5,000.00 CAWACO RC&D Grant 2016 Cycle.
•Awarded $10,000.00+ Walmart Foundation Grants 2013 - 2016 Cycles.
•Awarded $310,000.00 ARC Grant 2015 & 2016 Cycles.
•Pending awards of $75,000.00 additional grants completed 2016.
•Spearheaded the following activities: Capital Campaign for Technology, Homecoming Tailgate Party, Teacher of the Year Grants and Classroom Assistance Program, Special Programs Assistance, and Educational Grant Writing.
•Forged community supported fundraising projects: Family Movie Nights, OFFER Raffles, Bake and Rose Sales, A Mid Summer’s Night Run and Hometown Focus on ABC 33/40.
•Spur active social media and public relations to engage the public and advance the Foundation’s mission.
https://www.facebook.com/OneontaFoundationforEducationalResources/
https://twitter.com/OFFER_Oneonta