My Nonprofit Reviews
dlhall42
Review for Education Expenses For The YOUNG FAMILY , Evansville , IN, USA
My involvement with the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools began in 1994. At that time the 100% volunteer organization didn’t even qualify for hand-to-mouth status. Today, through sound planning and hard work by the dedicated staff (2 part-time & a summer intern) and committed community board, the Education Foundation is a community success story. Their programs, such as Reading Rocks and Classroom Grants, fill the needs of both students and educators. This will be my 7th summer as volunteer for Reading Rocks, a reading program designed to help low income students whose reading levels are known to drop during the summer. I am richly rewarded for giving one lunch hour a week to read to children who welcome not only the reading activity and a book to take home but also the contact with caring members of the community. (program details at: http://www.efbps.org) Teachers giving vacation time to be Reading Rocks volunteers is a positive sign for the program. I have found the Education Foundation to be a responsible, forward-looking and fiscally conservative organization. As an example, for a number of years the board has funded a quasi endowment in order to provide the organization with long-term, sustainable funding. The Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools makes a difference for students and teachers in our community.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
observing classrooms and meeting with teachers through the foundation’s Educator for a Day program. Also, by talking with those whose businesses and schools are joined through the Partners in Education program and the resulting positive impact on both.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
encourage the Education Foundation to invest more in the “planned giving” area so as to assist those with the financial ability in identifying a means by which they can make personally meaningful gifts to public education.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
they are open to ideas and appreciative of every volunteer, contributor and sponsor.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
friendly, positive, committed and apprecitive.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
not even begin to solve to problems created by the underfunding of education in Montana. I suspect that however the funds were used they would have a major, long-term immpact.
Ways to make it better...
I had more time to volunteer.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
The state's underfunding of education.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I very much agree
