RELEASE DATE: November 3, 2022 – The Foundation held a celebration of the Win This Truck raffle fundraiser at the City Motors Toyota Showroom on Wednesday, November 2nd. There, student groups received their fundraising checks and a lucky raffle winner walked away with the $1,000 North40 gift card while the other winner received the keys to the new Toyota Tacoma. …
Foundation Awards $139,720 for Classroom Grant Projects
RELEASE DATE: September 28, 2022 – “That was my best day of school ever,” gushed Lincoln Elementary student Sam Kohut after a recent science lesson.
“Not the best day in sixth grade,” he clarified later, “but my best day since preschool!”
That best day was a field trip to the Montana Dinosaur Center in Bynum, where 51 Lincoln sixth graders got a hands-on science experience in paleontology. The trip was underwritten by a grant from the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation to Sam’s teacher, Jayci Braaten. …
Five families – three libraries – two years to completion
RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2022 – Thanks to generous donors, Chief Joseph, Lincoln, and Whittier elementary have renovated libraries. Each received significant enhancements to furniture, media, books and shelving thanks to the generosity of Dr. Robert and Jamie Marshall, Jared and Annie Brown, Tom and Cindy Duffy, Benny and Karen Brandvold, and Joni and Jeff Reicher. Read the whole story here in the Great Falls Tribune. (Photo shown above: Joni Reicher, Mrs. Blythe Brandvold and Benny Brandvold. See photos below.) …
CMR Students Jaclyn Kleinsasser and Kohle Schlehr recording at Cherry Creek Media – Photo credit Bejay Lindseth Cherry Creek Media.
RELEASE DATE: August 1, 2022 – It’s Win This Truck Raffle season at the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation, and you’re likely seeing TV ads and hearing radio spots boosting our efforts to sell raffle tickets for this popular fundraiser.
The money benefits Great Falls students in many ways, from classroom grants to new equipment and supplies for student clubs and athletic teams. While students greatly benefit from this fundraiser, they are also instrumental in promoting it. …
RELEASE DATE: June 15, 2022 —Last spring, wrapping up her 18th year teaching, Billi Bergman was wrung out and wondering if it was time to retire.
“Teaching through covid was, well, just wow,” said the Meadow Lark second-grade teacher. Even as she adjusted to remote teaching, her students struggled. She didn’t know if she had more to give, and she considered submitting her retirement letter.
A week before the deadline, something changed. …
RELEASE DATE: May 18, 2022 — When the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation wanted to share information about recent grant-sponsored projects with our donors and supporters, we turned to Great Falls High teacher Kelly Wiles and his students.
They created videos highlighting the positive impact that innovative classroom grants have on student learning. At the same time, the video students received real-world production and editing experience, along with feedback from an outside client. …
RELEASE DATE: March 23, 2022 – Dawn Reitz (pictured here with student Piper Denno) has her hands full as a German teacher and head of the Global Languages department at Great Falls High School. Yet her commitment to public education extends beyond the school. She’s currently volunteering on a project to streamline the scholarship application process at the Foundation for graduating seniors and the teachers who help them. …
RELEASE DATE: February 8, 2022 – This spring raised garden beds will be built at every public school in Great Falls. The first plantings will be sweetgrass, a plant held sacred by many Native American tribes. The project kicks off a multifaceted partnership between a creative educator and generous donor. …
$20,000 Donation to Support Indigenous Education ProgramsRead More »
RELEASE DATE: December 29, 2021 – Just over a year ago, Great Falls lost a beloved educator and coach to Covid-19. Ken Maddox spent his career teaching, starting at Lincoln and Chief Joseph elementary schools, then spending a combined 17 years at Paris and East middle schools. Great Falls High (GFH) basketball fans knew him as the longtime assistant basketball coach.(Photo Credit Great Falls Tribune/Rion Sanders) …
New Ken Maddox Scholarship and Others Available January 1stRead More »
RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2021 – As 2021 comes to a close, we invite you to review highlights of just some of this year’s successes. For the past decade, the Foundation has enthusiastically worked to provide scholarships, teacher grants, building enhancements, student and teacher recognition and equity efforts. Our success depends on the generosity of our donors. Your willingness to partner with us remains our greatest asset and we thank you. If you would like to contribute a year-end gift, please click here. …
Thank You for Placing Your Trust in The FoundationRead More »
Setting up an educational scholarship fund can be a meaningful way to give back to your community or to honor a loved one. There are a number of things to consider when planning a scholarship. Please contact the Foundation for assistance, we are happy to help you. Contact Stephanie Becker at [email protected] or call (406) 268-6021.