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Ukulele Grant

Foundation Breaks the Mold with Special Music Grant

RELEASE DATE: January 28 2020 — The cheerful strum of ukuleles is an unexpected treat as it drifts down the hallway at Paris Gibson Education Center.

The city’s alternative high school doesn’t offer a formal music program, but thanks to a grant from the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation, dozens of students are getting a fun chance at music education. …

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Candice English

New Foundation Scholarship in Support of Native American Women

The Sisters United Initiative

RELEASE DATE: November 26, 2019 — Candice English has social conscious, deep creativity and strong business skills. She drew on them all to create the new Sisters United Scholarship.

Candice is the founder and owner of The Farmers Daughter Fibers, a Great Falls-based business that hand dyes lushly colored and textured yarns. She has a small retail shop, but most of her seven employees are busy dyeing and shipping fibers to retail and wholesale customers across the country.

She sees the business as not only a way to make a living, but also to make a difference. …

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GFPS Foundation Grant Brings Metzelaar to Great Falls

RELEASE DATE: October 8, 2019 — Don’t miss a rare opportunity to hear the inspiring story of a living Holocaust survivor Oct. 15 at the Mansfield Theater.

Brought to Great Falls by a grant from the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation, Peter Metzelaar shares his dramatic story of living in hiding for nearly three years.  The public presentation is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at the door for $5 each. …

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GFPS Foundation Awards Teacher Grants

RELEASE DATE: September 25, 2019 — Once a week some 9 and 10-year-olds at Riverview Elementary School, become junior engineers.  The fourth graders in Callie Ross’ class team up to make their own mobile dream gadgets using Legos. This “Makerspace” learning experience is possible thanks to a Great Falls Public Schools Foundation Discovery Grant of $1,970.

By designing, coding, building and testing their tractors, robotic rovers, grabber arms, and other motorized creations the students learn 21st-century skills in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. …

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Speach and Debate, Kids with Laptops

Polish and Success Through Foundation Support

RELEASE DATE: February 7, 2019 — The Great Falls High School’s Speech and Debate team is more polished and successful thanks to support from the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation.

Grants and fundraising opportunities from the Foundation have helped the 35 member team move further into the digital age. Speakers and debaters now have computers purchased with Foundation grant funds and coaches now pass computer “thumb drives,” full of their topic research to debate opponents. “We look so much more polished,” said long-time coach Keith Davey.

Last year Davey was one of two winners of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway “Teacher of the Year” award. In recognition Davey was awarded $2,500 which he chose to use for the benefit of his team by providing more research materials. …

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Chuck Gerry Jennings

State-of-the-Art Equipment Courtesy of Local Family

RELEASE DATE: January 3, 2019 — C.M. Russell High School students just got a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) building thanks to local taxpayers. The state-of-the-art equipment inside is courtesy of a local family.

​Community activist Gerry Jennings was grateful taxpayers passed the bond issue that included the STEM building, but knew the funds only covered the actual building.

​”Buildings have to be equipped,” she said. “That’s when I started thinking we should donate to help equip it.”

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