I am very happy to report about an important community project under way. The O'Keeffe Middle School Community has launched a Special Endowment Fund Campaign.

This original and commendable idea began two years ago when community leaders and educators came together to establish the Foundation for Madison Public Schools. This foundation is an independent, private, non-profit 501(3)(C) organization dedicated to sustaining and extending the excellence of Madison public schools. The foundation raises funds, makes grants for innovative projects that will benefit children in Madison's public schools and develops partnerships between the schools and community groups throughout Madison.

The Foundation for Madison Schools has been very successful in building a general endowment fund. Thus far, more than $1.4 million has been raised and more than $160,000 in grants has been awarded for projects that will enhance educational opportunities for Madison’s students. More than that, the foundation has taken the endowment concept to a new level by initiating individual endowment funds for each of the 47 schools in the Madison district. This first in the nation initiative provides the O'Keeffe Middle School community with a unique opportunity to partner with the foundation to create a permanent endowment fund that will benefit our local school.

O'Keeffe Middle School is the first among our cluster of neighborhood schools to initiate an endowment campaign. The O'Keeffe middle school community hopes their work leading this effort can serve as a model for other area schools. The initiative is to establish a permanent endowment fund with the Foundation for Madison Public Schools specifically designated for O'Keeffe Middle School. Strong neighborhood schools are the foundation of a caring vibrant community.

More information about the endowment fund campaign and why the endowment fund campaign is important to O'Keeffe Middle School will follow in the next Tenney-Lapham newsletter. We invite your enthusiastic participation.

In the meantime, if you have question and ideas or if you wish to assist in helping to accomplish our goals associated with establishing a permanent endowment fund designated for O'Keeffe, please contact Karen Crossley, lead volunteer for O'Keeffe Middle School's Endowment Fund Campaign, 255-2706, kargusto@aol.com

-Joe Brogan

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