Jackson foundation planning all-school reunion

Planners don't know whether to expect 300 or 3,000 people. Either way, they guarantee the Jackson All-School Reunion, a first, to be a major event.

In connection with the city's 100th Homecomers festival, the reunion is intended to attract alumni dating back to 1927, when the oldest known living alumnus graduated. Planners promise food, nostalgic videos, themed music and tours of the under-construction high school.

The idea of a reunion blossomed in an alumni panel formed by the growing Jackson Foundation, a fundraising body for the district. Foundations have taken more of a central role in school financing as state appropriations lag and districts are saddled with quickly rising operational costs.

"It just seems people don't know. They think everything is funded through the foundation formula. It's not the case. The community has to support its schools," said John Thompson, president of the foundation board. The Jackson Foundation funds everything from teacher grants to extracurricular activities to scholarships.

The foundation had a slow start, then expanded rapidly and with relative ease. Formed in 2000, the organization gained not-for-profit status in 2002. Two years later, a mission statement and operating guidelines were complete. The foundation then threw its support behind a campaign for renovations to the high school, which was put before voters multiple times before passing.

It wasn't until 2005 that the foundation officially debuted at a winter showcase of student art clubs. A charter member campaign was launched that fall with the goal of getting 50 businesspeople to pledge $2,000 each, a nest egg to go into an endowed fund.

"We didn't even know what we were doing. Within six or seven months we had 50 of those. People just went 'sure.' In retrospect it was very easy," Thompson said.

Dr. Sam Duncan, who assists the foundation and is also the director of state and federal programs for the district, said the organization serves as a clearinghouse. Because of the foundation's not-for-profit status, people who donate to it can receive a tax deduction. Money is also raised through alumni golf tournaments and McDonald's McTeacher's Nights.

At graduation, a new campaign called the "JHS Trail of Honor" was introduced. Donors can pay $100 or $250 to have a brick engraved that will serve as a walkway near the new high school event center. Much of the raised money goes toward teacher grants. In 2007, the foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $3,900. This year, 21 grants worth $9,625 were given.

"It's amazing to me what reasonably small gifts mean to teachers in the classroom. You go, 'it's $500.' Not to belittle it, but in the scheme of million-dollar budgets, how $500 could touch that many kids is amazing," Thompson said.

A major push for the foundation in the future is to expand grants, Bonnie Stahlman said. Stahlman, school board secretary, also assists the foundation.

"It's more than money we need. We've found we need people. We need volunteers as well," Duncan said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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