From the Orcas Island Education Foundation
The Orcas Island Education Foundation(OIEF) is pleased to announce that it is making a $5,000 match grant in hopes of challenging other donors to support Winter sports in our public High schools.
Because of state funding cuts, the OISD budget did not include winter and spring sports. Realizing that sports plays such a fundamental role in the health and academic growth of so many students, OIEF has decided to pledge $5000 toward supporting high school winter sports, if it is matched by other donations from the community. According to OIEF President Janet Brownell: “For some students, sports is the reason to go to school, to show up in class, to do homework. It is a way to get them to care about the academic pursuit as much as they do about athletics. For that reason, the OIEF board decided that it should step up and make this challenge grant. It also allows the Booster club time to continue fundraising for spring sports.”
In order for High School basketball programs to occur this season, donations in the amount of $11,000 are needed. With the match pledge from OIEF, there is still about $6000 needed from community donors. If you’d like to make a donation, you can send your gift to the “Booster Fund” at the Orcas Island Community Foundation or go to www.oicf.us.
You can also make a donation through OIEF to support winter sports to: OIEF/Winter Sports POB 782 Eastsound WA 98245, or go to www.OIEF.org
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