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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is the Hastings Education Foundation?
How is the Foundation Funded?
Why Do We Need a Foundation?
Where Does the Money Go?
How Does the Foundation Award Grants?
What Expenses Does the Foundation Have Each Year?
How is the Foundation Different from the PTSA?
Do Other Communities Have Foundations?
Why Can't I Make a Contribution Directly to the School?
How Can I Participate?
What is the Hastings Education Foundation?
The Hastings Education Foundation, established in 1997, is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, charitable organization whose mission is to provide funds to enhance the educational environment throughout the Hastings Public Schools. The Foundation works closely with the Board of Education, the Superintendent, the administration, teachers and members of the community to support the District's programs and services.
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How is the Foundation Funded?
The Foundation sends out one appeal letter each year. We get donations ranging from $15 to upwards of $5000 from a wide range of sources including parents, grandparents, residents, alumni, teachers as well as corporate matching grants. HEF has held a variety of different fundraising events in the past (see Past Events). Please see Benefit and Auction for information on our current event.
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Why Do We Need a Foundation?
During the 1990s, as taxes continued to rise, the aid our district received from the state diminished dramatically. A group of concerned citizens decided that in order to maintain the level of excellence we all expect from the Hastings school system, it was imperative to develop outside sources of funding. An educational foundation is a proven method for a community to challenge both educators and students to even greater initiative, creativity and excellence. Your tax-deductible contributions ensure that all children in the system continue to receive the extras they deserve.
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Where Does the Money Go?
Please see Grant History for our list of past and present grants.
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How Does the Foundation Award Grants?
Each fall, teachers, students, and administrators are invited to submit applications for grants to support projects and programs for the school district. The applications are evaluated first by the school principals and the Superintendent before they are submitted to our grants committee. The committee in turn evaluates the grants before submitting them to the Foundation board for approval. Grants are awarded each spring. To date we have provided well over $700,000 in grants to the Hastings Public School system.
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What Expenses Does the Foundation Have Each Year?
The Foundation is an all-volunteer organization with minimal expenses. The volunteer Board members are responsible for most of the work we do. The Foundation does pay a part-time clerical worker who maintains our donor database and coordinates our annual appeals. We work extremely hard to keep our expenses at a minimum.
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How is the Foundation Different from the PTSA?
We are similar to the PTSA in the sense that both organizations share the same goals: to provide support for our schools and encourage a strong volunteer base among our parent body. The PTSA is a national organization and families pay dues to become members. The PTSA is actively involved in the fabric of the schools, furthering parent-teacher-student relationships through such things as nature guides, book fairs, parent liaison committees, financial aid for class trips as well as hospitality for school events. The Foundation is Hastings-based and exists solely to raise and provide funds for enrichment and enhancement of the Hastings Public Schools. Our grants tend to be significantly larger than the PTSA mini-grants. We see ourselves as complementary organizations and as such have a representative of the PTSA on the HEF Board.
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Do Other Communities Have Foundations?
Most communities in Westchester have decided, as we did, that the best way to maintain excellence in the face of rising taxes and diminished state aid, is to establish a public schools foundation. We followed the lead of neighboring communities such as Bronxville, Dobbs Ferry, and Tarrytown when we established the Hastings Education Foundation in 1997. Since then almost every town in Westchester and many in Connecticut have done the same.
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Why Can't I Make a Contribution Directly to the School?
You can give a gift directly to the school, but we believe that pooling donations from many people will yield better results that are more consistent with our schools' specific needs. Our Board takes the grant procedure very seriously to ensure that the grants benefit as many students as possible; in addition they must conform with the goals of the School District as well as the Foundation's mission. All gifts to the school, including grants from the Foundation, must be accepted by the School Board.
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How Can I Participate?
You can support the Foundation in many ways. In addition to Foundation board members, there are dozens of people who volunteer each year to help us with our special events. We welcome anyone who would like to donate time, energy, money, or talent to help us meet our goals. Donations are tax-deductible and may be made in the form of checks, stock, or bonds. We also encourage donations in memory of someone or in honor of a special teacher or student. Please contact us for more information.
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