RCEF 2014 End-of-the Year Report from the President

February 5, 2015
From: Marty Heiss, 2014 President of Ravenna Community Educational Foundation
Subject: 2014 End of Year Report

1. Our major fundraiser was the “Taste of Ravenna.” The November 2014 event was the best attended and most profitable to date indicating continued and increased support from the Ravenna community and surrounding areas. We again had baskets donated by each Board member, from each school building and transportation department, and from individuals . We also had a live auction: an overnight and dinner/breakfast package to the Shoreline Inn and Lakehouse Restaurant w/tickets to the Frauenthal Center; an antique school desk/chair (refinished by Ken Punter), 4 MSU basketball tickets, 2 Adirondeck chairs, Tom Izzo autographed basketball, handcrafted hallway bench (designed & built by Ken Patterson), and wooden chopping block. The bidding was fast and furious and Don Swanson did an outstanding auctioneering job assisted by Mike Barker. Moss Ridge put together the wine and beer samples again this year. We had brew beer samples this year from a Muskegon brewery. Our alumnus of the year for 2014 was John Swanson, a 1976 graduate of RHS. A very successful evening.
2. We again funded a number of grants: $300 to Kelly Hecksel for “March is Reading” month speaker; $300 to Amy Sitzer for Title I iPad headphones; $240 to Carrie Schoenborn for Art Dept. wall mural; $500 to “Read Early Read Often” program; $500 to school transportation department for bus safety program;.
3. We were able to increase our scholarship grant to two scholarships of $1,000 each.
4. We again participated in Dog Daze, handing out 1300 popsicles to many hot and thirsty attendees.
5. Officer elections were held and the officers for 2015 are: Marty Heiss, President; Denny Emery, Vice President; Jason Helsen, Treasurer, and Mike Pierson, Secretary. The remaining Board members are: Dee Swanson, Ken Patterson, Ken Punter, Karen Barker and Laura Cameron.
6. Our fund balance continues to grow. We began 2014 with $123,202.18 and ended the year with $145,349.63. We are most grateful to our generous community (and to the healthy economy) for this continuing growth and enabling the Foundation to continue supporting our schools, our staff and students with financial support in continuing academic excellence.
7. We are expecting 2015 to be another great year. We will continue with our efforts and use our resources wisely in our continuance of helping Ravenna Public Schools prosper.

Respectfully submitted,
Marty Heiss