Education
BY DIEGO COLLAZO
The Alvin, Friendswood and Pearland ISD education foundations are nonpro t organizations that fund grants to cover teacher initiatives and projects that state and district funding can’t. In a 2024 study, Rice University’s Kinder Insti- tute found that over 73% of Texas school districts are underfunded, leading to organizations such as education foundations to ll the gap. “A strong public school system is the heartbeat of any community,” said Kimberly Bar eld, exec- utive director of the PISD Education Foundation. “[Foundations fund] innovative programs and ... opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist.” What you need to know The foundations operate as separate entities from their respective districts but work in tandem with school leaders and district o cials to meet the needs of teachers. “If they have a goal in mind, we want to help in any way possible to implement that goal,” said Brandy Groth, executive director of the AISD Education Foundation. The foundations rely solely on donations from community members and local businesses to fund their grants and scholarships, o cials said. To receive funding, teachers must apply for the grants and make a case for the request, which can include items such as new science kits, materials, a 3D printer or money to start a new program. The impact In total, the district’s foundations doled out hundreds of grants in just the past couple of years, o cials said. FISD’s foundation, for example, awarded more than 600 grants totaling over $600,000 for 2024- 25, according to its impact report. Over the past 10 years, PISD’s foundation has provided more than $800,000 in funding, accord- ing to its website. The grants distributed across each foundation have gone to several projects over the years. For example, a teacher at PISD launched a classroom art project using a mini-grant from the foundation. Students visited an animal shelter and sold painted portraits of the animals, with proceeds going to the shelter. Another example featured a grant that helped lay the groundwork for the school’s EMT Local education foundations help close gap for school funding
The Alvin ISD Education Foundation hosts an annual Turtle Race & 5K Fun Run to raise funds.
PHOTOS COURTESY ALVIN, FRIENDSWOOD AND PEARLAND ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS
Total amount raised by foundations since inception
Friendswood
ISD Pearland ISD Alvin ISD
$5M
The Friendswood ISD Education Foundation presents a $69,000 check to Cline Elementary as part of its Adopt- A Grant program.
$4M
$4.2M
$3M
$3M
$2M
$1M
$1.2M
$0
Rogers Middle School Librarian Georgia Luke at Pearland ISD receives a grant.
certi cation program, said Ashley Adair, executive director for the FISD Education Foundation. One graduate from the program is now employed by Friendswood Emergency Medical Services and was dispatched to a high school athletic practice to help an overheated student. “It was a full-circle moment of a student giving back to the program that built him,” Adair said. Disclaimer: General Manager Papar Faircloth is on the PISD Education Foundation’s board of directors.
For more information visit: Alvin ISD www.alvinisd.net/o/educationfoundation Friendswood ISD fef.my sd.com Pearland ISD www.pearlandisd.org/foundation/ about-the-foundation
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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD MANVEL EDITION
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