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Potsdam Educational Opportunities Fund celebrates first year raising funds for Potsdam Central School projects

Posted 11/11/13

POTSDAM – After its founding last year, the Potsdam Educational Opportunities Fund (PEOF) in October celebrated its first year of fundraising for educational enrichment projects. Members of the …

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Potsdam Educational Opportunities Fund celebrates first year raising funds for Potsdam Central School projects

Posted

POTSDAM – After its founding last year, the Potsdam Educational Opportunities Fund (PEOF) in October celebrated its first year of fundraising for educational enrichment projects.

Members of the Potsdam community, PEOF advisory board, Potsdam Central students, faculty and administration were on hand to about the fundraising and the projects.

Last spring, PEOF awarded $5,761 for competitive grants to Potsdam Central staff and students.

Fundraising was given a big boost when Clarkson University Vice-President for External Relations Kelly Chezum presented PEOF with a $10,000 donation.

PEOF was formed by community members in 2012 to provide financial support for K-12 educational activities in the Potsdam Central School District. The organization's goal is to provide educators in the district with resources to develop creative activities and opportunities that enrich the lives of students.

Funding is coming from ongoing local public and corporate fundraising efforts, which is significantly enhanced through a pledge by an anonymous couple, both alumni of Potsdam schools, to match gifts to the fund one-to-one up to $100,000 for program support (an “annual’ fund”) and two dollars for each dollar raised for an endowment, or “sustaining” fund, that will carry the mission of the fund into the future. The matching grant funding is continuing through the end of 2013.

The PEOF operates under the auspices of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

Anyone interested in donating can send a check to NNY Community Foundation, 120 Washington St, Suite 400, Watertown, NY 13601, with PEOF mentioned in the memo line. Donations are tax-deductible for those who itemize.

For more information, see http://www.potsdam.k12.ny.us/educational-opportunities-fund or contact Devon Shipp, chair, at dshipp@clarkson.edu.