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Press
Releases
3/20/2009
The Beresford Area Foundation is
currently funding a grant request for the Beresford Park and
Recreation Board to conduct a “Community Conversation” involving
community leaders from local public service groups, the City, the
board of public education, the chamber of commerce, the board for
economic development and the Beresford Area Foundation to discuss
and better define the future and direction of the City of Beresford.
The participants in the series of
public meetings have identified four main focal points for future
discussion and long term action: economic development, affordable
housing, making Beresford and more attractive and welcoming
community and the building of a multi-use facility for recreation,
performance and community interaction. The Beresford Area
Foundation has resolved to suspend all grant making efforts until
the Community Conversation process is completed in order to utilize
the results of that conversation to shape the future of the
Beresford Area Foundation.
The Foundation has primarily made
limited grants to achieve limited, short term objectives to the
benefit of select groups in the community. The majority of the
grants that have been awarded by the Foundation have addressed the
needs of pre school children or provided additional support for
youth recreation and class room extras for Beresford Public School
students. At this point the Foundation is assessing whether the
grant process should be changed to allow the Foundation Board to
address more long term goals as identified by the community.
Please consider a gift to the
Foundation to enable the Board to address the larger, long term
objectives that are important for the common welfare of the
Community of Beresford.
BAF/Karen Kirkebak
Press Release
Karen Kirkebak, first grade teacher at Beresford Elementary School,
received a check in the amount of $1,000.00 from Mike McGill,
Chairperson of the Beresford Area Foundation, to purchase two new
computers for student use in the first grade classroom. In accepting
the grant proceeds, Karen Kirkebak stated that this money will be
matched by in-kind services provided by Applied Software of
Beresford and software provided by the Beresford Public School
System to purchase and install two computers in the first grade
classroom. Currently the students are taught in a group computer
setting. With these two new computers individualized instruction
will be possible. The current computers in the classroom are not in
working order and therefore are not used. This grant will assist the
children in meeting standards imposed under federal law and to
prepare them to be technologically proficient. The Beresford Area
Foundation is currently conducting the “500 Club Capital Fund
Drive”. The idea behind this fund drive is that 500 families gift
$100.00 to the Beresford Area Foundation, P.O. Box 84, Beresford,
South Dakota 57004. Currently the Beresford Area Foundation
administers a community savings account holding $275,000.00. The
earnings from this fund are used to fund grant applications made to
the Board.
BAF/Margaret Bayer Press Release
Margaret Bayer, representing the Art Department at Beresford
Elementary, Middle, and High Schools received a grant from the
Beresford Area Foundation in the amount of $1,000.00 for the purpose
of materials for displaying artwork done by students first grade
through high school in Beresford Public Schools. Due to cutbacks in
funding in the local school district there were no funds available
to hold the annual “Art Show” so that students could display their
artistic works. The art show is typically held in the spring of the
year and gives the community an opportunity to appreciate the
artistic efforts of Beresford Public School students. The Beresford
Area Foundation was glad to support this worthy project. Kathy Hill
stated that this is the type of project that the Foundation desires
and needs to support because of the lack of public funding to
promote and support the arts. She encouraged community members to
buy into the Beresford Area Foundation as a community savings
account that could generate funds to support this and other projects
for years to come.
BAF/Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool Press Release
Pat Cleberg presented a check in the amount of $500.00 to Christina
Quartier, Director of the Emmanuel Lutheran Christian Preschool on
behalf of the Beresford Area Foundation. The grant will be used to
support a four-month long study of the arts in the preschool.
Christina stated that the four-month program would expose the
preschool students to visual arts, dance, theatre, and music.
Christina also stated that the preschool arts program would help the
children meet the South Dakota early learning guidelines. The
Beresford Arts Council, the Beresford Musical Arts Club, Jean Larsen
doing business as Nuance Gallery, and Mary Part Norgaard doing
business as Ultimate Dance Company all supported the grant
application. Pat Cleberg stated on behalf of the Beresford Area
Foundation that this grant is an example of the type of benefits
that are available to the Beresford community as a result of gifts
made to the Beresford Area Foundation. He stated that it is
important that the community develop a spirit of giving and that as
benefits are realized from the Foundation that people will see a
connection between that spirit of giving and a better quality of
life for the Beresford community.
BAF/Beresford School Literacy Project Press Release
Everett Nygaard, representing the Beresford Area Foundation
presented a check in the amount of $1,000.00 to Mike Limmer, Middle
School Principal of the Beresford School District. Mr. Limmer stated
that the purpose of the grant was to establish a year-long staff
development plan which is intended to promote more effective
literacy strategies for all classroom teachers. Mr. Limmer reported
that the need for literacy education has never been greater due to
changes in technology and lifestyle in our society. He also stated
that this will enhance the abilities of high school teachers to
address this important curriculum area. This will also assist
Beresford students to achieve better results in state mandated tests
as required by federal legislation. Everett Nygaard stated on behalf
of the Foundation that earnings from the community savings account
make it possible to target specific problem areas in our local
community and address them. He stated that this is only possible
when members of the community support and contribute to the
Beresford Area Foundation. He encouraged community members to make a
tax deductible contribution to the Beresford Area Foundation. All
contributions may be directed to Beresford Area Foundation, P.O. Box
84, Beresford, South Dakota 57004.
BAF/Once Upon a Time Press Release
Mike McGill, representing the Beresford Area Foundation presented a
check in the amount of $800.00 to Hannah Baily, representing the
Once Upon a Time Literacy Program administered by Beresford
Community Education. Hannah Baily stated that the purpose of the
funds was to continue the “Once Upon a Time” evening story time
initiated and started in 2000 by the Beresford Elementary School to
promote early literacy in the Beresford area. This program has been
highly successful reaching between 20 and 40 children each program
month. The program was initiated by Kevin Nelson and continued with
the support of teachers and parents recognizing the advantages of
early literacy. Hannah stated that statistics do show that children
who have been read to from an early age score highest on reading,
math, and general knowledge tests. Hannah is the coordinator of this
year’s program. Parents in the community have been enthusiastic
supporters and promoters of the program. Jane Norling, Head
Librarian at the Beresford Public Library stated that this is a very
worthwhile program that promotes the love of reading at an early
age. Mike McGill stated that in the recent fall grant cycle
applications submitted to the Foundation equaled $22,500.00.
Unfortunately the Foundation only had $4,400.00 available to award
as grants. Mr. McGill stated that the Foundation was forced to turn
down several worthwhile grant requests submitted by the middle
school journalism department, the golf team, the basketball team,
local art project supporters, Dance in Motion, and the Senior
Citizen’s Center. Mr. McGill stated that the Board would like to
have granted all of these requests and its goal is to raise enough
funds such that the earnings from the community savings account
would be enough to support all of these worthwhile community
programs. The Beresford Area Foundation invites people to help the
Board realize its goals by making a contribution to the Beresford
Area Foundation, P.O. Box 84, Beresford, South Dakota 57004. Only be
community support of the Foundation can the Board fund the grant
applications submitted by community members.
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