March 1, 2022

The Olathe Public Schools Foundation (OPSF) is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization providing grants, scholarships, and recognition for the teachers and students at the Olathe School District. Committed to bringing students, parents, alumni, small businesses, and corporations together, OPSF works to build supportive relationships between its schools and the business community through many cooperative events and programs. Founded in 1997, OPSF is managed by a team of five professionals and a board of directors consisting of 24 business and community leaders. The OPSF executive director and the Olathe Public Schools superintendent of schools also serve on the board as ex-officio members, providing the foundation a direct line to stay in tune to the needs of the nearly 30,000 students and more than 4,600 staff at the Olathe School District.

“Our staff and board members attack our mission with a lot of heart,” said Cindy VonFeldt, OPSF executive director. “Our team supports not only the student but also provides a helping hand to struggling families in need of necessary resources to help them support their child’s education. From helping with prom dresses to providing access to balanced meals to helping homeless students find a permanent residence, we strive to take that extra step to support our students in and out of the classroom."

Since 2008, Atmos Energy has partnered with OPSF to enhance students’ mental health and wellness, provide basic and immediate medical needs, fund classroom grants, assist financially struggling students with College Now, AP, ACT, and SAT fees and tuition, provide school supplies, and recognize teachers and staff. In addition, Atmos Energy recently supported OPSF’s literacy grants which helped approximately 2,300 early childhood readers.

Atmos Energy also inspired the creation of the OPSF’s Feed it Forward campaign in 2020 through a generous donation in support of the Olathe Public Schools Food Services Families in Need Fund.

“The global health crisis left many already vulnerable families in an even more uncertain financial situation,” said Aaron Bishop, Atmos Energy manager of public affairs. “Many struggling families in the district do not qualify for the free or reduced price meal program, and those who do qualify for a reduced price meal may still struggle with the remaining costs. The Feed It Forward campaign was designed to help enhance the school district’s Families in Need Fund to ensure that every student, regardless of their ability to pay, can have access to nutritious meals during the school day.”

Through the OPSF Feed it Forward campaign, $23,000 in student lunch debt for 2020-2021 has been paid in full. With debts forgiven, the Olathe Public Schools Foundation remains focused on preparing for the increased number of students who will need meal assistance during the school year.

“Through our Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities efforts we are focused on combating childhood hunger,” said Jerry Barrios, Atmos Energy manager of operations and OPSF board president. “Our partnership with OPSF allows us to provide nutritious meals to students and support families struggling with increased debt – so they don’t have to worry about overextending their budgets to provide food for their children.”

Since its inception, OPSF has provided more than $7 million of support to Olathe school staff and students through its many efforts, including:

• Educator Excellence (E²) Award: The award recognizes Olathe Public Schools educators who demonstrate teaching excellence through their ability to meet the needs of their students, work with others in the educational environment, and bridge the gap to reach parents. Award recipients are gifted a $500 unrestricted cash grant.
• Classified Employee Excellence Recognition Award: This program rewards non-certified employees of the Olathe Public Schools for outstanding service and excellence in their job performance. Nominees might include paraprofessionals, food service employees, secretaries, custodians, business office personnel, grounds maintenance crew members, or other support positions in the district.
• Classroom Grants: This program includes Hidden Glen Visual Arts Grants, Innovative Classroom Grants, Need-Based Grants, and Building/District-Wide Innovation Grants.
• Susan Spears Memorial Kindergarten Grant: This was established to honor Susan Spears, a career educator in the Olathe Public Schools District. Through this grant special funds are available each year to kindergarten teachers.
• Women's Giving Circle Grant: The OPSF Women’s Giving Circle is a group of women who each donate $100 twice a year to form the pool of funds with which they fund grants to certified educators for projects impacting Olathe students.
• Scholarships: OPSF, in cooperation with private donors, supports Olathe students after they have graduated by offering college scholarships.
• Wimmer Student Care Fund: This fund was established to pay tribute to Dr. Ron Wimmer’s years of service as superintendent of Olathe Schools and his passion for students. Funds are disbursed to students and their families in times of special need to minimize the impact on the students and keep them in school.
• AVID Lifetime Learners Fund: As part of the rigorous AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) curriculum, students are encouraged to take the ACT test and enroll in AP-level courses or College Now classes which allow them to earn college credit while still in high school. These options are fee-based and challenging for students who come from families that struggle financially, so this fund helps students in need pay those fees associated with the AVID program.

• Dr. B's Musical Instrument Fund: This fund collects used band and orchestra instruments for students unable to rent or purchase a musical instrument of their own. Especially needed are clarinets, flutes, trombones, trumpets, violas, and violins.
• Braden Robertson Student Mental Health Fund: This fund includes up to six visits with a mental health therapist for any student who is underinsured or who cannot access their own benefits in a timely manner.
• School Supplies and Backpacks: Summer drive collecting backpacks and school supplies to ensure Olathe students have what they need to start school and be ready to learn.

To learn more about OPSF, please visit olathepublicschoolsfoundation.org.

Committed to meeting the growing need of food insecure households, the NTFB developed the Nourish North Texas campaign with a goal of raising $500 million in food and funds by the end of fiscal year 2023. Nourish North Texas will allow the NTFB to execute its strategic plan by funding critical operations, building new partnerships, and investing in the growth of its Feeding Network.   

The NTFB service area has the fifth-highest number of food insecure individuals out of the Feeding America service areas.  To complement the Mobile Pantry efforts and address the heightened levels of hunger in North Texas, the NTFB offers a variety of unique programs including: 

• Disaster Relief – Responding to the needs of the community following a major disaster. 

• Senior Programs – Ensuring that seniors have access to meals that meet their health needs. 

• Food Pantry location services through its Feeding Network. 

• Social Services Assistance – NTFB staff provides valuable information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other Texas Health & Human Services benefits that may be available to assist with supplementing personal food budgets. 

• Child Programs – Partnerships with schools and social service programs in NTFB’s service area to distribute and serve nutritious foods to kids in need year-round. 

• Nutrition Services – This team works to ensure that NTFB's feeding programs take the nutritional needs of hungry neighbors into account.  In addition to providing access to nutritious foods, NTFB also works to teach families, seniors, and children about healthy eating on a budget through both in-person and virtual programming.  

• Garden Programs include a small-scale learning garden in honor of NTFB’s late President and CEO, Jan Pruitt, and partnerships with community gardens to grow and connect fresh produce to those in need.

“During the 2020-2021 school year, NTFB Child Programs served 1.5 million meals through the School Pantry Program and more than 1.2 million meals through the Food 4 Kids backpack program,” added Rugg. “Beyond food assistance, many partner agencies also provide wrap-around services for vulnerable families offering programs that work to eliminate the underlying barriers to food security.” 

To help close the hunger gap in North Texas, please visit ntfb.org.