What is the difference between the Foundation and the PTA?
If the Foundation is sponsoring an event or program, why do I still have to pay?
I didn't have to pay for Performing Arts last year, but this year I am being asked to. Why?
Do other schools in our area have Foundations?
What do other Foundations in our area fund for their elementary schools?
Doesn't Cobb County already provide funds for technology and other programs?
Does this mean I am going to be asked to volunteer more?
Does this mean I am going to be asked for more money?
The Timber Ridge Foundation was established in 2005 and exists to further enhance the educational experiences of Timber Ridge Elementary School children. The Foundation is well on its way in offering new opportunities in Science and Technology, Foreign Language, Fine Arts and Teacher Grants!
The Foundation has a very specific and narrow set of objectives: to raise money to fund technology, science, foreign language, arts and other programs the PTA cannot fund due to pre-designated restrictions and guidelines. The PTA is a much broader organization, supporting the day-to-day educational programs of the school through volunteers and advocacy, and as such has very strict rules about funding. The Foundation is designed to complement the PTA. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity and all donations are tax-deductible. Many corporations will match employee donations as well.
According to Cobb County regulations, any after school activities held at school must be sponsored by an organization such as the Foundation. Together with the support of Dr. Doe, the Timber Ridge Foundation sponsors several high-quality after school programs such as Spanish, Performing Arts and Kid Chess, that are directly in line with the Foundation objectives. Because these are after-school activities that benefit only the children who participate, parents are asked to pay for these programs. We think you'll find they are a great value, with the great convenience of being held at school, after school.
Last year, the Foundation was lucky enough to have Rhnea Ausmus donate her services as the director of the play. Her many hours of work with the Timber Ridge children were all volunteer hours! This year, we are fortunate to be able to sponsor Blake Cooper Productions as an after-school option for Timber Ridge students. Blake comes highly recommended from Mt. Bethel, and while you do have to pay for this (because he is in business), we feel if you compare the cost to other performing arts venues, you'll find this to be a great value and a great convenience.
Yes. As a matter of fact, Timber Ridge is the last East Cobb Cluster School to start a Foundation. Tritt, Sope Creek and Mt. Bethel in particular have very strong Foundations that fund programs in the range of $100,000 each year.
Typically, Foundations in our area fund technology purchases for classrooms, salaries for instructors in technology, science, foreign language and performing arts, and innovative classroom, grade-level or school-wide projects.
Well, the answer to that is both yes and no. The county does provide for some support for technology, science and arts, and foreign language starting in eighth grade, but the fact of the matter is that we could do so much more with the kind of funding that other Foundations in our area provide for their elementary schools. In the same way that a strong PTA allows our school to have excellent programs and support for teachers, a strong Foundation will provide our school with the funding to have excellent technology, science, foreign language and arts programs.
A Foundation typically needs only a small number of volunteers. Unlike a PTA, a Foundation really only sponsors a few, limited events. That said, of course, we hope to include as many people as are interested.
The Foundation plans to sponsor a few fundraisers each year, and we hope that you will participate, especially if you feel strongly about the supporting the Foundation objectives (technology, science, foreign language and the arts). Our current thinking is one direct solicitation, one big event (the auction), and a small number of value-added fundraisers, like the golden Ticket night with Domino's, in which a merchant returns a percentage of their revenue to the Foundation.