Underwood creates foundation for town, school

By Karin Burke | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, January 19, 2007

Concerned with nationwide educational funding cuts, Underwood parents, community and school board members have come together to form the Underwood Community/Education Foundation. The Foundation hopes to counter spending cuts through fundraising efforts and, more broadly, to foster connection and innovative programs in the Underwood School and community.

The idea for such an initiative originally came out of school board discussions, but was brought to the community at large last summer. On Aug. 1, the Foundation signed with West Central Initiative, earning tax exempt status. The new foundation will hold a kick-off fundraiser Feb. 10 at the Underwood School.

Paul Beckman, chair of the Foundation’s advisory committee, is worried about the cut backs.

“Although no specific programs or departments have been cut (at Underwood), we are concerned with the trend to cut back,” he said. “We want to make sure that our programs are funded at least at the same level they are now.”

The Foundation would like, in the future, to have resources and community support sufficient to create new programs, bridging the classroom with the community at large, Beckman said.

“There is a weight room at the school that we would like to be opened to community use,” he said. “We want to build bridges and communication between the community and the school. Both will benefit.”

The fundraising kick-off Feb. 10, is an effort to “reach out to concerned community members and organizations, and to let people know about the Foundation,” Beckman said.

The event will feature a meal and musical entertainment, as well as a keynote address from Brooke Barsness, Director of College Advancement and Executive Director of the Fergus Falls Area College Foundation.

Anyone interested in becoming a member, learning more about the Foundation or the fundraising event, can visit the Foundation’s Web site at www. underwoodecf.org.