DeSoto County Education Foundation

The Office of Adrian H. Cline,

Superintendent

“Enhancing the Quality of Education”

P. O. Box 2000

Arcadia, Florida 34265

What is the DeSoto County Education Foundation?

The DeSoto County Education Foundation, Inc. is an independent not-for-profit organization whose corporate purpose is to focus the private sector upon enhancing the quality of and support for public education in DeSoto County.  The foundation was officially formed on May 19, 1997.  The Board of Directors consists of fourteen members exclusively from DeSoto County.  In addition, the DeSoto County Education Foundation is a member of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.

Foundation Directors

Melba Barnwell

Richard Bowers

John Burtscher

Bill Hackney

Eugene Hickson, Sr.

Judy Kirkpatrick

Dr. Ted Land

Tom Lipe

Keith Markey

Maria Moreno

Ann Ryals

Geraldine Scott

Howard Sorrells

Mary Stemm

Foundation Officers

Ann Ryals, Chair

Mary Stemm, Vice Chair

Melba Barnwell, Treasurer

Foundation Accomplishments

The DeSoto County Education Foundation has provided support to the classrooms in the School District of DeSoto in the following ways:

1. Funding of individual Classroom Improvement Grants for teachers.

2. Funding of supplemental reading program for DeSoto Middle School

3. Funding of supplemental second grade reading books

4. Funding of local elementary student history project

5. Funding of supplemental math and literature books at the elementary level

6. Funding of GED scholarships to qualified student at the adult education level

7. Joint sponsorship of $45,000 Juvenile Justice Grant for DeSoto County Youth

8. Establishment of John York Memorial College Scholarship for aspiring DeSoto County Teachers

9. Funding of five teacher scholarships to the Florida Center for Teachers

10. Fiscal agent for Learning Together, a Florida Family Literacy Academy, established by Jeb Bush

11. Funding of two Licensed Practical Nursing Scholarships

12. Fiscal agent for Leota Dozier Teaching Scholarship

13. Funding contribution to Carol McQuay Memorial Scholarship

14. Fiscal agent for Carol McQuay Memorial Scholarship

15. Fiscal agent for Hazel Grace Cline Memorial Scholarship

16. Fiscal agent for Betty Sue Allen Memorial Scholarship

17. Fiscal agent for Fletcher Brown Memorial Scholarship

18. Fiscal agent for Victoris Blandin Memorial Scholarship

19. Recipient of Dollar General Family Literacy Foundation Grant

The DeSoto County Education Foundation: Enriching the Quality of Education in DeSoto County

All contributions to the DeSoto County Education Foundation are tax deductible.  Please feel free to contact a director if you have any questions regarding the foundation.  You may also telephone 494-4222 x110.  Your support is appreciated.

Foundation Articles of Incorporation

            Foundation Bylaws    

Foundation IRS Exemption Letter

Consortium of Florida Education Foundations' Web Site