Annual Report 2007-2008 Message from the President

December 31, 2008

Dear Supporter of Public Education:

This last year was an exciting year for the Livonia Public Schools Foundation. Support from the community grew significantly as the community enthusiastically embraced the Foundation’s new college savings program - the Livonia Competitive Edge College Savings Program.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, the Foundation supported several important programs in the Livonia Public Schools District including a variety extra curricular programs and activities.

Perhaps most important of all, the idea of helping our children get to college and then, gaining a competitive edge in life, became a reality. The Foundation finalized the Competitive Edge College Savings Program - a program that would be launched in Fall 2008. Under the program, the Foundation would open a college savings plan account for every first grader in the district, and make a financial contribution to each child’s college savings plan account to help pay for the cost of the child’s college education. This is a remarkable gift, from a remarkable community, to remarkable children.

I would like to thank all of those who made a contribution to the important work of the Foundation during the year. Your generosity helps make a difference in the lives of the children of our community. After all, “every child needs a foundation.” The Livonia Public Schools Foundation is an important part of that foundation.

Sincerely,

James R. Cambridge President Livonia Public Schools Foundation

1 Board of Directors

James Cambridge Elaine Koons Judee Taormina Ernest Natalini President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Director Director Director Director

Jim Badge Jack Kirksey Dan West Jay Young Director Director Director Director

Randy A.Liepa Lynda Scheel Non-voting Non-voting member member

2 History of the Livonia Public Schools Foundation

Nearly a decade ago, the financial situation of the Livonia Public Schools was radically different than today. At that time, the district was experiencing increasing enrollments, the state and national economy were robust, and the negative impact of an economic downturn, which under Proposal A ties school funding to sales taxes, was yet to be felt.

In 1997, the Board of Education commissioned a feasibility study to be conducted regarding the establishment of a school district foundation. Neighboring school district foundations were surveyed, research was gathered and analyzed, and consultants were consulted. After reviewing the results, the Board of Education decided against establishing a foundation at that time.

In late 2002, a follow-up study was conducted, at which time conditions had changed drastically and the need for an independent funding source that might aid the district, was seen as both feasible and necessary. The following year, events were set in motion that resulted in the formalization of the Livonia Public Schools Foundation in early 2004.

First, all the documents required to legally establish a foundation needed to be written and submitted, including Articles of Incorporation, by-laws, application for 501(c)3 status with the IRS, and other legal documents.

Next, a Board of Directors was selected and agreed to serve. The By-Laws call for seven voting directors and up to three non-voting members initially appointed for a term of one to three years. The officers consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Board members developed a mission statement, guiding principles, core values, goals and objectives, logo design, an information dissemination process, fund-raising strategies, and a host of other necessary tasks.

3 We have joined a national movement that is growing every year. According to the National School Foundation Association, $31.59 million was donated to education in the US in 2003, the second largest recipient category (behind religion) of philanthropic donations in the US. It is projected there will be an intergenerational wealth transfer occurring over the next 25-35 years, yielding between 15 and 40 trillion dollars. The Giving USA 2001 reports that many major donors who give to education are switching their financial support and focus from college and universities to elementary and secondary schools, and are finding educational foundations an excellent way to do that.

To commence in FY 2008, the Foundation has initiated The LPS Competitive Edge College Savings Program, which will encourage parents of new first graders to establish a college savings (529) plan. The Foundation will provide an initial amount in a holding account for each first grade student whose parents register for the program.

With these facts in mind, and the firm belief that our teachers and administrators want to do a better job educating our community’s children, we believe the growth and development of the Livonia Public Schools Foundation will play a vital role in the continued excellent educational experience offered in the Livonia Public Schools.

We have a dedicated and talented Board of Directors, energetic and hard-working volunteers, and great partnerships with the business community. However, we have much to do.

We are grateful to all who have contributed time or money to the Foundation this year. We are optimistic about the future, and ask you to join us in teaming together to ensure learning for all.

4 Our Mission

“The mission of the Livonia Public Schools Foundation is to enlarge the resources available to the school district which will foster and expand educational opportunities for programs impacting students and to provide the opportunity for LPS parents to begin planning for their student’s postsecondary education.”

The Foundation offers a powerful and effective vehicle for directing contributions to benefit public education in portions of Livonia and Westland, Michigan.

Our Core Values

We will strive to directly impact student learning by:

 Putting resources into the classrooms.  Improving student achievement.  Providing financial resources for items the district cannot fund.

We will strive to ensure integrity by:

 Using ethical fund-raising techniques.  Maintaining sound financial practices.

We will strive to provide the means to assist our students in their postgraduate education by:

 Establishing the opportunity to subsidize a college savings plan.  Holding educational savings plan seminars for parents and students.

5 LPS Foundation 2007-2008 Accomplishments

Designated Funds

Partnership for the Visually Impaired

The Partnership for the Visually Impaired provided funds to allow visually impaired students to attend a special summer school program.

Business/Teacher Connection

The Business/Teacher Connection program is a partnership between the Livonia Schools and the Livonia Chamber of Commerce. This program brings together business people and teachers in a unique collaboration. Business and teacher partners visit each other’s workplace and learn about the application of curriculum in the work world. The Foundation supported the participation of 12 teachers through a stipend made possible by a donation from dfcu Financial.

6 Undesignated Funds

Grants to Schools to Support Teaching Supply Accounts

Some of the grant monies sent to all our schools were spent for supplemental materials to support creative lessons in the arts (music, art) along with physical education, extra curricular activities and science. Also, supplemental books, beyond the normal literacy program, were purchased to support reading in our schools.

7 LPS Foundation Fundraising Strategy

Funding Strategy

A. General Funds The overriding strategy for fundraising and expenditures will be to approve and provide monies for programs, with funds raised in the preceding fiscal year. The exception to this policy will be the support of programs through specifically designated donations, those which are received and accepted by the LPS Foundation for the specific use of donor directed programs and projects which meet the mission and values of the Foundation.

A fundraising goal will be established for each fiscal year, which will be comprised of both designated and undesignated funds. The primary purpose of the undesignated donations will be to support major (high cost) programs consistent with the mission and values of the Foundation. Once that goal is achieved, additional funds received will be placed in an endowment account for use in succeeding years to support sponsor-generated requests.

B. Competitive Edge This program is an exciting new college savings program available for each first grader entering the Livonia Public Schools commencing with the fall semester 2008. The funding will be provided by both corporate and individual contributors, establishing a core of founding partners committed to a long-term pledge. The fund-raising campaign began September 2007.

8 Funding Sources

Currently, donations have been received from the following sources:

1. Individual Donors a. Retirees b. Employees c. District Residents d. Alumni 2. Corporate Sponsors 3. Special Events a. Food for Thought b. 50/50 raffle / Playhouse Raffle c. Back to School Ice Cream Social 4. Honorary Donations a. Memorials b. Celebrations

Playhouse Raffle

9 Future Fundraising Focus

The Foundation will continue to focus specific fundraising efforts on our established target groups: alumni, businesses, community members, parents, retirees, and staff members, as well as sponsor events which will include all of these groups.

Campaigns that begin with individual letters requesting donations, strengthened in many cases by personal contacts, will be instituted for alumni, retirees, and staff members.

The following fundraising events, designed to involve all of our targeted groups, are being planned for the 2007-2008 school year. These include:

Employee Payroll Deduction Campaign

During two weeks in the fall of 2007, the Foundation launched a comprehensive campaign designed to encourage all LPS employees to contribute to the Foundation through the payroll deduction method. The primary focus of this campaign is to support the Competitive Edge program.

Corporate Giving Campaign

Following the employee campaign, corporate citizens and suppliers of goods and services to the district will be invited to share their resources with the Foundation for the benefit of LPS students.

Food for Thought Events

Some restaurants designate days during which they will give a percentage of sales to the Foundation. Several of these events are planned during the school year. Max & Erma’s restaurants in the Mall (located at Six Mile and Newburgh Roads), and in Westland (located at 6601 Newburgh Road) have agreed to once again host this fund raiser. Other Livonia area restaurants may be asked to participate as well.

10 Alumni Directory Appeals

Data (name, address, telephone number) is being compiled of all the graduates of the four (Bentley, Churchill, Franklin, and Stevenson) Livonia Public Schools high schools to be published in directories by the Harris Connect Company for those alumni interested in keeping in touch with their high school classmates. Each directory sold will contain an appeal for funds by the Foundation.

Michigan Fuels Gas Purchase Plan

An arrangement is being finalized with the supplier of gasoline to several Livonia and Westland gasoline stations, whereby a portion of the sale of fuel from those stations on designated days will be donated to the LPS Foundation. The plan, which began in November 2007, is scheduled to continue in January 2008.

11 LPS Foundation Income Statement Fiscal Year July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008

Balance Brought Forward $ 33, 995

Income Contributions $ 102,634 Interest Earned 2,503 Special Events 6,695

Total Income $ 111,832

Expenses Special Events $ 324 Grants 13,000 Operating Expenses 99

Total Expenses $ 13,423

Net Assets Restricted Funds $ 126,170 Unrestricted Funds 6,234 Total Net Assets $ 132,404

12 Competitive Edge Corporate/Organization Founding Partners Donations

Anonymous Donor Alpha Delta Kappa-Tau Chapter Bill Brown Ford, Inc. Bill Brown Ford dfcu Financial Credit Union Independent Order of Foresters Davenport University Livonia Anniversary Committee Kopmeyer & Talty, P.C. Livonia Board of Education Livonia Chamber of Commerce trustees Livonia PTA/PTSA’s Livonia Chrysler Jeep Churchill High School PTSA Livonia Educational Frost Middle School PTSA Administrators Garfield PTA Livonia Parapro Association Holmes Middle School PTSA Livonia PTSA Council Hoover PTA Max & Erma’s Restaurant Johnson Upper Elementary PTA May U Enterprises Kennedy PTA Michigan Fuels Retail Operators Livonia PTSA Council Phimco, Inc. Perrinville Early Childhood Center PTA Stevenson H.S. Booster Club Randolph Elementary PTA Tennyson Chevrolet Riley Upper Elementary PTA Wal-Mart Foundation Roosevelt PTA Wolverine Sports & Stevenson High School PTSA Conservation Club LPS Employees Michigan Educational Credit Union Observer & Eccentric Newspapers Parkside Credit Union St. Mary Mercy Hospital TRW Automotive

2007-08 DONOR HONOR ROLL

In Memory or Honor of Lucille Mikul Shirley Liepa Charles Steffes Suzanne Steffes Father of Michelle Mooney 13 Individual Donors Sheila Alles Barbara Ewing Jerilynn Petersmark Diane Anselm Marla Feldman Kathleen Price Anthony Balogh Kathleen Frame Ronald Quick Donna Beardslee Kent Gage Ann Rose Sharon Bernath Terry Godfroid-Marecki Susan Ryan Margaret Bonnici Sandra Gutenschwager Sara Sampeer Kenneth Bourgon Sally Gyokeres Doug and Lynda Scheel George Calkins Ronald Hammye Mary Scheidies Mr. & Mrs. Cambridge Scott Hart Mr. & Mrs. Seaman Larry Carignan John Hiltz Christopher Shulte Cynthia Chaklosh Ann Kalec Christine Shulte Dorothy Chomicz James Karoub Beverley Shafer Jean Cogill Russell Keberly Nancy Soderholm Christina Coletta Raymond Keeling Suzanne Steffes Iris Connolly Martin Kreger Sandra Tima Karen Copeland Frank Laurette Carol Tinney Rebecca Copenhaver Karen Lee Linda Tymzcak Joseph Costa Barbara Lewis Jane VanPoperin Donna Crosier Cynthia Markarian John Weigel II Theresa Cunningham Lucy McKenzie Charlotte Worthen David Danes Marjorie Moore Jane Yee Patricia Davis Sandra Naasko Jay Young Mr. & Mrs. Englehart John Ort Claudia Zimmer Mr. & Mrs. Erickson Kenneth Patterson Karen Zyczynski Payroll Deduction Donors Lisa Abbey Janeane Bickham Jacalyn Coleman Julie Adams Barbara Bosley Mary Combs Carla Allen-Myrold Martha Brenner James Considine Sheila Alles Janie Brisky Patricia Cooke Andrea Anderson Beth Buffington Sherrie Coon Karyn Anderson Denise Burke Mary Couillard Ronald Anderson Tonia Busch Danny Cramb Steven Archibald Beverly Bydlowski Mary Curtin Carol Ashworth Doreen Byrne Georgette Czajkowski Margaret Babineau Sheila Byrne Danielle Daniels Shelly Bales Carim Calkins Michael Daraskavich Susan Bares Patricia Campbell Caryl Dazer Craig Barker Lisa Cannell Lynn Decarli Diane Barrett Isolina Carlini Anthony Demarco Amber Basch Kimberly Casey Gregory Denio Sharon Belcher Dorothy Chomicz Karen DePerro Mary Pat Benoit Laurie Christenson Kay DePerro Matthew Bentley Gary Cieniuch Carolyn Dery Tim Beswetherick Leslie Cirino Geoffrey Dickenson Ellen Betel Jennifer Clay Karen Dillon Jan Bice Kathleen Coggins Alphonse Dipaolo 14 Sheila Dobbie Ann Jenkins Matthew Miga Angela Doelker Debra Johnson James Miller Sandra Doll Denise Johnson Marci Miller Kathleen Donagrandi Barbara Jones Adam Mitchell Lidia Dordeski Lisa Kaiser Christine Mitchell Patricia Dubel Ann Kalec David Mitchell Dolours Duffy John Kalousek (Dec’d) Shellie Moore Lorna Durand Naneen Kaufman Jessica Morelli Kelly Eddy Russell Keberly Emily Morford Linda Ehlendt Linda Keimig Rebecca Morr Mathew Enechukwu Heidi Keith Uma Natarajan Valerie Evans-Ebling Derek Kendall Michael Nathan Gayle Fedoronko Elizabeth Keyshian Colleen Nault Judy Fedraw Jadie Kieft Julie Neilson Marla Feldman Patricia Kirksey Lori Nersesian Carlotta Ferguson Renee Kish Catherine Noble Julianne Foley Christine Kleimola Deborah Norman Kathleen Frame Luci Klinkhamer Carolyn Norris-Deyell James Fraser Bette Knedgen Paula Nowotny Lisa Furca Patrick Koelzer Theresa O’Brien Christine Gajor Elaine Koons Susan Opalach Annette Garbutt Victoria Kurkowski Andrea Oquist Rene Gentile Sandra Kyle Sarah Orvis Ina Germain Anita Lamour Ann Owen James Gibbons Kristina Lank Jennice Owen Michelle Gill-Miller Cindy Lectka Sandra Paldan Linda Gipprich Kellee Lee Shawn Parsons Traci Gizzi Roberta Lemieux Bradley Pearson Janet Good Susan Licata Kathryn Peterson Christopher Gord Randy Liepa Charles Petitpas Sharon Grech Annette Linn Catherine Phillips Michelle Guerriero Dorothy Lowry Mary Pilon Janet Haas Patricia Luchi Gary Plank Ronald Hammye Theresa Macek Marilynne Ponto Debra Harbison Glenn Macorkindale Heidi Posh Joseph Harvey Marlene Magda Christine Price Cathlene Hedden Gerard Majewski Kathleen Price Debra Hedges Lynn Massucci Michelle Pritula Claudia Heinrich Karen Maston Mary Prouty Deborah Hill Kathy Maxwell June Quatrine Timothy Hinchman Mary Jo McCabe Agnes Quirk Dennis Hinze Barbara McConnell Nanette Ragalyi Karen Holmes Susan McCoy Ray Raymond Maxine Huysken Donna McDowell Mary Retelle Colette Ivey James McMuldroch Cheryl Robak Carol Janowski Kathy McSorley Carl Roberts Deborah Janowski Samuel Mebius Brandy Rost Marilyn Jarrett Jennifer Medellin Evelyn Ruiz Sarah Jary Tara Mellis Christine Santavicca 15 Cathleen Santi Marilyn Snabb Ruth Ann Urevig John Santi Matthew Sokol Catherine Vanecek Laura Sarnovsky Allison Solway Patricia Vomsteeg Sue Schafer Donna Sorge Molly Walsh Craig Schmidt Tammy Spangler-Timm Lynne Waskin Roland Schneider David Spellich Mary Weaver Michelle Schnurstein Jason Sproule Kristie Wells-Biggert Deborah Schommer Deborah Squirewell Robert West Laura Schroth Ellen Stefaniak Corinne Wichman Christine Schulte Charles Steffes Horst Wichmann James Seay Suzanne Steffes Mary Wilkinson Debra Shanker Susan Strickland Daniel Willenborg Lori Shelide Kelly Taddia Patricia Wischmeyer Susan Shovlin Julie Tafelski Donald Woolfork Tammy Sieber Stephen Taylor Charlotte Worthen Carolyn Siewicki Terry Taylor Pamela Wright Leigh Simon Pamela Timmerman Olivia Wylie Judith Sinning Amy Tischler Dale Yanka Marylee Skelton Thomas Tobe Kathleen Yost Diane Sloboda Mary Tullio Jay Young Joel Smith Linda Tymczak Donna Ziem Julie Smith Terrance Tymczak Claudia Zimmer Sherri Smith Kathleen Tyranski

LPS Foundation Acknowledgements

The LPS Foundation would like to acknowledge the following for contributing their time, expertise, and interest in aiding the Foundation:

Julie Degenfelder For her support and guidance in providing banking service to the Foundation, in addition to providing financial donations on behalf of the TCF Bank.

Patrick Derrig For providing the Laurel Park Place Mall as a showplace for our students, resulting in several fundraising opportunities including “Through the Eyes of a Child,” in addition to serving on the Fundraising Subcommittee.

Lisa Abbey For establishing accounting procedures and providing ongoing review of financial actions.

Suzanne Steffes For her administrative support in consolidating incoming contributions. 16