Growth Report 1: Boardman Schools Fund Helps Students to Excel

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Since 2009, the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence has donated nearly $90,000 to Boardman schools.

BSFEE, a component fund of The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, provides grants for new and existing projects that help Boardman students develop their talents. It works with Boardman alumni, the business community, governmental organizations and community members.

Teachers can request up to $1,750 from the Boardman Schools Fund for projects in their classrooms. The grants have included every grade level and curricular area and have benefited nearly all of the district’s 4,200 students.

“Support for education during these challenging times is more important than ever,” says Lynda Beichner, president of the fund.

In recent years, the grants were used to purchase a 3D printer, portable power station, mobile telescope, television studio equipment, cordless microscopes, a greenhouse and social/emotional equipment, as well as funding the inaugural season of wheelchair basketball, according to Beichner.

“We were able to provide a special surprise for the Class of 2034, our kindergarteners,” Beichner says. “Each received a sign to place in their yard.”

 The organization relies heavily on its annual dinner fundraiser in March. It includes a reverse raffle and a basket auction. Last year, 325 raffle tickets were sold. This year’s goal is to sell more than 400 tickets.

The BSFEE partners with the Boardman Education Association and the Aimee and Lulu Seidel Foundation. Its board comprises of seven community leaders, a school board member, the superintendent and two faculty members.

Pictured at top: Members of the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence Board of Directors are, front:  Kate Spires, Marcy Hughes, Annie Sofran, Megan Turillo, Lynda Beichner and Vickie Davis. Rear: Michael Walston, Tom Varley, Carl Greenaway Jr., Matthew Gambrell and Superintendent Tim Saxton.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.