New Online Giving Page
You can now make a donation to the Polk Education Foundation online!
It's fast, easy and secure!
Ways to Help
The Polk Education Foundation has several ways for an individual to help with the many progams they offer. Here is a list of some of the ways you can help.
1. Support through Sponsorship:
- Scholarships - You can sponsor a scholarship for a Polk County High School graduating senior in your club or business name or in memory of a loved one. After the application period ends, all scholarships are collected, screened and selected through a competitive application process. We strive to make sure each application is given focus and attention to allow for the best candidates to be awarded scholarships. Donors can choose to participate in the selection process or allow PEF committees to make those selections. Donors choose the criteria, the award amount, designation area and "need" based criteria. Scholarships can be designated for certain schools or groups of recipients. Click here to read our Scholarship policy for donors.
Scholarships are promoted online every year through the Polk County School District and Polk Education Foundation. A listing of current scholarships can be found by clicking the Scholarships Information button on the menu to the left. Monies are awarded in the spring of each year; funds are not distributed directly to the student. A check is mailed payable to the college of the student's choice once the student is enrolled. Thank you notes are required to be sent to each donor of a scholarship by its recipient. If you need additional assistance, please call Susan Copeland at (863) 534-0434. Mrs. Copeland will be happy to meet with you in order to help you plan your scholarship program. Help make a difference in students' lives! - Endowed Scholarships - By creating an endowed scholarship, you enable the Foundation to establish a permanent pool of funds that are professionally invested. While the investment remains intact, the Foundation is awarded the earnings for use to fund your scholarship. A $10,000.00 donation equals a perpetual $500.00 scholarship. Endowed amounts and corresponding awards increase incrementally by each $10,000 donated. For more information, please contact Susan Copeland phone: (863)534-0434.
- Grants - Grants for teachers, schools and special projects are funded through the generosity of individuals, corporations and civic groups
- Event Sponsorship - Sponsoring a Polk Education event or program provides many benefits to your organization.
- Your support will offer a positive association for your company as a proponent of excellence and innovation in Polk County schools.
- You will be joining forces with other local businesses that are interested in making education a priority in our community.
- Your investment today will help prepare our future workforce ensuring productive and competent employees.
- A portion of your support may be tax deductible as allowed by law.
- Sponsorship could be provided to things like the county science fair, spelling bee, poetry contest, academic competitions and minority achievement banquet just to name a few.
- Each program offers its own designation for levels of donation.
- Foundation programs- AmeriCorps Polk Reads, Take Stock in Children, Teacher to Teacher/School to School Connection, CitiGroup Teacher Mentor Teams, Fill-A-Bucket and more.
2. Donate To: Programs, Events, Scholarships
- Cash - Monies are always needed to fund the programs and services of the Polk Education Foundation. No tax dollars are used for program funding so we depend on your donor dollars!
- Pledge - A pledged gift offers donors an opportunity to support the Foundation by making monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments.
- Memorial or Honor Gifts - Make a gift in memory or in honor of an individual or group.
- You Can Now Give Securely Online!
3. Volunteer: AmeriCorps Polk Reads or Take Stock in Children
- As an Event Volunteer- Serve on an event planning committee and help with various tasks associated with hosting events
- As an Office Volunteer- Assist with various tasks and projects as needed
- As a Reading Tutor- Work with K-3rd grade students
- As a TSIC Mentor- Serve one hour per week mentoring a scholarship student in grades 7-12.
4. Purchase or renew your vehicle license plate for education in Polk County.
Purchase a License for Learning license plate. This license plate shows that you care about education in Polk County. When you pay for this plate, the additional $20 will be returned to Polk County classrooms through grants and services of the PEF. The $20 is also tax deductible. These tags are available at your local tag office. The tag is listed under Florida Educational. Click the link to the left and renew your tag now. Please consider purchasing Support Education License tags for your company or fleet vehicles as well.
5. Check Into Literacy Program
By simply checking the box on your phone bill, your contributions are used to help support literacy programs.
6. Planned Giving Opportunities
A retirement fund advisor, tax attorney, or certified financial planner may advise you of the best way to make a planned gift that would benefit you most.
- Bequests - Remembering the Education Foundation in a will or living trust is one way to support future student achievement. To be recognized appropriately, the following language must be used for a will or living trust to be recognized:
“I give, devise and bequeath to the Polk Education Foundation (or the Polk Education Foundation Endowment Fund) the sum of ______dollars (or ______% of the estate, or otherwise describe the gift)” For more information, please contact Susan Copeland, phone: (863)534-0434.
- Charitable Annuities - Charitable gift annuities make it possible for a donor to benefit public school students or teachers while guaranteeing income for specified parties and specified lengths of time. This is achieved by donating assets to the Foundation in exchange for the Foundation’s promise to pay the specified party the guaranteed income. For more information, please contact Susan Copeland phone: (863)534-0434.
- Charitable Trusts:
- Charitable Remainder Trust: You may establish a trust designed to provide income to you or one or more beneficiaries for life or a specified number of years. At termination, the trust assets are paid to the Polk Education Foundation.
- Charitable Lead Trust: A Charitable lead trust is similar to the charitable remainder trust with one exception. With a charitable lead trust, the Polk Education Foundation receives the income payments for a term of years of the life of the individual(s). When the trust terminates, the remaining trust assets and undistributed income revert back to you or your beneficiaries. For more information, please contact Susan Copeland phone: (863)534-0434.
- Life Insurance: You may provide for a future gift by naming the Polk Education Foundation as a primary, co-primary or contingent beneficiary on your life insurance policy. You may also transfer ownership of a paid-in-full policy to the Foundation, or purchase a policy naming the Foundation as owner or beneficiary. For more information, please contact Susan Copeland phone: (863)534-0434.
- Retirement Plans: Retirement plans can make a desired gift possible by naming the Foundation as beneficiary of all or a portion of the remainder of the account. For more information, please contact Susan Copeland phone: (863)534-0434.
7. Employee Opportunities through Payroll Deduction
If you are a Polk County School Board employee, you can help by filling out a payroll deduction card. This money will be taken out of your check each month and put into the account of your choice. That money will be used to help those events and students involved in various programs. The money you donate may be deducted from your taxes. Please contact Lou Ann Antonelli (863) 534-0519 at the foundation office for a card or for more information.
