Polk Education Foundation

Keyword for this page: PEF

New Photo Gallery!

Click here to view the new photos from the 2011 Stepping Out for Education Event

PEF "Spotlight"

Study Ranks Polk Education Foundation 6 out of 50 of the Top K-12 Education Foundations in Large School Districts Across the Nation

A recent national study of education foundations and funds, in the 50 largest school districts ranks, the Top 20 education foundations/funds in the nation is supporting public education. The top 10 education foundations / funds are:

1. Pinellas Education Foundation (FL)

2. Denver Public Schools Foundation (CO)

3. Clark Co. Public Ed. Fnd. (NV)

4. Hillsborough Education Foundation (FL)

5. Brevard Schools Foundation (FL)

6. Polk Education Foundation (FL)

7. The Fund for Public Schools, (NY)

8. Albuquerque Public School Foundation (NM)

9. Children’s First Trust Chicago (IL)

10. Broward Education Foundation (FL)

Duplicating the same study done in 2005, this year’s study used school year 2009-2010 data (most recent year available) from the Form 990 (page one) that nonprofits use to report financial information. It also assessed and compared most of the same performance categories as the 2005 study.

First, the study analyzed the effectiveness of an education fund/foundation at generating and sustaining financial resources to serve the students of its school district. "The rationale is that the more financial resources a foundation can generate the more services and programs it can provide to enhance the public school experience for students,” said Dewey Caruthers, president of dewey & associates, a 13-year-old management consulting firm that conducts occasional studies in education, juvenile justice and public health. Second, the study assessed the effectiveness of distributing financial resources, taking into consideration the number of students in its school district. "We wanted to see the amounts of financial resources these organizations distributed through programs to help students," Caruthers said. A new topic added to this recent study was the role of volunteers. “The ability to grow and sustain large numbers of volunteers is an asset for a foundation, which can be leveraged many different ways to improve public schools,” Caruthers said.

More specifically, the recent study compared the following variables:

- Long-term financial sustainability (total assets, assets per student, investment income)

- Fundraising/revenues (total revenues and revenues per student)

- Program expenditures (total program expenses and program expenses per student – both less salaries and benefits)

- Volunteers (total volunteers)

The overall Top 20 was the collective scoring of all eight performance categories. The foundations that appeared in the Top 20 in the most categories were ranked highest, emphasizing the importance of being well-rounded.

“There are a lot of ways to measure success of an education foundation, but we chose these performance categories because it is objective data reported in the 990s,” Caruthers said. Polk Education Foundation President Hollis Hooks said “We are proud of the work of our local education foundation and to be ranked so high, in a study of 50 comparably sized school districts, is an outstanding achievement!”

Just One for the Kids

Give “Just One for the Kids” and help the PEF raise money for student and teacher programs in Polk County. If every employee gave just one dollar per month, we could raise $144,000 towards helping promote education in our district! Click on the button above to make a donation!

View a Video about "Just One for the Kids"!

About Us

New! 2010-2011 Annual Report

The Polk Education Foundation was created in 1988, as a 501 C 3 direct-support organization for the Polk County School Board. The Foundation serves as the fiscal agent and manager of many educational programs for Polk County Schools. We serve to enhance educational programs for students with private and corporate funds. Led by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of community, educational and business leaders, the Foundation has raised and spent over $26 million dollars.

Vision Statement

The vision of the Polk Education Foundation is to help enhance public school programs and to help students reach their educational goals.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Polk Education Foundation is to establish a proactive partnership
between the community and the public school system to link community resources with the
educational needs of its students through reading and mentoring programs, scholarships,
school grants and other educational endeavors.

Goals

Sensitize the community to the needs of local schools and students.
Develop and enhance educational programs and initiatives for students.
Raise significant financial support for local schools and help to underwrite countywide programs for students.
Challenge parents, business leaders and the extended community to become involved in and be supportive of their local schools, their students and the district's education foundation.

2010-2011 Financial Documents

Click Here to View the 2010-2011 PEF Financial Audit

Click Here to View the 2011 PEF Form 990

Contact Information

Address: 1530 Shumate Drive, Bartow, FL 33830
Phone: (863) 534-0519

Staff Listing

All phone number area codes are (863)

Name:	Title:	Phone:
Susan Copeland	Executive Director	534-0434
Shirley Brosie	Accountant Specialist II	534-5073
Miranda Collins	Grants Manager, T2T Program Director	534-0803
Lou Ann Antonelli	Administrative Assistant	534-0519
Teresa Choquette	Take Stock in Children, Student Advocate	519-8076
Susan Fenich	Take Stock in Children, Program Coordinator	519-8077
Vicki Ginda	AmeriCorps Polk Reads, Program Director	519-8637
Nancy Hardwick	AmeriCorps Polk Reads, Program Assistant	519-8638

Visit our Staff Directory to contact any staff member via e-mail