By GG President Doug Whalley (’63)
The Roosevelt High School Foundation
Golden Grads is not the only group supporting Roosevelt. The RHS Foundation is a major source of outside funding for the school’s needs. Their website describes their history. The Foundation has a paid staff member and does extensive fundraising, including sponsoring an annual Spring golf tournament at Sand Point. They do not fund scholarships, but each year our Teacher’s Wish List Committee meets with the Foundation, the PTA, and school officials to coordinate which group will fund requested grants. The Foundation is by far the largest donor and deserves recognition and support for their work. (Janet and I donate every year.) Since 2003, The Roosevelt Foundation has provided an amazing $800,000 to the school for programs, books, computer equipment, musical instruments, and all the other needs of a modern high school.
Donations to Golden Grads
In contrast to the Roosevelt Foundation, I hope you appreciate that the Golden Grads do not conduct fundraisers, do not have a paid staff, and do not solicit donations other than through passive requests in our newsletters.
We have endowment funds that help, but we depend on several other sources to sustain or expand our scholarships and teacher grants. First, your membership dues, especially life memberships, are a significant part of our budget. You can help us by renewing each year and by convincing your classmates to join. Second, we rely on unsolicited donations prompted by simply your love of Roosevelt, and not raised through golf tournaments, charity auctions, or letters and phone calls.
Third, and a growing source of funds, are donations funded by groups of classmates to honor a teacher or classmate. This includes donations raised at class reunions, like the Class of 1964’s recent substantial gift to Golden Grads. Finally, almost yearly we receive a bequest left to Golden Grads by a deceased member. However you give, thank you for your generosity. It is a good cause.
Come to Next Spring’s Musical
Janet and I have attended the free Golden Grads night of the Roosevelt Spring Musical for many years and wonder why more GG members and friends do not take advantage of this great opportunity. Please join us next Spring and fill the auditorium.
Welcome Back Lincoln High School
The newly remodeled Lincoln High welcomes students this Fall for the first time since 1981. Students in the Lincoln attendance area that formerly would have become freshmen or sophomores at Roosevelt will attend Lincoln, while incoming juniors and senior can remain at Roosevelt if they wish.
See full report in the Fall 2019 Grapevine.