SchoolFest 2012 will be held Friday, May 4 to support the Demopolis City Schools Foundation. Each of the four Demopolis City Schools campuses will hold age-appropriate events for their students. The funds raised by the event are used in support of the Classroom Grants program, providing projects, programs, and equipment that foster excellence in the classroom.

“The teachers work hard to develop age-appropriate activities for the students at each school,” shared Amanda Barnes, executive director of the Foundation. “This is an opportunity for the teachers and students who directly benefit from the classroom grants program to help raise funds for that program.”

Grants Committee Chairperson Aliquippa Allen sees the connection between a successful SchoolFest and a superior classroom experience “We encourage parents to make sure their children attend and support SchoolFest. This is the Foundation’s largest fundraiser, bringing in almost $20,000 last year. This allows us to make grants for Smartboards, ELMOs, laptops, i-pads, even library books and new curriculum resources. The Foundation grants really make the difference between an adequate education and an excellent one.”

The Demopolis City Schools Foundation is an independent nonprofit established in 1993 to encourage private philanthropic support of the Demopolis public school system. Governed by a 32-member Board of Directors, the Foundation had provided over $850,000 in classroom grants since its inception, including over $50,000 in 2011. The Foundation also holds over $700,000 in reserve and endowment funds.