05/19/2020
The Humboldt Community Foundation is proud to partner with the HTRS Public Schools Foundation to support HTRS Public Schools. Read below to learn how we came together to help HTRS Public Schools receive a grant to support students during the pandemic.
Two Local Foundations Help HTRS Public Schools Bridge the Homework Gap
(May 12, 2020 | Humboldt, Neb.) The Humboldt Community Foundation, in partnership with the HTRS Public Schools Foundation, has been awarded a $5,250 by an anonymous donor and the Alice DeVoe Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, to help HTRS Public Schools narrow the growing homework gap as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though students have not attended classes in the facility since March 16th, HTRS Public Schools have been providing academic packets and other school work through a variety of mediums and platforms. Teachers have been communicating with students via videoconferencing, recorded videos and social media. School staff have been preparing and distributing breakfasts and lunches throughout the district to ensure students have access to free, nutritious meals.
Funding will be used to help provided an expanded summer supplemental program for two weeks in August 2020 before school starts. The expanded program will serve 84 students in kindergarten through 6th grade. The program will limit group sizes to meet the requirements of the directed health measure, which will require additional staffing. Though teachers have been working with students during the current closure, the district is aware that reaching students using technology can be challenging. This program will help students receive the support that they need to be ready to begin the new school year.
The funding opportunity was offered exclusively to Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) affiliated funds across the state and required a 1:1 local funding match. To help support this process two local foundations, the Humboldt Community Foundation and the HTRS Public Schools Foundation to participate in the Bridging the Homework Gap program for HTRS Public Schools. Each foundation has contributed $2,625 in local philanthropic funds to be matched with $5,250 from the Nebraska Community Foundation for a total of $10,500.
In total, more than $263,000 were granted to NCF affiliated funds and will benefit 31 schools statewide. “We are so grateful to the anonymous donor and the Alice DeVoe Donor-Advised Fund for their generosity and vision,” said Jeff Yost, president & CEO of Nebraska Community Foundation. “This is going to make a tremendous difference in the lives of many, many Greater Nebraskans.”
