Sammons Financial Group has contributed $17,500 to the Education Foundation. It’s the single, largest financial contribution ever made to the nonprofit organization, said Amy Scott-Stoltz, who chairs the Education Foundation Board.
The money will help fund an organization program that awards competitively earned grants to teachers for innovative educational projects. The Education Foundation also helps first-time teachers buy classroom supplies.
Sammons Financial is a business in Sioux Falls that includes Midland Financial Life Insurance Company.
“We’re elated that they recognize the good work the Education Foundation does in helping teachers foster creativity and innovation,” said Nancy Duncan, a Board member who serves as the liaison with the panel’s Grants Committee.
Representatives of Sammons Financial presented a check to volunteers with the Education Foundation on Oct. 19 at the Instructional Planning Center. Superintendent Brian Maher also participated in the ceremony.
Richard Hicks, associate vice president with Sammons, said the contribution was part of the company’s Community Impact Challenge in which employees help determine how charitable donations should be spent. Joellen Davidson, a manager in the company’s Life Service Department, and Marissa Briscoe, a customer contact specialist, also participated in the presentation.
“We hope you’ll find a good use for the contribution,” Hicks said. Board members assured him that the money was a good investment that would help improve the quality of local education.
To help stimulate more creativity in classrooms, the Education Foundation recently increased the award limit for its Innovation in Education Grants. The maximum that a teacher or group of teachers may seek for a project has been raised from $1,500 to $10,000.
This year’s grant winners are expected to be announced in late November or early December. About 50 applications have been received.
Photo information: Education Foundation Board members and Sammons Financial employees participated in a check presentation. Pictured from left to right are: Catherine Dekkenga, Anne Powers, Amy Scott-Stoltz, Nancy Duncan and Carly Reiter, who serve on the Education Foundation Board; and Richard Hicks, Joellen Davidson and Marissa Briscoe, employees of Sammons Financial.