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Plano ISD Education Foundation Recognizes Investors in Plano ISD Students, Staff & Programs
May 19, 2011
Major Donors Honored at May 17 Reception
The board of directors of the Plano ISD Education Foundation validated on Thursday, May 17, the nonprofit organization’s importance to the Plano Independent School District, as Foundation Board President Michael Urtso proudly announced the group had raised more than $900,000 this year.
Michael Urtso, 2010-11 Plano ISD Education Foundation president; Missy Bender, School Board secretary; Janeen Browning, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano (Distinguished Achievement donor); and Jim Hirsch, associate superintendent for academic and technology services.
Mr. Urtso said, “Plano public schools are the cornerstone to the quality of life in our community. Despite the current legislators' plan to cut public education funding our community wants Plano ISD to remain one of the best public school districts in the nation. Our community is willing to invest in our schools through private donations as well as local taxes.
 Karen Wald and Dana Beckman with Alliance Data (Valedictorian sponsor) were thanked by Foundation President Michael Urtso at the donor recognition reception.
"Generating more than $900,000 this year, in critical private support for our schools and teachers is important to our schools and to our region. The Plano ISD Education Foundation has more than doubled its fundraising results over the last five years to help Plano ISD schools maintain their high standards of excellence. We plan to maintain the momentum and continue growing support for Plano schools. Investing in the education of our students continues to be essential to our nation’s future.”
 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto thanked the Education Foundation for being a "critical partner" with the school district.
Plano ISD Superintendent Dr. Doug Otto says, “The Plano ISD Education Foundation is a critical partner with our school district. The Foundation engages thousands of donors each year, all to help Plano schools. Funds raised by the Foundation stay in Plano ISD and address important academic programs our school district has identified for which tax dollars are not available.
"The Plano ISD Education Foundation helps our district address funding gaps for priority needs. Meanwhile, our Plano educators keep the bar high for our graduates, while ever-mindful of closing any achievement gaps.”
 John Wroten and Mary Jo Dean of Texas Health Presbyterian of Plano (Valedictorian sponsor) were among the honored guests.
Approximately 100 attendees celebrated the investment into public education at a donor recognition event held at Gleneagles Country Club. Major donors of $5,000 or more received special recognition and honorariums were made to Plano ISD libraries in their names. As part of the celebration the Plano ISD Education Foundation revealed their new logo. The logo is part of their five year strategic plan to build a recognizable brand in the community. The logo is comprised of multiple hands forming an apple to illustrate the many hands in the community lending a helping hand to Plano ISD. The logo was designed pro bono by Capital One.
 2011-12 Foundation President Lisa Raskin (left) was among the reception speakers who recognized donors. She is pictured with Susan Thompson of EnCana Oil & Gas, a Distinguished Achievement donor.
The year’s most significant donation was the collective contribution of $120,350 made to the Plano ISD Education Foundation by more than 3,278 Plano ISD employees as a result of a Valentine’s Day employee campaign chaired by Plano ISD Deputy Superintendent Danny Modisette. Individual employee gifts ranged from $5 to $1,000 and raised more than one-tenth of the Foundation’s annual goal.
Foundation Programming
With the support of thousands of donors throughout the 2010-2011 school year, the Plano ISD Education Foundation funded:
$206,000 in grants for schools and classroom teachers across the district to enhance student learning through instructional projects, professional training and other special needs. The Foundation’s signature Grants to Educators program grows more important to teachers with every year – funding $70,000 to over 52 teams of educators in 2010. In addition, the Foundation funded more than $136,000 in special needs of the district, schools and departments, including: $5,000 in professional development for school leadership, $50,000 fitness pilot program, $58,000 in various campus needs including TAKS tutoring, fine arts supplies and more; $23,000 for expanded AVID program-equipping students with college readiness skills, and much more.
 Betty and James Muns were honored for Distinguished Achievement sponsorship of the Plano ISD Education Foundation.
$97,000 for programs that improve science, technology and mathematics instruction (STEM) for secondary students. Support includes funding for a secondary science specialist position and rewriting of middle school science and chemistry curriculum to support the dramatic improvement of all Plano students’ performance in middle school and high school science. Also funded was a the Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in Outstanding STEM Teaching Awards, recognizing exemplary PISD secondary STEM teachers.
$94,500 for district initiatives that recruit, retain and recognize the very best teachers. Each year the Plano ISD Education Foundation sponsors the district’s job fair; augments travel funds for district recruitment of tough-to-fill positions; offers moving loans to new teachers relocating to Plano; sponsors the district’s new teacher orientation, all-employee Convocation; Teacher of the Year recognition; and funds the PISD Employee Crisis Fund that provides grants to employees with short term emergencies.
 Trustee Missy Bender thanked Doug White from Bank of America, a Salutatorian sponsor.
$50,000 for student scholarships so that all Plano ISD fifth grade students can attend the fee-based Collin County Adventure Camp, a three-day instructional program for all fifth grade students. Currently more than 25 percent of Plano ISD students are economically disadvantaged. The fifth grade environmental overnight camp experience is a long-standing Plano ISD tradition. In recent years Collin County has experienced dramatic increases in economically disadvantaged families. The district is able to continue this fee-based, Plano ISD instructional program with significant scholarship support from the Plano ISD Education Foundation and local PTAs.
$202,000 for initiatives that engage community and connect parents and families with schools. Supporting initiatives that engage all PISD parents in their children’s learning, the Plano ISD Education Foundation facilitated private support of numerous services currently offered through the Plano ISD Student and Family Services division. In addition, the Foundation annually supports PISD Communications Department’s activities with distribution of PISD student academic calendar magnets to all Plano ISD families and employees.
 Michael Urtso, Foundation president, and Missy Bender, School Board secretary, thanked Jim McGee of Huawei, a Salutatorian sponsor.
Foundation's Fundraising Efforts
Ms. Lisa Raskin praised Plano ISD Education Foundation Past-President Michael Urtso for his outstanding leadership and the entire board of directors for their active role in the Foundation’s success. Funds were raised through major gifts and sponsorships of corporations and foundations for key programs; the Ski Plano casual winter fundraiser chaired in 2011 by Joa Muns and Rebecca Caso; a leadership drive of Foundation directors, former directors and school board members; and an annual fund drive for parents and community members.
Ms. Raskin announced that the next parent and community campaign will kick off once again in August 2011 and looked to a great future with Mitch Bramlett as 2011--2012 President-Elect and Development Committee Chair.
Foundation Board of Directors
The 2010-2011 Plano ISD Education Foundation board of directors responsible for moving the organization to the annual fundraising goal are: Michael Urtso, President; Lisa Raskin, President-Elect and Development Chair; Bob Baggett, Treasurer; and Kelly Palmer, Secretary, Directors: Mitch Bramlett, Rebecca Egelston Caso, Joa Muns, Olga Vargas-Lester, Keith Braley, Mark Ball, Liz Bonet, Jordan Case, Windon Chau, Samir Deshpande, Dennis Oliver, Harvey Fishero, Marshall Johnson, Robin Joseph-Williams, Cathy Larson, Charlie Miller, Mary Jo Dean, Sally Bane, Diane Gerstner, Octavio Ortiz, Ralph Stow, Bart Ridley, Sam Stricklin, Jean Callison, Kandi Sigona, Rob Fitzgerald, and Kyle Walters.
Plano ISD Superintendent Dr. Doug Otto, School Board Trustee Brad Shanklin, Deputy Superintendent Danny Modisette and Executive Director for Government and Community Relations Karla Oliver serve as advisors to the board of directors. Monica Shortino serves as executive director.
2011-12 Foundation Officers
Officers for 2011-2012 are: Lisa Raskin, President; Mitch Bramlett, President-Elect and Development Chair; Dennis Oliver, Treasurer; and Rebecca Caso, Secretary. New directors joining the board in 2011 are: Don McClure; Mary Von Ahnen; Jaime Beringer; David Doyle; Jim McGee; Chris Brunner and Kathy Schell. Former directors who were instrumental in the formation of the Plano ISD Education Foundation in 1993 and installed on the Plano ISD Education Foundation Board of Honor in 2006 are the late Jim Boswell, Rutledge Haggard, Rebecca Morris, Joan Slater and John Wroten.
The Plano Independent School District continues to work closely with the Plano ISD Education Foundation to ensure academic success of all Plano ISD students. For further information or to make a donation, visit the Plano ISD Web site at http://foundation.pisd.edu or contact Plano ISD Education Foundation at 469-752-8091.
About the Plano ISD Education Foundation
The Plano ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with the mission to help all students in Plano public schools achieve their full potential by providing financial support to educators and academic programs. The Foundation provides grants to educators, programs that support academic enrichment to Plano ISD students, emergency assistance for teachers and staff members in crisis, as well as programs aimed at recruiting and retaining quality teachers. To learn more about the Plano ISD Education Foundation, contact Executive Director Monica Shortino at 469-752-8091.
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2010-11
Major Donors
These major donors were recognized at the reception.
Valedictorian
$50,000 to $100,000+
Alliance Data
Employees of Plano ISD
Texas Health Presbyterian of Plano
Salutatorian
$20,000 to $49,999
Bank of America
Capital One
Communities Foundation of Texas
ExxonMobil
Gay, McCall, Isaacks, Gordon & Roberts, P.C.
Huawei
Park Place Lexus Plano
Texas Instruments Foundation
Verizon
Distinguished Achievement
$10,000 to $19,999
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano
Dollar General Foundation
EnCana Oil & Gas
Ericsson
InTouch Credit Union
THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Heffernan
James and Betty Muns Foundation
Plano Wildcat Quarterback Club
Transamerica Life and Protection
With Honors
$5,000 to $9,999
Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd, & Joplin, P.C.
ATMOS Energy
Bonser-Philhower Sales, Inc.
Franklin I. Brinegar Foundation
Central Market Plano
Ebby Halliday REALTORS®
Flextronics Foundation
Fossil, Inc.
Innovative Solutions for Education
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Miller
Kathy and Greg Nelson
Plano ISD Council of PTAs and Local PTAs
SHW Group, LLP
Texas Instruments
ViewPoint Bank
M.B. & Edna Zale Foundation
Additional donors were recognized for gifts from $1,000 to $4,999. Read a complete list of 2010-11 donors and achievements on the Foundation website.
“Plano public schools are the cornerstone to the quality of life in our community. Despite the current legislators' plan to cut public education funding our community wants Plano ISD to remain one of the best public school districts in the nation. Our community is willing to invest in our schools through private donations as well as local taxes."
~Michael Urtso, Foundation President
“The Plano ISD Education Foundation is a critical partner with our school district. The Foundation engages thousands of donors each year, all to help Plano schools. Funds raised by the Foundation stay in Plano ISD and address important academic programs our school district has identified for which tax dollars are not available."
~Dr. Doug Otto, Superintendent of Schools
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