By Brigette Rambadt

Austin Public Education Foundation director

The Austin Public Education Foundation will be hosting its 19th Annual Packer Classic golf fundraiser on July 18 at the Austin Country Club.

The Packer Classic is the main fundraiser used for the A.P.E. Foundation grants, that are awarded each year throughout the district, to support K-12 academic and athletic initiatives. These inspiring grant requests come directly from Austin Public School staffers, who are the most aware of where resources have left a gap in providing for student’s needs, innovations and opportunities.

Since 1992 the A.P.E. Foundation, through generous community involvement, has been honored to invest over $440,000 to directly influence student success in all seven of the Austin Public Schools as well at the Community Learning Center. This is amazing proof of the Austin community’s teamwork and caring dedication to providing a superior education for Austin’s future leaders.

For the 2016-2017 school year, 34 A.P.E.F. grants were awarded throughout the school district, totaling over $31,0000.

Please consider these ways to become a part of our mission

•When you shop on-line with Amazon, please use AmazonSmile and choose the Austin Public Education Foundation as the charitable organization you support! Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the purchase price on eligible products to the A.P.E. Foundation for school grants. It’s so easy to do and it really adds up! There is a link to AmazonSmile on the A.P.E. Foundation website located within the Austin.k12.mn.us webpage, under the “community” tab or visit AmazonSmile and enter our address link: http://smileamazon.com/ch/41-1676826.

•Support our work and give anytime on-line at givemn.org and enter our address link; https://www.givemn.org/organization/apefoundation.

•Donate directly to the APE Foundation in any amount or contribute with a Floor on the Wall memorial plate at $250 or $500. Give a gift of stock, plan an estate gift or an on-going donation.

•As an ISD No. 492 employee participate in the Packers Pay it Forward, payroll deduction plan.

•Save the date July 18, 2016, for the Austin Public Education Foundation’s 19 th Annual Packer

Classic golf fundraiser. Come play golf FORE the kids or join us as a sponsor, a volunteer or with a raffle donation Team up with the Austin Public Education Foundation for the 2016 Packer Classic and pledge your support to help the A.P.E. Foundation meet our continued commitment, to enrich and inspire student success in the Austin Public Schools, with the innovative programs, projects, tools and technology provided by the A.P.E.F. grants.

Together we can make an impact on education in Austin

The A.P.E. Foundation is a tax-exempt organization separate from the Austin Public Schools. Students of the Austin Public Schools are the beneficiaries of the fund-raising programs and events of the A.P.E. Foundation. Donations to the Austin Public Education Foundation are tax deductible.

The Austin Public Education Foundation invites you to connect with us and our mission to support educational excellence in Austin Public Schools at 507.460.1938, P.O. Box 878 Austin, MN. 55912, www.apefoundation-ahsalumni.org or www.packerclassic.org

Austin Public Education Foundation Grants, 2016-17

Community Learning Center

•ECSE Library — Nikki Heinen, $878.13

•Readers Café Games — Gretchen Erickson, $225.00

•Phy. Ed. Equipment — Karen Heins, $947.95

Banfield

•STEM Materials — Susan Conway, $1,000.00

•Listening Center — Mallory Macal, $822.25

•3rd Grade Listening Center — Olivia Sweeney, $699.17

•1st Grade Books — Karie Zierden, $376.92

•Library Books — Gail Subra, $1,037.40

•Reading Books — Amanda Gafkjen, $208

Neveln

•Garden Project — Rachel Stange, $1,009.05

•2nd Grade Books — Janene Lunning and Maria Mickelson, $420.00

•Krossover Program — Josh McRae, $1,399.00

•4th Grade Math Center — Erik LaRock and Carissa Gabrielson, $798.00

•1st Grade Books — Marilyn Oswald and Tracy Garry, $403.00

•Reading/Math/Writing Materials — Wendy Kusick and Gerilyn Vesel, $1,049.50

Southgate

•Classroom Amplification Systems — Christy Halsey and Jayme Lamers, $2,600.00

•Musical Therapy for Special Education — Evelyn Napton and Chelsea White, $632.93

Sumner

•ELL Materials — Marianne Davidson, $779.80

•STEM Materials — Lindy Hagstrom and Kathy Neve, $1,825.47

•Pedal Exercisers — Maureen Noterman, $299.30

I.J. Holton

•Solar Fountain Class Packs — William Kinney, $650.00

Ellis

•ELL Materials — Angela Thoen, $86.09

•Reading Materials — Julie Walski, $1,200.00

•Pottery Wheels — Jesse Smith, $1,100.00

AHS

•Classroom Libraries — Emily Hovland and Levon Larson, $1,000.00

•10th Grade Libraries — Melissa Nangle and Allison Heard, $2,000.00

•Pickle Ball Equipment — Brett Vessel, $2,872.64

•Hi-Lo Reading Books — Tori Flores, $1,500.00

Horizons Program

•Science Items — Violet Osmonson, $558.81

•Math Centers — Bobbie Stone, $300.00

•D-Stress Room — Violet Osmonson, $930.00

Reach Program

•Math Tools — Monica Lillis, $575.69

AHS Soccer

•Soccer Tech — Jens Levison, $751.94

AHS Wrestling

•Wrestling Bands — Jer Osgood, $350.00

Total $31,286.04