BCS Advantage Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 11

Funding the Future By Lisa Adkins, Buncombe County Schools Foundation Director One of the top priorities of the Buncombe County Schools Foundation is putting money directly into the classroom where it is needed the most, especially when it can give our students a chance to do something they have never done before. This year, Oakley Elementary School received a BCS Foundation Innovation Grant to help 84 fourth-grade students travel to Raleigh. Many of these students have never traveled outside of Buncombe County. During the Raleigh trip, students visited the State Museums of Science and History, toured the Capitol Building and learned about the roles of state and local government. Prior to the trip to Raleigh, students learned how the state of North Carolina was established and the events and developments that have brought changes to our state over time. Please visit BCSF.net to find out more about an upcoming fundraiser. The Buncombe County Schools Foundation and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce present Margo Shetterly, author of “Hidden Figures,” Thursday, November 9, 2017, at the Crowne Plaza Resort, Expo Center. Danny Fusco, Principal of Oakley Elementary, says, “I am so grateful for the BCSF grant given to my school this year. Some of our students have not been given the opportunity to travel and have experiences that build their historical and scientific knowledge. This grant helped us close the gap and allowed all of our students to experience our world outside of the classroom walls.” Innovation Grants are only a small part of the initiatives and ideas supported by the Buncombe County Schools Foundation every day. We could not do any of the work of the Foundation without the support of our community. BCSF sponsors classroom grants, scholarships for graduating seniors, larger initiatives and professional development opportunities including The Leader in Me. Buncombe County Schools Foundation Innovation Grants are another example of your community support making a difference in our students’ lives every day! 9