So Many Ways to Help!Donations to the Ypsilanti Public Schools

Foundation come in all shapes and sizes! Here are some of the ways you can lend a hand:

n Support classroom work through project grants n Encourage and support students in their quest for education after high schooln Provide support to the YPSF for the work it conducts daily on behalf of students

Creative Ways to GiveWhen upgrading your vehicle, please consider

donating your used vehicle to Charity Motors, in Detroit, rather than trading in your vehicle to the dealership. This option will benefi t the foundation and will give you a wonderful tax deduction. Cars are not the only items you can donate for cash. Family heirlooms including jewelry, silverware and land can be donated to the foundation. Contact YPSF and we’ll help you turn your treasures into a tax deductible charity!

Bequests are gifts that provide posthumous recognition of the donor through wills, trusts, or life insurance. Remembering the foundation

in your estate planning allows you to postpone your donation until such time that your estate is settled. For donors who contribute regularly to the foundation, consider applying that donation to the premium on a life insurance policy naming the foundation as the benefi ciary. It is an excellent way to plan for the establishment of an endowed scholarship that will recognize your donation and provide funding for students in perpetuity.

Lastly, please do not undermine the value of donating your time and/or talent to the foundation. The foundation is always looking for volunteers to serve on ad hoc committees, to assist with events, or to help with large mailings, database management and other offi ce tasks. Friends and partners are always welcome to join in the daily activities in the foundation offi ce.

Please think about how you may help to advance the Mission of the Ypsilanti Public Schools Foundation!

the possibilities…

Yourself in the big picture

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Home to over 21,700 residents, Ypsilanti is a racial and cultural diverse community. The city is historically rich in homes dating back to the 1800s. These architectural wonders were built by prominent citizens of the era, including the Hutchinson mansion (former S&H Green Stamp

magnate), the Preston Tucker home and the Samuel Barnes home (Peninsular Paper).

In 1849, the establishment of the Michigan State Normal School in Ypsilanti as the site for the new “teacher training” school had a profound impact on the city. Bringing students from around the state and around the county to Ypsilanti, Michigan, the School – now Eastern Michigan University – continues to serve as the nation’s largest producer of educators and boasts an enrollment of more than 22,900 students from around the world. A vital partner to Ypsilanti Public Schools, faculty from EMU provide opportunities for teacher education, placement of expertly-trained student teachers, and programs for students in math, sciences, reading, history, academic service learning, and citizenship.

Supported entirely through donations, the Foundation provides classroom grants, postsecondary scholarships and support of extracurricular academic programs to advance the mission. There are many ways that individuals, businesses and foundations may become partners. Please, consider how you may join in the quest to advance the academic success of all students who attend Ypsilanti Public Schools!

Enhancing a dynamic educational experience

Ypsilanti Public Schools has been educating students for over 150 years and has evolved into an urban district that is gaining recognition. Progressive partnerships with local universities have resulted in students and staff from the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College actively participating in the education of YPS students. Ypsilanti High School graduates are being admitted to the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering through a

The Ypsilanti Public Schools Foundation holds fast to one basic truth – that given the opportunity, anything is possible. The Foundation has a vision, a

dream, that every student in the District will achieve their goals through superior academic opportunity, respect for self and others, and an interconnected support system of family, friends, neighbors and school.

The Mission of the Ypsilanti Public Schools Foundation is to advance the promise of success for all students through the generation and distribution of resources to be used to enrich teaching, inspire learning, promote excellence in education, and reward dedication to these tenets through grants and scholarships.

To achieve our Mission, the Foundation is committed to Four Objectives:

n The Recognition of students who work to their highest potential

n The Recognition of faculty for exemplary, innovative teaching

n The Engagement of Ypsilanti Public Schools Administrators and Staff as partners in this Mission

n The Engagement of Community Partners for help in achieving this Mission

During the auto industry’s boom years, Ypsilanti was the base for Apex Motors and Preston Tucker’s “Torpedo.” Once a thriving auto hub, Ypsilanti has been hard-hit by the recent downturn in the economy and has suffered from plant closings, resulting in a loss of jobs that has severely impacted local families. Consequently, there has been a greater than 3% drop in the population since 2000. Still, Ypsilanti remains a community that takes pride in its history, looks toward a brighter future, and

The Ypsilanti Public Schools Foundation holds fast to one basic truth – that given the opportunity, The Foundation has a vision, a

dream, that every student in the District

mentorship program; current YHS students are participating in the Early College Alliance program at Eastern Michigan University; middle school students are weekly visiting WCC through the “College is My Future” initiative and YPS elementary and middle school students are exclusively participating in summer science and math academies through the U-M College of Education. Professional Learning Communities, to help teachers sharpen their techniques with the objective of improving student achievement, are solidly in place and a district-wide writing initiative is garnering praise from teachers and parents. Bolstered advanced placement classes are installed at the high school and a new Montessori program on the kindergarten level has drawn considerable attention because of stellar student achievement. A Michigan Blue Ribbon School, award winning staff, students and programs, coupled with a robust curriculum are just some of the amenities the district offers to students. This is a proven educational program to build on and philanthropic efforts can sculpt the district into a world class environment.

Talented YHS graduates head off to college and then step into successful careers. This reality materializes because you have given the gift of a scholarship, removing personal and fi nancial challenges that might otherwise hinder their academic pursuits.

For the student who sees barriers instead of opportunity, the promise of help and support, rewards for remarkable effort, and the belief demonstrated by the recognition of a scholarship can make all the difference between success and failure.

the possibilities…

So how does this work?

Scholarship Funds are “restricted, endowed” funds that may be used only for the purpose identifi ed by the donor, and for which the principle remains intact while using only the interest earned to annually award scholarships.

A donation of $2,000 restricts and “names” the fund. Ongoing contributions from family, friends, and/or bequests will grow the Fund to $10,000, at which time it becomes endowed. Based on interest earnings, scholarship awards are made every year, while the principle fund balance remains intact forever.

Contributions to a 501c3 scholarship fund are tax-deductible.

For more information regarding establishing a “Named Scholarship Fund,” please call the Foundation Offi ce at: (734) 714-1080

Look beyond the dollars to what your scholarship gives to a young student:

n A gift of hope – to believe in something he or she never thought possible

n A gift of dreams – permission to take the top off and make the sky the limit!

n A gift of pride – to be someone special who can make a difference in the world

Now imagine providing these gifts to deserving young men and women for years to come, leaving behind your legacy for the future.

Now help to create the future you imagine!

The graduates of today are the future, leading our communities and our country. In memory of a parent, or child, or simply making the commitment to invest in the future of one student each year, the legacy never ends.

the future…