WINTER 2020 THE TORCH...The following testimonial explains how Nicole McEnroe, who at the time of this letter was in Ms. Neely’s second grade class, taught her mother Melisa how

The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education is a 501(c)(3) organization.

THE TORCHgpfpe.org

WINTER 2020

Join Us For Our Annual Spring Gala

The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education (GPFPE) will hold its 14th Annual Spring

Gala “Be the Beacon” on April 18, 2020, at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. The evening will be filled with fun, fine food and fundraising, and brings together community members from all over the district to support our public schools. The event begins at 6:00 p.m., and for the first time this year, the main event will be followed by an afterglow beginning at 9:00. A ticket to the Gala includes the afterglow, but guests can also choose to purchase just afterglow tickets. The main event includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, sit down dinner and live auction. The afterglow will feature cocktails, snacks and music from local school principals serving as guest DJs.

The GPFPE is pleased to announce JT Mestdagh as the Honorary Chair for this year’s Gala. Inspired by the impact the Tattum F.A.S.T. reading program had on his own reading skills, JT and his family led the effort to bring it to the Grosse Pointe Public School System. The integrated reading program has positively impacted over 4,000 students in the district and continues to empower students to read with confidence each day in our schools.

The proceeds from the Gala will go toward funding the GPFPE’s regular grant cycle as well as the Leader in Me (LIM) program. LIM is an all-school

character building program currently in place in all the elementary schools.

Invitations to the Gala will be mailed in mid March. Additionally, look for more information about the event and the opportunity to purchase tickets at gpfpe.org, and on Facebook and Instagram after March 15th.

Save the date!

GPFPE Annual Spring Gala

“Be the Beacon”Saturday, April 18, 2020 | Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

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The GPFPE is pleased to announce

JT Mestdagh as the Honorary Chair

for this year’s Gala.

WINTER 2020 GROSSE POINTE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION – THE TORCH

2 gpfpe.org gpfpe.org 3

GROSSE POINTE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION – THE TORCH WINTER 2020

The GPFPE is kicking off 2020 with a renewed energy and fresh sense of purpose, starting with the addition of four new Trustees. We are grateful to each of these individuals who bring their own unique talent and perspective to the GPFPE.

Mark your calendars for April 18th and our Annual Spring Gala. This year’s Honorary Chair, JT Mestdagh, is very special to all of us. Working with the GPFPE, JT and his family led the effort to bring the highly successful Tattum F.A.S.T. reading program to elementary students in our district. This program continues to inspire confident readers at all levels in our schools.

As always, thank you for supporting our efforts to enrich, inspire, and engage our children. You have already made many grants possible, including funding for the high school Gearheads team, and The Leader in Me at all our elementary schools. If you or someone you know is interested in assisting us, please know that we welcome all support big or small on our mission to bring our community together to fund extraordinary educational opportunities for our children.

Warm regards,Bob Bury

A Letter From Our President Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education Board and Committee Listing 2020

Board of Directors:President Robert Bury Vice President Christie ScogginTreasurer Kiana RoseSecretary Beth Moran

GPFPE Board of Trustees: Elizabeth Connors John Danaher Kathy Fisk Pamela Flom Gina Gabel Jake Howlett Caroline Marks Robert Montgomery Mary Beth Nicholson Maria Quint Cynthia Sohn Jason Tinsley Kris Vande Vusse Brendan C. Walsh

Advisory Board: Barbara Bierbusse Jeff Broderick Pat Burke Cynthia Hempstead Laura B. Huebner Lorna G. Utley

Make a gift to the GPFPE or join us as a volunteer. For more information, visit gpfpe.org or call us at (313) 432-3058.

2019 Annual Report

Revenue1/1/2019-12/31/2019

■ Special Events■ Donations■ Donations In-Kind■ Investment Income

51%

39%

5%5%

Expenses1/1/2019-12/31/2019

■ Grants■ Special Events■ Administrative■ Advertising and Promotional■ Business Expenses

74%

13%

8%3%

2%




1. Supporting Readers with Guided Text (2nd-5th grade) Richard ($4,950) Funded by the Lois J. Warden Fund. Submitted by Stephanie Erhard

2. Literacy Footprints (K-4th grade) Monteith ($8,378) Funded by the Lois J. Warden Fund. Submitted by Jessica DeWitt, Shelleyann Keelean and Beth Rainbolt

3. Sensory Room Equipment and Sensory Library (Pre K-5th grade) Ferry ($2,808) Submitted by Kristen Topper

4. After School Science Program (4th grade) Mason ($3,000) Submitted by Roy Bishop and Jennell White

5. Chromebooks for Kindergarten Centers (K) Monteith ($1,200) Submitted by Diane Richards, Natalie Bruveris, Theresa Comilla and Ashley Nabozny

6. Implementing Reading Groups in Middle School ELA (7th grade), Brownell ($2,500) Submitted by Melissa Currier Frame and Tamera Duffi eld

7. Good Deeds (6th -8th grade), Parcells ($160) Submitted by Susan Fell and Michele Stateczny

8. Accessorizing Percussion Section (9th-12th grade), North ($2,825) Submitted by Tom Torrento

9. Gearheads (9th-12th grade) North/South ($2,000) Submitted by Jason Wolfsen, Julia Magnan and Denice Muccioli

10. Dirt Dwellers Club (9th-12th grade) North ($520) Submitted by Jaime Hainer

11. Microscope Acquisition (9th-12th grade) North ($3,240) Submitted by Andrew Pola and Erika Reed

12. Sensory Room (9th-12th grade) South ($3,200) Submitted by Joseph Evens and Shelby Salajka

13. Science Olympiad Team (9th-12th grade) South ($1,110) Submitted by Shelly Rothenbuhler

14. Marching Band Sound System (9th-12th grade) South ($1,900) Submitted by Chris Takis

15. South Therapy Dog Project (9th-12th grade) South ($2,930) Submitted by Beth Walsh-Sahutske

TOTAL GRANTS AWARDED THIS CYCLE = $40,721

2019 Fall Grants Awarded

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GPFPE Grants in ActionFerry Students Lead Town Hall Meetings

Ferry Elementary holds a monthly town hall meeting in the gymnasium to celebrate

school, student leaders, staff and volunteers. These school-wide and student-driven meetings also focus on one Leader In Me habit each month. This past January, third graders presented habit number three, “Put First Things First”. Among several students, Monte shared how he incorporates habit three in his daily routine, “I put first things first when I do my homework during free-time at school, so when I get home I can play.”

Third graders lead a catchy song called “Put First Things First”, set to the tune of a tropical beat. Offered through the new Leader In Me website, videos and music support education so lessons are fun and can be used ubiquitously through the school day, and all year long.

Ferry Principal Jodie Randazzo says, “I am a strong believer in character education, and social and emotional learning. I’ve been very fortunate to do action research on Leader In Me at Oakland University. It’s research-based and students can use these skills throughout their life, not just specific to school."

“I put first things first when I do my homework during

free-time at school, so when I get home I can play.”

– Ferry third grader

“I love that our schools have a common language, common habits that we anchor on and there is a collaborative

component that brings our school community together towards something common for our kids.”

– Jodi Randazzo, Ferry Principal




GPFPE Grants in ActionGearheads Robotics

The Gearheads is the offi cial FIRST Robotics team representing the Grosse Pointe High Schools, with over 40 students representing both South and

North. Since 2010 the GPFPE has regularly awarded grants to the Gearheads to pay for competition registration fees and/or supplies. Below is a portion of a thank you note from the team (their use of the term “sponsorship” is the GPFPE’s “grant”).

January 18, 2020Dear Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education,On behalf of � e Gearheads Robotics Team, I would like to thank you for your sponsorship. Maintaining a successful FIRST career requires a massive monetary commitment, and your donation will aid us in covering the cost of admission to the competitions as well as the cost of any supplies we may need throughout the course of the robotics season.

Your generosity will not go unrecognized. In honor of your donation, � e Gearheads Team 1189 will proudly display the company logo on the back of our team shirts, as well as on our robot in the upcoming 2020 season. Our team is very grateful for your generous contribution. Your contribution has boosted our chances of success in this year’s upcoming competitions. Sincerely, Julia M.Gearheads Business Captaingearheads1189.weebly.com

Maire Student Brings LIM Home

The Leader in Me habits are not just for school. The following testimonial explains how Nicole McEnroe, who at the time of this letter was in Ms.

Neely’s second grade class, taught her mother Melisa how to apply the habits to problem solving at home.

Dear Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education:I want to share with you how the Leader in Me program funded by the GPFPE has impacted my daughter at Maire Elementary School. Nicole blew me away one night when I asked if she would help me � gure out a way to move our living room furniture so that I could add an area rug. She got so excited at the prospect of solving a problem that she ran to her school supplies and returned with a big notepad and pencil. She then proudly stated as she set up her supplies on the table “Let’s begin with the end in mind” explaining to me that you should always plan ahead toward what you are trying to accomplish. She then began drawing the lay out of the room and came up with a plan for us to move things around. I found out later that “beginning with the end in mind” is habit number two from the Leader in Me program currently being implemented in her classroom at school. I absolutely loved seeing the con� dence she radiated as she drew up her “plan” on her notepad that evening.As the year progressed I continued to hear about new habits she was learning in her classroom. I really feel that this positive approach to life and learning has changed the way she looks at di� culties or challenges. I imagine she will have the tools to solve whatever comes her way. I believe in this program and I hope to see it implemented district wide so all students in GP can “begin with the end in mind”.With gratitude,

Melisa McEnroe

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Ms. Linda Abar Ms. Janet Abdenour-Dabney Mr. and Mrs. James Agley Mr. James Alibri *Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Amato Mr. and Mrs. Scott Bade Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Baruah Mr. and Mrs. Paul Beal Dr. Joseph M. Beals Mr. and Mrs. James Beardslee Mr. and Mrs. Jim Becker The Benevity Communtiy Impact Fund Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bennert *Mr. Larry Berkowski and Ms. Peggy ShineMr. and Mrs. James Bierbusse Dr. Ronald Bogen Mr. and Mrs. Steve Bower Mrs. Patricia Brennan Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Broderick *Ms. Christine Broderick Mr. and Mrs. Ari Buchanan *Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bury *Mr. and Mrs. Robert Button Dr. Russell C. Chavey and Dr. Christina WinderChildren’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation *Mr. and Mrs. Edward Christian Mrs. Jane Cirona *Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan * Mr. and Mrs. Brian Connors *Dr. and Mrs. David B. Cotton *Mrs. Linda Crawford Dr. and Mrs. Marc Cullen

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Curtis Mr. John Danaher *Mr. and Mrs. Michael Daniell *Ms. Suzanne Decker Mr. and Mrs. Brian Demkowicz Dr. and Mrs. Mark Denison Mrs. John Dennehy DeSeranno Foundation *Dr. and Mrs. Clark B. Dickson Mr. and Mrs. Steve DiLodivico Mr. and Mrs. Michael Domzalski Mr. and Mrs. Doug Dossin Mr. Mark Drouillard Mr. and Mrs. George Duffield Ms. Elizabeth Echlin Mr. and Mrs. Michael Farley Mr. and Mrs. Christian Fenton Mr. and Mrs. Jef Fisk Mr. William Fleming and Ms. Laura A. SanomMr. Alfonso Flores and Ms. Helena Wang-FloresMr. and Mrs. Mark Franchett Friends of the Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods

Communities *Dr. and Mrs. David Fry Mr. and Mrs. Ed Gaspar Dr. Robert Gorski Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Griffith Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce Grosse Pointe Education Association Dr. and Mrs. David Hamm Mr. Stanley Harr and Ms. Laura BartellMr. William Harris

Dr. Katherine Hein Mr. and Mrs. Mark High Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Hodges Mrs. Sandy Honer Ms. Roseanne Horne Mr. and Mrs. Lew Hryhorczuk Mr. Gilbert Hudson Mr. and Mrs. Julius Huebner *Mr. and Mrs. Peter Huebner *J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund *Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Jakubowski *Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kaiser Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Kalmink Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kelch Mr. James Kelly and Ms. Mariam NolandMr. Muhammad Khurram Mr. Kevin Killebrew and Ms. Cathy ChampionMr. and Mrs. Kim Kozakowski Ms. Lisa Kressbach *Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kressbach Mr. Alger P. LaHood and Dr. Marquita BedwayMr. and Mrs. David Landuyt Mr. Ron Lang and Ms. Allison KuhnleinMs. Laura Larson Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Lawrence Dr. and Mrs. Chris Lee Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lesha Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Don Lindow Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Littmann Mr. and Mrs. Larry Loveland Mr. David Lubanski and Ms. Carrie Dul *

Thank You To Our Generous SupportersIndividual & Organization Gifts (Non-Gala)

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019

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Mr. and Mrs. George J. Mager, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Marks Mr. and Mrs. Gary Marowske Mr. and Mrs. Michael Martin Mr. and Mrs. Mike McBrien *Mr. and Mrs. Tim McCarthy Mr. Patrick G. McKeever *Mr. and Mrs. Edward Milligan Monteith Elementary StaffMr. and Mrs. Joseph Moran *Mr. and Mrs. William Moseley Ms. Mary Ann Mracek Mr. Michael Mulier and Dr. Mary MurphyMr. and Mrs. Christopher Murphy Mr. and Mrs. Robert Murphy Network for Good Ms. Michelle Nichols-Cruz Michigan Dental

AssociationMr. and Mrs. James M. Nicholson *Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Nicholson * Mr. Mike O’Bryan and Mrs. Karen SullivanOdd Lots Investment Club Mr. Theodore Oldham Mrs. Cynthia Oleksiak Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Paglino Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Parke *Mr. and Mrs. Brian Peabody Mr. and Mrs. James C. Penman Mr. and Mrs. Robert Phardel Mr. Jeremy Pohlman Mr. and Mrs. David Quint *Dr. Craig A. Reickert and Dr. Eileen Reickert *Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ronan Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rose *Mr. Michael Rozny and Ms. Laurie Ann CoplinSalesforce.org *Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sancya

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Satterfield Mr. Scott Schindlbeck *Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Scoggin *Dr. and Mrs. John Seago Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Selvaggio Ms. Emma Shettler Mrs. Karen Shields Dr. Wontika Smith Smith Family Foundation *Mr. and Mrs. William Sosnowsky Ms. Caroline Sottrel Ms. Martha J. Speer Mr. and Mrs. Ken Steketee Drs. Robert and Mindy StewartDr. and Mrs. Ronald Strickler Mr. Anestis Teftsis and Ms. Margaret WeertzMr. and Mrs. Eric Thams Mr. and Mrs. Jason Tinsley Mr. and Mrs. James Touhey Mr. and Mrs. Richard Trost Mr. and Mrs. Bill Turner Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Vande Vusse Mr. and Mrs. Marc Vreede Mr. and Mrs. Steven Wade *Mr. and Mrs. Craig Walworth Mr. Gail Warden *Mrs. Joan Warren Mr. and Mrs. Richard Widener Mr. and Mrs. John Yaldezian Mr. and Mrs. Michael Zeller Ziebart International Corp. Dr. Christopher Zingas and Dr. Marsha Chaffins

* Circle of Excellence

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In Memory OfDennis AboodJohn Alibri James CarsonMarilyn ChevalierKristen ColeJulie CorbettJean DevichWilliam DinanMario DiNelloJoseph DrouinEmma GenterLoretta Ann HughesSarah KaysserianSteve KondratBlair ListwanAda MarotzkeJosephine MerrillJeff NardoneMr. and Mrs. George A. Nicholson, Jr. James NowickiElizabeth PalenLillian L. PhillipsDolores PoradaJennie PruchniewskiJohn QuinnAlbert ReedConnie ThomasTina TinsleyHazel YazbeckJackie Washington

In Honor OfBarbara BierbusseCynthia and Jeff BroderickRobert ButtonSarah DuffieldTammy DuffieldWalter FitzpatrickLisa KlineKathy Schmitz

Please consider recognizing that special teacher, administrator or staff member, graduating senior,

or school program with an In Honor Of gift to the GPFPE.

The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education brings our community together to fund extraordinary educational opportunities for our children.

Our Guiding ValuesWe strive to demonstrate the following in all that we do:Collaboration: We search out and develop partnerships to better serve

our students and community.Responsibility: We pledge to be accountable to our partners, donors,

volunteers and the students we serve.Innovation: We strive to be forward thinking and inclusive.Impact: We enhance our school system, our greater community and as a

result, our world.Empowerment: We fund programs that help each student realize his or

her full potential.

gpfpe.orgPhotos courtesy of Lisa Vreede.

Enriching, Engaging, Inspiring Our Future

389 St. Clair AvenueGrosse Pointe, Michigan 48230

Documents

WINTER 2020 THE TORCH...The following testimonial explains how Nicole McEnroe, who at the time of this letter was in Ms. Neely’s second grade class, taught her mother Melisa how