by Mary Wilson
The Grandview Education Foundation is celebrating 20 years
of service and dedication to the students and faculty of the Grandview C-4
School District. On Thursday, April 26, current Foundation supporters and founding
members gathered to celebrate the beginnings of the organization.
Former Grandview Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thornsberry was
instrumental in the start of the Grandview Education Foundation (GEF), which
was officially established in 1997. He shared how GEF began, and applauded the
volunteers whom over the last 20 years have made the Foundation successful.
“I certainly want to begin my comments by congratulating
those of you who have taken the Foundation and made it a success over the
years,” said Thornsberry. “It is certainly reflective of the interest and the
hard work that many of you have done. Really, it’s the work you’ve done and
your efforts, rather than the idea and the concept, which should be
celebrated.”
Prior to 1997, the late Roy Meyers, of Meyers Real Estate in
Grandview, would drop by Thornsberry’s office to talk. According to
Thornsberry, Meyers was one of a group of historically significant Grandview
residents who were passionate about the community and the school district.
“Why Roy selected me and would visit with me, I don’t know,”
said Thornsberry. “He was not visible in a lot of community activities or
offices, but he was vitally interested in the image of the school district and
the image of the community and how they fit together.”
Over time, the two talked about different ideas to help
improve that image, and that’s when the idea of an education foundation
surfaced. At the time, Thornsberry says there may have been only one other
school foundation in the area. After discussions with other community leaders,
it became apparent that the idea would be supported.
“I retired in 1997, right as this was getting started,” said
Thornsberry. “A lot of the organization’s beginnings and board actions probably
happened after I left. I do remember that everybody that we mentioned the idea
to were very positive about it and would support it going forward.”
In the last 20 years, approximately $1,077,567 has been
contributed to enhance the educational opportunities for students in the
Grandview C-4 School District. Grandview Education has awarded more than 157
teacher and staff grants, and administered over $300,000 in student
scholarships.
“There’s several people who deserve a lot of credit for the
beginning, or the idea of the foundation,” said Thornsberry. “This is the first
school activity that I’ve attended in 21 years of retirement. I’m really proud
of our school district. I’m proud of this community, and I congratulate each of
you who have worked to make the foundation a success.”
Current Grandview Superintendent Dr. Kenny Rodrequez has
been active in support of the Grandview Education Foundation during his time in
the district, according to GEF President Cindy Bastian.
“I don’t think that we can accomplish the things in this
district that we need to without an active foundation,” said Rodrequez. “This
one, in particular, has proven that on many occasions. We can’t accomplish our
ultimate mission of educating every one of our kids without the support of the
Foundation.”
Rodrequez said that the foundation is much more than
providing scholarships for Grandview’s students and teacher grants; GEF is
active in the community and provides support in the schools.
“We are still reaping the benefits of the creation of this
foundation,” said Rodrequez. “But, ultimately, our kids are seeing the
benefits. On behalf of the school district, thank you for everything that each
of you have had to do with this.”
Bastian announced a new GEF scholarship, in honor of
founding and current member Kathy Meyers, who has dedicated many years to the
Grandview C-4 School District. She served as a Board of Education member and
former president, currently works for the district, and is a Grandview alum.
“Certainly there are many people in this room who deserve
this,” said Meyers. “Thank you, Dr. Thornsberry, for giving my dad an ear, and
thanks to everyone all the way to the current Board, because it takes a lot of
people, a lot of time and energy and a lot of dedication, and that’s what we
have here. I can guarantee that my father would be very proud of what GEF has
done over the last 20 years.”
Grandview Education Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit
organization with a mission to partner with the Grandview C-4 School District
and the community to enhance educational opportunities for students and staff
in the district. For more information, visit
www.grandviewedfoundation.org.