It’s been five years since the RCS Education Foundation was established to bring more funding to the students and teachers of Russellville, and now the time is drawing near again for the Foundation’s big annual fundraising dinner, set for April 17.

It was AdvancEd that gave the recommendation to RCS, during the accreditation process, that a fundraising arm of RCS should be established. Rex Mayfield quickly mobilized to recruit board members, and it wasn’t long before the first board was established.

Current board member Kristy Gist has been with the Foundation from the beginning. “We had to ask several people, ‘Will you donate?’ in order to even get started because we had nothing,” Gist said. People were quick to step up and support the new venture, which has been going strong ever since.

The board, which includes 12 or so members, is made of a mix of community representatives and members of RCS. Board members can serve for three years, with an additional year if the member is the board president in his or her third year on the board. Current board members include a Board of Education representative, President Greg Trapp, as well as Superintendent Heath Grimes.

“Personally, I think the Foundation is one of the greatest things we’ve done,” Trapp said. Grimes agreed. “I’m thankful for the vision the founders had,” Grimes said, citing the value in both the scholarships as well as the classroom grants that the Foundation provides. “The scholarships seem to grow every year, and that is very beneficial for our students.”

The Foundation has provided thousands of dollars through its fundraising efforts. In addition to a number of scholarships each year, the foundation also provides grants each year for teachers who make requests for items needed in their classrooms.

“We really want to focus on things that are instructional,” explained Foundation President Natalie Bendall said.

A recent teacher beneficiary was Russellville High School’s Col. Norman Lier, whose grant was approved for archery supplies – something he’s right now incorporating into the JROTC program, and something he hopes that will one day be a course that can offer a PE elective credit.

“The Foundation has an over-arching goal: to help teachers teach,” said Lier. It’s a mission, Lier said, that is profoundly impactful. “I don’t care how you slice it, I don’t care how you dice it, we teachers always have more requirements than resources,” Lier said. “The Foundation has really provided a layer of flexibility for teachers to think outside the box and think innovatively.”

Gist said the fundraising dinner has always been well-received and well-supported by the company, from its very first year. It immediately outgrew its original venue, Twin Pines, and has been accommodated at the A.W. Todd Centre for the past few years.

The dinner will be held April 17 at the A.W. Todd Centre. As usual, a silent auction and Chinese auction will accompany the evening’s festivities. Auction items are donated by local individuals, businesses and organizations and include trips, gift certificates, coolers, tech items, jewelry and other goodies.

The silent auction will begin at 5 p.m., and program will begin at 6 p.m. Awards and scholarships will be presented. New this year will be the Dan C. Hindman Star Polisher Award, recognizing an exemplary educator “dedicated to the mission of integrity, character and educational excellence,” as described by the nomination form. Nominations were accepted from people in the RCS system. “The recognition should serve to boost faculty and staff support and morale through evidence of appreciation and honor.”

Tickets will be available through April 7. They are $50 and may be purchased at the RCS Central Office, 256-331-2110, or from any Foundation board member. Businesses that are interested in donating items for the silent auction and Chinese auction can also contact Central Office for more information.

Other board members include Jeremy Campbell, Julie Hulsey, Rodney Bolton, Gene Ellison, Nancy Hillman, Deanna Hollimon, Kris Lloyd, Mike Mayfield, Kevin Stone, Kevin Strickland and Doris Vincent.