For immediate release
February 25, 2002

Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation
becomes incorporated

Students in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board now have the benefit of the newly incorporated Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation working for them. The Learning Foundation was established as a separate fund-raising organization by the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, to promote access to opportunities for HPEDSB children and remove barriers to student success. The Learning Foundation received its Letters Patent in January, 2002 and is now officially a separate, incorporated organization.

Christine Zaporzan, spokesperson for the Learning Foundation, notes that school boards across Ontario have been following the model of the hospitals and universities in the creation of fund-raising foundations. In part, this has been spurred by changes in education funding.

"Boards can no longer raise taxes to support locally identified needs," says Zaporzan. "Charitable foundations can channel community support to important local programs and projects not covered by the new funding model."

The Learning Foundation has been under development for two years. Needs assessments within the school system identified the priorities for funding, and a Development Committee of internal and external stakeholders has worked to shape the organization itself.

The Learning Foundation's work is intended to complement school level fund-raising by concentrating on different methods of fund-raising and distinct types of donors. In general, funds will be used to address needs identified at the system and community-wide level, that are not provided for by government funding. Schools will continue to focus on their particular needs. Programs and projects will be distinct from the mandate of the School Board, funds will not support basic programs which may receive inadequate provincial funding.

"There are opportunities in the areas of literacy, science, nutrition, and social development that cannot be explored without alternative funding." states Larry Langdon, Director of Education and one of the three founding directors of the Learning Foundation. Frank Gielen, an active volunteer from the community, and Dave Rutherford, Superintendent of Finance, are the other two.

The Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation already has plans underway for its first few events. The Learning Foundation will launch fund-raising on June 8, 2002 with a golf tournament. Proceeds from this inaugural event will be divided between the Food For Learning Committee's school nutrition programs, an after school literacy program fund, and a student project fund for the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair.

A contest, which asks students to help design the Learning Foundation's logo, is taking place in schools right now. The new Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation logo will be unveiled during a ceremony at the tournament on June 8.

For more information contact:
Christine Zaporzan, Development Officer, 966-9491 ext 2236

To link to Learning Foundation Golf Tournament registration form, click here.