Freeport Area School District Foundation golf outing to raise money for classroom grants

The Freeport Area School District Foundation is hosting a golf outing Sunday to support classroom grants for teachers in the district.

The annual event raises money to support teachers’ initiatives in the classroom, said Bobbi Jo O’Shell, Freeport Area School District Foundation executive director. Teachers in any of Freeport’s schools can apply for grant money to fund classroom projects.

In the past, these grants have funded an array of initiatives, ranging from pre-apprenticeship programs to glass art.

O’Shell said she’s excited to see what kinds of grants teachers will ask for this year, as the covid-19 pandemic upends many traditional classroom experiences.

Freeport Area School District is currently conducting classes exclusively online, with a phased reopening plan set to bring some students back into the classroom in a hybrid model beginning Monday, Sept. 21.

Typically, the golf outing raises enough money to support between eight and 11 grants per year, she said.

“We try to give out as much as we can, depending on how much each grant is asking for,” O’Shell said.

The event, which was originally slated for May, will take place at Buffalo Golf Course.

Though the covid-19 pandemic has complicated scheduling such events, O’Shell said the golf outing is still hosting roughly the same number of golfers as in past years. Groups will be asked to maintain social distancing and abide by the course’s covid-19 protocols, she said.

O’Shell said the foundation is particularly appreciative of local businesses and sponsors who have stepped up to support them. She said they have seen an increase in $100 sponsorships from local small businesses this year.

The event’s platinum sponsor is NexTier Bank.

“NexTier Bank has always been built on a foundation of helping our community grow,” said Clem Rosenberger, president and CEO of NexTier Bank.

In the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, Rosenberger said it was “vitally important” to support organizations like the Freeport Area School District Foundation.

“The foundation has done an outstanding job helping students and teachers,” he said.

The Freeport Area School District Foundation is still accepting donations, O’Shell said. But because the event is happening this weekend, they won’t be able to provide additional signage for new sponsors.