w w w . a c s f . o r g

Celebrate the Past. Thrive in the Present. Strive for the Future.

2013-2014 Annual Report

Fast forward 25 years, and the Asheville City Schools Foundation is thriving, impacting directly 2,000 children each year, and protecting excellent education for each child in the Asheville City Schools through advocacy work across the state. Through ACSF programs, children experience top-notch instruction from teachers inspired by Fellowships and grants; struggling learners find new success with volunteer tutors and mentors; young teens enrolled in In Real Life explore and experience the world through afterschool learning; and young adults get necessary support to make their college dreams come true.

But there is so much more to do. We are striving and reaching to achieve our highest purpose - to ensure that each child has the best education so that they can succeed in school and in life. With a dynamic and engaged board of directors, we have never been more dedicated to working with our schools and community to address the disparities in opportunity and achievement that prevent some children from reaching their potential. We simply must realize the full promise of public education in Asheville by raising the achievement of each child.

Engaging Community -The ACS Foundation is founded by a group of concerned parents, community members and school personnel to increase local support for public education.

Executive Director’s Note - Responding to Community Needs Since 1988From humble beginnings, the Asheville City Schools Foundation has grown from a small group of concerned parents and community members in 1988, to a thriving network of parents, educators, community leaders, businesses, volunteers, non-profit partners, donors, and civic leaders. We celebrate the thoughtful, dedicated group of individuals who came together to ensure that our schools matched the promise of this community - their vision and hard work launched a movement in our community to support and shape our schools so that each child might succeed.

Please join us in bravely examining the barriers that hold children back, and gathering the resources to ensure that each child

has a path to a life of worth and dignity.

Thank you,

Kate Pett

Kate Pett - Executive Director

Asheville City Schools Foundation P.O. Box 3196 Asheville, NC 28802 828-350-6174

Acknowledging Inequity - ACSF leads the Listening Project providing an opportunity for the community to express it’s concerns on low student achievement. The report reveals inequities in the distribution of services to students and plays a part in bringing about a Student Achievement Task Force.

Addressing Achievement Gap - ACSF teams up with the Education Coalition, a community-wide collaboration “to provide volunteers who will help eliminate achievement gaps and help public school students graduate.” ACSF adds a Tutor Coordination Program.

Aiding Families in Crisis - The Emergency Assistance Fund is created to fill urgent needs of the most vulnerable children to provide access to food, clothing, and shelter to ensure children are ready to learn.

Supporting Teachers -The Teacher Grants Program is expanded from Mini-Grants to include Major Grants, providing funds for innovation in classrooms from $200-$5,000.

Listening to Our Teens -Research shows 182 crimes were committed by young people between the ages of 6 and 15 and between 3-6pm in Buncombe County in one year. ACSF interviews over 200 stakeholders, data is compiled and ACSF leads a summit to share findings and propose solutions to reduce juvenile crime and engage young people after school. The groundwork for the In Real Life after school program is laid.

Snapshots over the years - Watch how we’ve grown!

Involving Parents & Communities -ACSF recruits VISTA volunteers to work directly in the schools on parent and community involvement, and address student, teacher and schools needs.

Closing the Opportunity Gap -IRL (In Real Life) after school program launches and 235 middle school students attend; 48% receive free and reduced lunch and 80% attend two or more days a week throughout the year.

Elevating Arts in Education -UNCA, LEAF in Schools and Streets and ACSF partner for the creation of TAPAS (Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools) and provide 62 days of residencies with local artists who integrate their craft into the curriculum.

Connecting PTOs -ACSF brings together PTO representatives from all of Asheville’s public schools to share ideas that can help make PTOs more effective.

Diving Deeper on the Achievement Gap -ACSF awards $20,000 in racial equity grants to four schools to understand the barriers to success and full inclusion for our students and families of color.

Investing Scholarship Funds - ACSF moves scholarship funds to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to grow our ability to make college accessible to all.

Responding to Legislation -ACSF leads a response to NC legislation that hurts ACS students and teachers. This becomes the catalyst for WNC for Public Education, a regional group of parents who advocate for public education.

PROGRAM IMPACT 2013-2014

Teacher grants allow teachers to add special projects and creative learning opportunities to their everyday curriculum, creating enhanced classroom experiences for 3,179 students. $110,000 in grant awards were distributed to more than 100 outstanding teachers.

More than 2,054 students developed new connections to the core curriculum through hands-on arts experiences. With our partners, ACSF provided 231 days of artists in residence. The Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools (TAPAS) program places highly-trained artists in ACS classrooms.

Teacher Grants

TAPAS

ACSF awarded $206,200 in new and renewed scholarships to 89 college-goers from Asheville High/SILSA. ACSF makes these investments because it’s critical that local graduates have the opportunity to move on to higher education and brighter futures.

College Scholarships

Last year, 252 students engaged in math lab, theater, chess club, Cross Fit and much more. ACSF led community organizations and hundreds of volunteers to provide life-changing after- school opportunities through the IRL (In Real Life) program at Asheville Middle School.

Afterschool

Hundreds of ACS families were impacted by the ACSF AmeriCorps VISTA team. More than 700 volunteers were placed in Asheville City Schools to tutor and mentor students. VISTAs facilitated family education and outreach to enhance the success of students living in poverty.

Volunteers in our Schools

ACSF mobilized the community to support public education by raising awareness. More than 700 parents and community leaders questioned representatives at a forum, sported Love A Teacher t-shirts, and participated in a social media campaign to raise teachers’ salaries.

Advocacy

THANK YOU DONORS

Make a donation: www.acsf.org Interested in making a planned gift? development@acsf.org

28th Judicial District BarBob and Peg AdamsJoel & Marla AdamsCarrie AllenGamma Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha SororityWilliam AndersonAnonymous (4)Ballet Conservatory of AshevilleLesley BartlettPatricia BastainMichael Brown & Ameena BatadaHenri Kieffer & Ann BatchelderKeith BlackMichael & Judith BohanBenefit Brewing Co.Joyce & Andy BrownJean BuchananRobert & Glenda BurginBill & Shelagh ByrneChristopher & Katie CampbellPamela ClarksonReid Chapman & Cathy ClearyFletcher & Melissa ComerRobert & Peggy DalmanRobert DeutschDifferent Strokes!Virginia DuquetSteve & Sandra Dykes

Richard & Bridget EckerdCharles Krekelberg & Amy EllingsenWilliam & Carol FalenderEvelyn & Connor FayMarshall & Heidi FieldsMike FiguraOla FlyntWhole FoodsGlass FoundationBrian Friel, Gutter HelmetJulie FurdynaAlthea GonzalezGrace Episcopal ChurchCynthia GradyRobert & Pauline HanichKeith HargroveScott & Linda Wilkerson of Harmony MotorsEarlyn HartEva Hericks-BaresMelvin & Naomi HinesZachary & Lockie HunterGregory & Nancy HutchinsBruce & Jo IkelheimerWilliam IrbyEd IsbeyNateesha JohnsonAllen JohnsonJostensMichael & Monica Koerschner

Bruce & Jean LarsonTim Plaut & Robyn LatessaGretchen LeatherwoodMark & Christine LendermanM.B. Haynes CorporationVernon MartinMatthew MaultsbyLenoir MedlockMarc Rudow & Deborah MilesJohn Menkes & Honor MoorNorth Carolina Retired School PersonnelBrian NewportAndy Pooser & Rachel PaarDudley & Elizabeth PeelerPepsi Cola Bottling Co.Vincent Floriani & Kate PettTimothy & Judith PhelanJulie Porter-ShirleyMarc Hunt & Catherine PottsMary PowellTanya PreshaAllen ProctorFrank Patton III & Susan ReiserRoberts & Stevens

Tiece RuffinMitch & Betsey RussellDavid Hurand & Martha SalyersWilliam ScarboroughWilliam & Joyce SederburgJo SetzerScott White & Missy SherburneDavid Olson & Susan Shilcock Dr. Bobbie ShortTom & Pam SiekmanBrooks SizemoreJohn & Yvonne SmithLaura StoneJoel StorrowVirgil ThrashRussell & Laurie TowersDavid & Denise TurnerCraig White & Sasha VrtunskiDianne WardJohn Bell & Judy WhisnantKern Parker & Betsy WilsonWinfield & Margaret Word-SimsEric & Lucinda Wykle-RosenbergHelen Thomas & Kathleen Young

Altamont Brewing CompanyAsheville City SchoolsBeattie FoundationBig Brothers Big SistersBurroughs Wellcome FundCity of AshevilleClaxton Elementary PTOCommunity Development Block Grant Crossfit PisgahDuke Energy ProgressHandmade In America LEAF Schools and Streets

Page & George Bradham Family FoundationPepsi Cola Bottling Co.Read to Succeed AshevilleSisters Of Mercy Of NC FoundationSutherland Foundation, IncTD Charitable FoundationThe Midgard FoundationUnitarian Universalist Church Of AshevilleUnited Way of Asheville and Buncombe CountyWells Fargo FoundationWindgate Charitable FoundationZ. Smith Reynolds Foundation

Foundation Partners

ACSF is grateful for all of our donors at every level of giving. This list reflects donors over $250 in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Executive Committee: Sasha Vrtunski, PresidentSteve Dykes, Past-PresidentShelagh Byrne, SecretaryJoyce Brown, Treasurer

ACSF FINANCIALS

ACSF StaffKate Pett, Executive DirectorErica Bell, Development DirectorJay Lively, Volunteer Training & Outreach Programs DirectorMiranda Bailey, Foundation Administrator & Student Scholarships

Kern Parker, ACSF Volunteer BookkeeperMolly Russell, VISTA Grants VolunteerTravis Herbert, IRL Campus DirectorTiffany De’Bellott, IRL Programs CoordinatorMegan Grandfield, IRL VISTA Volunteer

William J. AndersonDanielle AriasFletcher ComerGarvin DetersEva Hericks-BaresWilliam Irby, Jr.

Debby MaugansMatt MaultsbyHonor MoorTamiko Ambrose MurrayTanya Presha

Tiece RuffinBetsey RussellDan ShawMissy SherburneDenise Turner

At Large:Peggy DalmanACS School Board

Board of Directors 2013-2014

Revenue and Support Contributions Foundation & Nonprofit Grants Program Service RevenueVISTA-Organization Contributions Special EventsIn Kind ContributionsInvestment IncomeTotal Revenue and Support

$445,000 $267,371 $22,045 $37,710 $55,153 $25,740 $87,612

$940,631

Financial Statement

$720,463 $62,251 $24,520

$807,233

Revenue and Support Expenses

Contributions 47%

Foundation & Nonprofit Grants 29%

Program ServiceRevenue

2%

VISTA-OrganizationContributions4%

Special Events6%

In Kind Contributions3%

Investment Income9%

Student Scholarships 33%

Teacher Grants & Scholarships

17%IRL Program

19%

TAPAS5%

VISTA & Volunteer Tutor Program

10%

Program Support & Advocacy

4%

Management & General

9%

Fundraising3%

Expenses Program ServicesManagement and GeneralFundraisingTotal Expenses

For a copy of our most recent audit & 990 please visit www.acsf.org.

ACSF SPONSORS

Making College Possible Sponsors $500+Asheville Radio GroupAsheville Scene 5 Walnut Wine BarAsheville City Schools Bizamajig

Dixon Hughes GoodmanEtchvilleEquinox Environmental Fraternal Order of Police French Broad Chocolate Lounge

Genova Diagnostics Home Energy Partners RHA ManagementSiemens Law FirmTupelo Honey Café

Ensuring Academic Achievement Sponsors $250+French Broad Brewing Co. Asheville Pediatric DentistryBallet Conservatory BB&T

Great Beginnings Pediatric & Orthodontic SpecialistsHonor Moor and John MenkesRetro-fit Design LLC

Roberts & StevensSamsel ArchitectsWebb Insurance

ACSF is committed to the responsible use of funds and the environment. Only 1,000 of these Annual Reports were printed and made possible thanks to a generous printing sponsorship by Printville.

Online copies of the report are available on our website at www.acsf.org.

Premier Sponsors $1,000-$10,000+