HOW IT ALL BEGANThe notion of starting an educational foundation for Comanche ISD was inspired more than a decade ago by such stories as the Kalamazoo Promise, The Ralph and Billie Howard Family Foundation for Scholarship and Technology, the Lake Travis Education Foundation, and the Lindale ISD Education Foundation. News of other school district foundations across the state awarding grants to students and teachers began showing up too.
Adding fuel to the interest was the passing of Medford Stephens and news of his bequest to the school district of $1,148,000.00 for the purpose of its earnings providing scholarships to Comanche High School graduating seniors. In his will, he designated 40% of his estate for this purpose and in the years since it was established, 144 students have shared $405,750.00 from the earnings of that bequest. The Medford G. and Marie L. Stephens Scholarship award will continue in perpetuity for Comanche High School seniors as long as Coca Cola products are available within the District. In the spring of 2015, two past recipients of the Stephens Scholarships began to pay it forward with a pledge from the family of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Stewart to honor the legacy created by Medford and Marie Stephens that they had benefitted from as they entered college. Fast forward to July 9, 2014 when it was learned that Mrs. Kathleen Mims had left a bequest in her will for $100,000.00 to be given to the District for the establishment of the Mims Family Scholarship for graduating seniors of Comanche ISD. On November 13, 2014, a meeting of interested parties was held to gauge the extent of local interest to start a foundation that would benefit the students and staff of Comanche ISD, plus provide donors with the benefit of tax deductions for their gifts. Finding sufficient interest, subsequent meetings were held through the winter, a board of directors were empaneled, officers elected, necessary documents prepared and applications filed with state and federal agencies. In March of 2015, within one week’s time, both the notice from the IRS of its granting of 501(c)(3) status and the check from the Mims estate were received. As scholarship season was fast approaching, the Board of Directors began immediate preparations to make the Foundation’s first awards to students. The Directors organized the first annual Scholarship Banquet for Comanche High School and funded its expenses out of their own pockets since no fundraising had been done yet to cover such expenses. The Banquet was well attended by recipients, families and donors from a wide variety of sources who give annually for scholarship awards. Thirty-five seniors were awarded over $113,000 that night. In August of 2015, a grant for $15,000.00 was received from the Texas Pioneer Foundation. The Texas Pioneer Foundation supports public charities in their startup expenses like the Comanche Educational Foundation. Those funds will be used to cover the operational expenses of the Foundation so that funds received from other donors can go directly to selected students and staff. An Annual Fund Campaign was recently launched by direct mail to the vendors that do business with Comanche ISD and donations are being received. Another campaign is planned for the spring for local folks to get involved in the excitement of scholarship selections and awards. |
YEARLY SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTSMay 2015 Graduating Senior Scholarships totaled: $22,500.00
May 2016 Graduating Senior Scholarships totaled: $22,500.00 May 2017 Graduating Senior Scholarships totaled: $22,500.00 May 2018 Graduating Senior Scholarships totaled: FOUNDING DONORSMrs. Katie Mims
Mr. & Mrs Harry Dudley Margie & John Gleaton Mrs. Sherry Reynolds Kris & Randy Stephens Mrs. Wilma Fleming Mr. & Mrs Kenneth Harvick Mr. & Mrs Terry Barnes Mr. & Mrs Rick Howard 2017 IN MEMORY OF: Memorials for:
Bill Blue by: Linda & Tommy McGinnis Rosemary Jefffries by: Linda & Tommy McGinnis Diane Little by: Linda & Tommy McGinnis Eldon Tupin by: Terry Barnes Billy McCool by: Terry Barnes Lee Reese by: Terry Barnes Johnny Clark by: Terry Barnes Leo Byrd by: Terry Barnes Billy Ray Evans by: Rhonda & Harry Dudley Mary Goodson by: Rhonda & Harry Dudley Floyd Key by: Rhonda & Harry Dudley Kellis Welch by: Rhonda & Harry Dudley Jim Wilkerson by: Rhonda & Harry Dudley 2016 IN MEMORY OF:In Memory of: Donna (Johnson) Kautz, Class of 1975 By: Cindy Brannan
In Memory of: H. R. Jefferies By: Harry & Rhonda Dudley In Memory of: Fred West By: Harry & Rhonda Dudley In Memory of: Gene Westmoreland By: Harry & Rhonda Dudley In Memory of: Elaine Wilson By: Harry & Rhonda Dudley In Memory of: Netta Jarrett By: Harry & Rhonda Dudley In memory of: Sue Parker Ormsby & Gaylon Abbey By: Jim & 2015 IN MEMORY OFIn Memory of: H. R. Jefferies By: Deann Latham
In Memory of: Gene Westmoreland By: Deann Latham In Memory of: H. R. Jefferies By: John & Margie Gleaton In Memory of: H. R. Jefferies By: Mr & Mrs Rick Howard In Memory of: Sue Ormsby & Gaylon Abbey By: Goodson Insurance
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