We’re excited to announce that our Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation is again partnering with Major Saver for their annual fundraiser! The Foundation receives 50% of all card sales and 70% of any flat donations. From those earnings, 50% is returned directly to the student's school. The Foundation supports our schools by providing teacher grants, student scholarships, care funds, and more.

What’s New This Year?

This year, the fundraiser will be more convenient than ever! Gone are the days of collecting and returning cash or checks to receive physical cards. With the help of a parent or guardian, students will now use the Major Saver app to set up their fundraising account.

Here’s how it works:

• On November 11, 2024 parents/guardians will receive an email that includes the Major Saver Digital Launch Guide.
• On November 13, 2024, each student will go home with a Major Saver BADGE (lanyard included) which will feature a QR code that will take you directly to your schools fundraising page.
• A short information video will play on how to participate in the digital campaign.
• The back of the Major Saver BADGE will feature a QR code that will take you to the YouTube Prize Video.
• Instead of a physical card, supporters will gain access to local discounts directly through the app, which they can use at participating businesses by simply showing the promotion on their phone.
• As a bonus, the parent or guardian who helps the student set up the fundraising account will receive a free discount card to use!

How Funds Are Collected and Prizes Delivered

All transactions are handled digitally, making it easier for everyone. Once the fundraiser ends, prizes will be delivered to the school to be given to students on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

Fundraiser Kickoff on November 13th

The campaign kicks off on November 13, 2024, and runs through December 3, 2024, so check your student’s backpack and your email for more details on how to get started. Your support helps enrich the educational experience for our students!

We extend our gratitude for all who sponsored and donated to our your Annual Foundation Breakfast held on October 14, 2024. Your support played an instrumental role in making this year’s event a tremendous success, and we want to express our sincere appreciation for your commitment to the students and teachers of Shawnee Heights USD 450.

Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $15,000, which will directly benefit the educational endeavors of our students and teachers. Your contribution has made a meaningful impact on our community, and we are deeply grateful for your dedication to our mission.

Your sponsorship continues to be a cornerstone of our efforts to enrich and expand educational opportunities for the students of Shawnee Heights. As we work to establish a sustainable fund for innovative educational projects and grants throughout our district, your partnership remains invaluable to our journey.

Once again, thank you for your generosity and belief in our mission. We are grateful for your ongoing partnership and look forward to achieving even greater milestones together in the future.

Platinum Sponsor:

Capitol Federal Foundation

Gold Sponsors:

Jamie Hornbaker State Farm

Major Saver

McCownGordon Construction

Security Benefit

Silver Sponsors:

Azura Credit Union

CoreFirst Bank & Trust

HTK Architects

Kansas Board Solutions Inc.

Pur-O-Zone

Shawnee County Sheriff's Office

Bronze Sponsors:

ASA Strategic Funding

Ace Plumbing

AllTech Communications, Inc

Ann & Larry Mah

Brian & Amy Jordan

DLR Group

Jim & Nancy Parrish

Mammoth Sports Construction

Marlou Wegener

McElroy's Inc

Topeka ER & Hospital

Washburn University

The Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation is excited to announce that their Annual Golf Tournament will take place on August 9, 2024! The Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation's mission is to enhance, enrich, and expand educational opportunities for the students of Shawnee Heights USD 450. This charitable non-profit Foundation is organized exclusively for educational purposes.

Last school year, they awarded over $13,000 in grants to our exceptional teachers, supporting various innovative programs. These grants have allowed them to explore new educational frontiers in their classrooms, providing our students with extraordinary learning experiences. Handing out teacher grants during their Prize Parade is an annual highlight for our teachers and would not be possible without the generosity of donors.

You are invited to join the Foundation at their annual golf tournament on Friday, August 9, 2024, at Shawnee Country Club - Great Life Golf & Fitness. Registration and lunch will begin at 11:30 am, and golf will start at 12:30 pm. An awards reception will follow.

This tournament is a key fundraiser the Foundation organizes yearly to support our teachers and students at Shawnee Heights. Last year, they had over 30 teams and sponsors from many local businesses. So sign up now to secure your spot in the tournament! Registration and payments must be received by July 22, 2024.

Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation stands as a pillar of support, exemplifying a commitment to educational excellence. Through a series of events, the Foundation not only raises funds for the students and staff of Shawnee Heights but also fosters a sense of community and togetherness. These events play a crucial role in enhancing the learning experience for students and providing essential resources for our dedicated staff.

The Foundation hosts various events throughout the year, each designed to engage the community and generate financial support for educational initiatives. One of the highlights is the annual Breakfast, a morning that brings together teachers, community members, and local businesses. Attendees enjoy breakfast and experience a little of Shawnee Height's impact on its community. The Breakfast serves as a fundraiser and a platform to showcase the items teachers purchased for their classrooms through the Foundation's Teacher Grant program.

Another popular event is the Golf Tournament, where staff, community members, and local businesses come together to enjoy a day of golf while raising funds for the Foundation's educational initiatives. The Golf Tournament has become a much-anticipated tradition, fostering camaraderie among participants. With friendly competition on the golf course, participants support a good cause and strengthen the community bonds that make Shawnee Heights a unique and vibrant place.

The funds raised from these events enable the Foundation to provide invaluable support to Shawnee Heights students and teachers. Teacher Grants are awarded to teachers to enhance initiatives in the classroom; Scholarships are awarded to students looking to pursue higher education; and Care Funds are put aside to assist students and families in our community in a time of need.

Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation stands as a beacon of community-driven support, embodying the spirit of collaboration and dedication to education. If you would like to donate to the Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation or want to learn more about their upcoming events, visit their website at www.shawneeheightsfoundation.net.

Golf Tournament

It has been a little while since we sent you a newsletter, and we thought you might like to know what we are planning next. The Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation Annual Golf Tournament is next on our year's list of events. It will be held on Monday, August 1, 2022, at Great Life Shawnee County Country Club. This tournament is just one of the fundraisers we hold each year to help support the teachers and students of Shawnee Heights. Last year, we had a fantastic turnout with over 25 teams and sponsorships from many local businesses. We plan to have another great year this year. If you are interested in playing or sponsoring this year's tournament, we have various opportunities available. Check them out at on our Annual Golf Tournament Event Page. Registration and payments must be received by July 15, 2022.

Teacher Grants This year, the Foundation had the pleasure of awarding more than $8,400 in grants to teachers for various programs. For the first time, we are gearing up to offer another round of grants this fall when teachers arrive back at school! These grants allow teachers to try new things in their classrooms that budget restrictions would not otherwise cover. The teachers look forward to these grants every year. Watch the 2022 Foundation Grant Video to see the special moment the teachers received their grant.

Staff Farewell In May, the Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation hosted one of our favorite events, The School Year Farewell. This event used to be called the "Winter Mixer" and was held as a welcome back event for the Shawnee Heights staff after winter break. After some feedback from the staff, we moved this event to May as the year-end thank you to the staff of Shawnee Heights. We appreciate the hard work the staff does, and this is just a small way to show them our appreciation.

Scholarship Night Scholarship Night was a fantastic event. We thank Kayla Banzhaf and the Counseling Department for the hard work they put into this night each year. Here at the 2022 Scholarship winners! Martin Family Engineering – Katelyn Mulligan Martin Family Business – Lauren Kile Ferman P. March – Hailey Anderson Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation – Bella LeJuerrne and Paige Devena Lester & Barbara Wetter Memorial – Ellie Hall Mike Watson Memorial – Elizabeth Keyes and Laura El-Koubysi Margaret Wiley Memorial – Eastyn Armstrong Band Booster Club – Wyatt McGinnis, Karli Gilliland, Gavin DeLong, Makenzie Liby, Jeffrey Johnston, and Angelika Velez Hernandez AP Capstone – Charles Edington Watch the 2022 Scholarship Winner Slideshow!

Major Saver Our Major Saver Discount Card Campaign has fallen a little short in the past couple of years. However, we were still able to raise $14,527.50 for our teachers and students of Shawnee Heights, with the support of our students, teachers, staff, parents, and community members. Major Saver is a community-oriented corporation dedicated to providing a premier fundraising program that benefits schools, students, local businesses, and our community. Many Shawnee Heights parents work hard to help their students sell the Major Saver Discount Cards. We want to thank those parents and our community members who purchase them. Don't miss out! Major Saver Discount Cards will be back in students' back packs the end of November.

Ways to Donate:

Support our Annual Events:

• Shawnee Heights Foundation Golf Tournament (August 1, 2022)
• Shawnee Heights Foundation Breakfast (October, TBD)
• Major Saver Card Campaign (November – December)
• Chair Back Campaign – The Shawnee Heights High School auditorium chairs are available to sponsor! Name plates are available to purchase and have placed on the back of the auditorium chairs. If you are interested in sponsoring a chair for you or a loved one, please visit our Auditorium Donation page.
• If you would like to make a donation to the Foundation outside of these events, please visit our Foundation Donation page. 

Thank you to all of the donors that made giving these scholarships possible! To the scholarship recipients, thank you for all your hard work and we wish you well in your future endeavors.

We couldn't get together in person this year but we still wanted to recognize our 2019-2020 Scholarship Winners. Enjoy our virtual 2019-2020 Scholarship Night: https://youtu.be/T-e_j6-nXyE

As the holiday season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and those who have helped with the Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation’s mission. It’s been quite a year for us all! We hope that 2019 has been just as memorable for you, your colleagues, and your loved ones. We look forward to working with you in the years to come.

Upcoming Dates Winter Mixer   (Staff Event)   January 3, 2020   3:30 - 6:30 p.m.   Bettis Sports Complex Event Center

Giving Thanks this Holiday Season

Did you know that when an individual reaches 70.5 years of age, they are required to start taking distributions from their 401K/IRA’s called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)? The Distribution may be configured as a Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD) with tax advantages by making the distributions directly to a non-profit organization. If you’re interested in this process, we recommend that you consult your tax advisor.

The Martin family has graciously implemented an annual QCD to the Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation! Their donation will help Shawnee Heights by; establishing scholarships, helping with the Foundation’s newly created Care Fund, and providing for an annual grant to the district’s elementary schools on a rotating basis. The Martins have asked that their donation directly impact district wide needs, and we are happy to help them with their vision to provide for the district.

Golf Tournament Our Annual Foundation Golf Tournament was held on August 2, 2019, at the Shawnee Country Club – Great Life Golf & Fitness. What a great tournament it turned out to be! The day started a little rocky with rain looking like it might postpone our event. However, with some encouragement from our sponsors and players, we decided to go forward with the event, and it turned out to be a beautiful day. Thank you to everyone who came this year – to help or to play – and to all our sponsors. This event would not have been a success without the generous support provided to us. This year we raised over $10,000 to help support the students and teachers on Shawnee Heights USD 450! The funds raised during this tournament go right back into the classrooms of Shawnee Heights. Teachers can apply for classroom grants and request things that aren’t otherwise in the district’s budget. Some of the things that teachers have asked for and received are funds for flexible seating, coding robots, and sensory objects. Click here to view and download photos of the event.

Breakfast On October 14, 2019, we held our Annual Foundation Breakfast. Martha Barnhill and the Shawnee Heights High School Junior Quartet graced us with their music as we began the morning. We were later inspired by the words of our keynote speaker, Sam Steuart, who spoke about the impact that the teachers had on him as he navigated through school at Shawnee Heights. Sam is now studying American studies and biochemistry with a minor in Spanish at Kansas University. He has most recently earned the George Marshall Scholarship that will fund graduate study in the United Kingdom. Thank you to everyone that helped make this event a delight, and thank you to all of our sponsors. We sincerely appreciate the willingness with which you have and continue to support our efforts to enhance, enrich, and expand opportunities for the students of Shawnee Heights. Thanks to your generous support, we were able to raise over $13,000 for the students and teachers of Shawnee Heights. Click here to view and download photos of the event.

Ways to Donate: 

• Visit our website at www.shawneeheightsfoundation.net
• Support our Annual events:
  • Shawnee Heights Foundation Golf Tournament (Summer)
  • Shawnee Heights Foundation Breakfast (Fall) 
• Chair Back Campaign - The shawnee Heights high school auditorium chairs are available to sponsor! Name plates are available to purchase and have placed on the back of the auditorium chairs. If you are interested in sponsoring a chair for you or a loved one, please visit our Auditorium Donation page.

Dear Shawnee Heights Community,

The Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation recently hosted one of my favorite events, the Winter Mixer. This event is hosted annually to welcome back the Shawnee Heights USD 450 staff after the winter break. We appreciate the hard work the staff does and this is just a small way we can give back to them. 

I want to recognize Bruce Krueger for his 7 years of service on the Foundation board. Bruce was the treasurer of the Foundation, was on the financial committee and added valued financial experience to our board. Bruce will be retiring from his position of CFO at Capital City Bank/Capital Federal and will be moving to Texas to be closer to family. Bruce has been a integral part of the Foundation and we will miss him dearly. 

As you are planning for 2019, the board would like to ask you for your consideration of donating to the Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation. See below on how you can donate and the events you can attend to contribute. The funds raised flow right back into our Shawnee Heights USD 450 schools. 

Thank you for supporting the Shawnee Heights Foundation.

Sincerely,

Craig Freeman

Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation President

Major Saver Cards	Breakfast	Winter Mixer
The Major Saver Discount Cards were a success! With the support of our students, teachers, staff, parents and community members, the Shawnee Heights School District earned $23,332.50!  Major Saver is a community-oriented corporation dedicated to providing a premier fundraising program that benefits schools, students, local businesses, and our community.  We know many of our parents work hard to help their student sell the cards. We want to thank those parents and our community members who purchased them.	In September we enjoyed our annual Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation Breakfast. It is our vision to inform, entertain, and most importantly to raise funds for the students and teachers of Shawnee Heights USD 450 in a pleasant, comfortable environment. Generous contributions helped make our vision a reality by raising more than $13,000!  As we continue to grow and work towards our mission to establish a monetary fund for educational projects or grants throughout the Shawnee Heights school district, please know that partnerships with our sponsors are vital to our success. Our sponsors are truly appreciated, thank you! View the 2018-19 Prize Parade video here.	Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our Winter Mixer on Friday, January 11, 2019. It was a fun and supporting atmosphere that only the staff could have provided us. The night consisted of a taco bar and delicious deserts that Carlene Jones prepared for the event. She does an amazing job!  Staff were on the edge of their seats as we drew winners of various gift card give aways. A few lucky winners received $50 gift cards!  We appreciate everything the staff at Shawnee Heights Public Schools does all year long for our students and parents.

REMINDER

Teacher grant season is upon us! Deadline for grants are April 5th, 2019. Complete the 2019-2020 Grant Application and return it to the Shawnee Heights Central Office.

Ways to Donate: