ASHLAND, OR – Consistent with the theme of the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday, Ashland students are showing an outpouring of love for the angel donor who made a transformative gift of $890,000 to the Ashland School District in December. The gift helped to avert mid-year staffing reductions and strengthen student support programs across the district.
The generous donation included $850,000 for strategic budget allocation by the superintendent to address the district’s current financial crisis. An additional $40,000 was designated to support student affinity groups throughout the district, ensuring these vital communities have the resources needed to meet regularly and foster a sense of belonging for all students.
“This extraordinary act of generosity demonstrates the profound impact that community members can have on public education,” said Erica Thompson, executive director of the Ashland Schools Foundation. “The donor was moved to action after reading about our district’s challenges in Ashland.News and recognized our Foundation as a trusted partner to facilitate their support while maintaining anonymity.”
The Foundation’s long-standing reputation as a steadfast supporter of local education enabled it to serve as an essential bridge between the benefactor and the district, ensuring the donor’s intentions were carried out effectively while protecting their privacy.
The impact of this gift has resonated deeply throughout the school community, inspiring a wave of gratitude and kindness. Students of all ages across the district have written hundreds of heartfelt thank you cards to express their appreciation to the anonymous donor, with more continuing to arrive daily.
“Collecting the thank you cards was incredibly heart-warming,” shared Ashland superintendent Joseph Hattrick, EdD. “Students expressed to me that they were amazed by how generous this donor was, and that they want to do nice things for other people just like the donor did.”
Dr. Hattrick also noted the gift’s influence beyond the immediate financial impact.
“I have heard stories from classroom teachers and community members of random acts of kindness they have witnessed as a result of the example this donor has made. I would love to see random acts of kindness spread through our community that can be attributed to what started here.”
The Ashland Schools Foundation remains dedicated to its mission of supporting quality education by connecting community generosity with district needs. This donation exemplifies the vital role the Foundation plays in facilitating impactful giving that directly benefits Ashland’s students and schools.
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About Ashland Schools Foundation
The ASF is a 501(c)(3), non-profit public benefit corporation, organized exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. Our mission is to support quality education in the Ashland public schools through fundraising in the community. For more information, visit www.ashlandschoolsfoundation.org.