Foundation

City Schools Foundation Logo

THE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
2552 South Church Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37127 

The organization benefits Murfreesboro City Schools’ 9,000 plus pre-K through 6th-grade students and serves as a venue for other foundations and corporations to make significant contributions that can impact the school system as a whole. The intent is to bring local resources to bear on local needs. The group was chartered in 2005.

The Foundation’s goals are to boost the school system’s financial support in the areas of science and math, academic competition and excellence among students, and to address financial parity in all schools.

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Patel Honored by City Schools Foundation

Charlie Patel joins an elite group of civic leaders to be honored by The City Schools Foundation for their support of public education at the 16th Annual Excellence in Education Celebration on April 15, 2023.

With a degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering, Charlie began his first business venture in Murfreesboro in 1996. Since that time, Charlie has expanded his business to include retail, land development, hotel investments and fast-food franchises.

Charlie and his family are known for their philanthropy and support of local charities. As a board member for six years with The City Schools Foundation, Charlie played an integral part of the success of the Foundation.  Additionally, Charlie and his team at Stones River Total Beverage have been a key supporter of Charity Circle, Wine Around the Square, Discovery Center, Boys and Girls Club, Murfreesboro Symphony and the list continues.

“Charlie is an unassuming business leader in our community. He gives his time and talent to serve without fail,” says David Scott, Chairman of The City Schools Foundation. “We are thrilled to honor him, his work, his philanthropic mindset and support of education at the upcoming celebration.”

Discover more about Murfreesboro City Schools staff and students throughout the event. The evening will feature the talents of select MCS musicians as well as MCS art teachers. Reservations for the Celebration are now available including individual tickets at $150 and sponsorships ranging from $750-$5,000. The Foundation has given over $97,000 in teacher grants and parity dollars to schools over the last four months which directly benefits students.

Join The City Schools Foundation board, Charlie and Bina Patel, and their family for an enjoyable evening at Copper Ridge Event Venue on April 15.

“The 16th annual Excellence in Education celebration is themed around Daffodils and Diamonds.  It will be an enjoyable evening with good food and friends in a casual atmosphere,” says Stephanie Roach, event chair. “We are delighted that David and Shari Lynn opened the doors of Copper Ridge to us again this year.”

Former honorees include Doug Young, Collier Smith, Drs. Max and Mary Moss, John Floyd, Ed and Andrea Loughry, Tommy and Jeannie Bragg, Dr. Sidney and Elizabeth McPhee, Dr. Susan Andrews, John Hood, Rhea Seddon and “Hoot” Gibson, Gloria and Ted LaRoche, Joyce Taylor, and Bart Gordon.

The City Schools Foundation is a group of civic and business leaders banding together to benefit Murfreesboro City Schools’ pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade students. Trustees for The City Schools Foundation include:  David Scott, Justin Burriss, Stephanie Roach, Kimberly Robertson, Vicki Eastham, Ellen Slicker, Andrew Young, Kathryn Layman, Essence Brisco, Joe Faiz, Eric Newell, James Calder, Kevin Pascoe, Robin Morgan and School Board Liaison Wes Ballard.

For additional information, please call Lisa Trail at 615-225-9381 or any member of the City Schools Foundation Trustees. Murfreesboro City Schools is a district of thirteen schools committed to the academic and personal success of each child.

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The City Schools Foundation Grant Requests

The City Schools Foundation Grant Applications are open through November 2. The grants will be awarded in December. Please be sure your principal or director is aware of your grant prior to final submission.

(Complete Your Grant Application Here)


Back To School DashRun sticker

The City Schools Foundation will kick off the 2020-2021 school year with a virtual 5K/10K run on September 12, 2020. The 5th annual Back to School Dash, presented by Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics, is “RUN AT OUR OWN PACE, AT YOUR OWN PLACE.”

“Things are definitely looking different this year,” says Justin Burriss, Foundation Treasurer and Back to School Dash Race Co-Chair. “However, the student’s needs and our Foundation’s goals haven’t stopped and our fundraising efforts will not either.”

The virtual race is a first for the Foundation. Registration is $20 and includes a t-shirt and SWAG for each participant. “We want to make sure the runners are participating in a fun run event,” says Board Member, Brook LaRoche. “The race has grown each year and has become such an exciting event and we don’t want to lose our momentum.”

Money raised by The City Schools Foundation benefits Murfreesboro City Schools’ Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade students. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $1M in parity funds and grants to teachers to enhance science, math and other programs. The Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant in August to Murfreesboro City Schools to purchase additional Chromebooks for students.

The City Schools Foundation is a group of civic and business leaders banding together to benefit Murfreesboro City Schools’ Pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade students.

The 5k/10k run is sponsored in part by Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics, City Tile & Floor Covering, Wilson Bank, and David and Brook LaRoche, Franklin Synergy Bank.

For additional information, please visit bit.ly/backtoschooldash20.

Foundation Awards $50,000 for Chromebooks

The Foundation operates mainly behind the scenes to ensure our teachers and schools have extra funding for innovative ideas through teacher grants and parity dollars. The two fundraisers – Back to School Dash and Excellence in Education – raise money to assist Murfreesboro City Schools.
In March, The Foundation stepped out of its norm to become a fundraising source to help feed students through our weekend backpack program and CHOW buses. Through their efforts and the efforts of countless individuals, over 17,000 weekend food bags were distributed to children.
Big Check $50,000The Foundation is once again supporting our students by purchasing 170 Chromebooks with a donation of $50,000. The laptops are on order and are expected to arrive in a few months. Your dollars are working hard for our students and teachers.

Foundation Awards $73,000 in Grants for 2019

The City Schools Foundation will distribute over $73,000 in grants to Murfreesboro City School teachers in 2019.  The Foundation asks educators to submit proposals for funding that will help acquire resources for classrooms not ordinarily provided by taxpayer dollars.

“Reading and scoring the grants is one of the most rewarding jobs. The Foundation is thrilled with the range of requests we received from math and science to technology and arts,” says Kevin Grisham, grant committee chair. “It is incredible to see how educators are utilizing hands-on learning opportunities to enrich the classroom.”

Grants are submitted anonymously and are judged solely on their merit by a committee.

Twenty-five grants, representing all thirteen schools, have been selected for funding and range from $300 for On a Rollercoaster with Isaac Newton to $7,000 for “Clearing” the way for STEAM.  Sixteen grants received over $2,000 in disbursements.

Grants included:

  • LET US RISE: Elevating Student Opportunities – Kristen Goodman & Tony Hartman
  • Robotics for Inquisitive Minds – Tammy Pirtle & Hope Padgett
  • Zoologists Needed…Storm Ahead! – Rachel Matthews, Betsy Lynch, & Denise Crumbaugh
  • Walk This Way! STEAM Walk, Listen, Do, Learn – Angela Bunyi
  • Completing the T in STEAM – Gretchen Campbell
  • EVOS for primary grades – Elizabeth Hurst
  • Clearing the way for STEAM – Emily Clark, & Gretchen Campbell
  • On a Rollercoaster with Isaac Newton – Mareen Pfeiffer-Hoens, Breanna McClain, & Jennifer Stanley
  • Stellar STEM Studio – Suzanne St. John, Stephanie West, & Gina Graham
  • Creating Global Thinkers by Engineering Global Ideas – Kristy Mall
  • The Artists of 2050 – Evelyn Reed Burnett
  • Take a Walk on the Calm Side – Angela Huff
  • Technology for a SMART Future – Lauren Hunley
  • LittleBits: Electronic Programming and Design – Angela Bunyi
  • Catch Box: Student Engagement is Critical – Justin Lattimore
  • An Apple a Day – Sarah Chumney
  • We Will Rock You – Richard Wood & Lance Pearcy
  • STEAMING Through the Day! – Bippy Tidwell
  • Clear Touch – Tracy Earnheart
  • STEAMing Through the Day – Elizabeth Owens
  • Never Fear: We’ve Got Makergear – Angela Pope
  • Share the Music – Luke Hill
  • Full STEAM Ahead! 3D Printers – Jennifer Sego
  • Chick this Out – Beth Wood & Kathy Latondress
  • Cubelets for Primary Grade Coding – Kimberly Kahle

 

This year, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) was the overarching theme for the grant requests. Many STEAM projects involve teamwork and allow students to explore subjects utilizing hands-on activities and dialogue giving students additional ways to succeed in this rapidly changing technology-based world.

 

Grant Applications Open through Sept. 19

The City Schools Foundation is currently accepting applications for teacher grants for the 2019-20 school year.  Recipients will be announced in early Fall.  Murfreesboro City School teachers are encouraged to apply for grants by completing the application below. Grants are due by Thursday, Sept. 19.

CSF Grant 2019


Back to School DASH – Sept 14, 2019

The City Schools Foundation will kick off the 2019-20 school year with a 5K/10K run on September 14, 2019. The race begins at Overall Creek Elementary and run a relatively flat terrain on Veteran’s Parkway with the 10K continuing on Mooreland Lane.

About Race

The City Schools Foundation’s Back to School Dash 5k/10k will be held Saturday, September 14 beginning at Overall Creek Elementary. Start time is 7 a.m. with options to walk or run.

The 5k and 10k courses are USATF Certified and timed. Race participants will run from Overall Creek to Veterans Parkway, turn on Veterans and return via Mooreland Drive. Racers will face an uphill grade on parts of the course.  Pre-registration includes a timing chip, race bib and t-shirt.

The 5k/10k run is sponsored in part by Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics; City Tile & Floor Covering, e. Allen Boutique, Middle Tennessee Oral and Implant Surgery, St. Thomas Rutherford, Body and Face Medical Cosmetic Center, Brook and David LaRoche, The LaRoche Family, First Bank, Franklin Synergy, Michael’s Homes, Tennessee Pediatrics – Dr. Dunk Eastham, Dream Catchers – Dana Cox, Alice and Robert Stachura, and Chip and Aimee Hoover, Wilson Bank and Trust, Elizabeth and Sidney McPhee, Mathnasium, Volunteer Botanical, RG Anderson.

Early bird registration is $30 for the 5k and $35 for the 10k. Online registration ends on September 12. Sign-ups will be accepted the morning of the race for those registering before 6:30 am. Please have the registration materials filled out before arriving if registering the day of the event.  For safety reasons, no wheeled devices, strollers, or pets are allowed on the course.

For additional information or to register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Murfreesboro/BacktoSchoolDash

Overall Creek is located at 429 Otter Trail, Murfreesboro, TN 37128. The City Schools Foundation raises funds that are given directly to teachers and schools in the form of parity and classroom grants to enhance science, math, technology and art programs.

About Course

The race starts and finishes at Overall Creek Elementary School. 5K Race participants will run from Overall Creek to the predominantly flat Veterans Parkway and back. 10K participants will begin at the same point and will continue the run on Mooreland Lane. 

Racers will receive directions and parking information via email closer to the date of the event. For safety reasons no wheeled devices (including strollers) or pets are allowed on the course.

  Packet Pick-Up

Packets pickup and pre-registration will be available September 13. Racers will be emailed the packet pick-up information including locations and times. All participants are encouraged to pick up their packets and pre-register on these dates. Packets will include bibs, race t-shirt and important day-of information.  If a runner is not able pick up their packet a friend may pick it up for them provided they bring a copy of the participants driver’s license and their printed race confirmation.

Race day pick-up will be available from 5:45 to 6:45 at Overall Creek Elementary. Please allow plenty of time for pick-up if retrieving your packet the morning of the race.


For additional information, please visit www.cityschoolsfoundation.com.