PC Foundation Exceeds Match Goal from Kirkpatrick Family Fund
Photo: Retired Putnam City teachers and CareShare volunteers Sara Kersey (left) and Barbara Minton (right) pose with some of the coats in Penny's Closet ready for distribution to students in need earlier this year.
Oklahoma City, OK – June 12, 2020 — The Putnam City Schools Foundation exceeded their matching grant goal from the Kirkpatrick Family Fund thanks to the generosity of several donors. Funds raised will start an endowment for the CareShare program in Putnam City with $70,000.
Nearly forty years ago counselor Penny Poe started CareShare as a way for children to “hold onto their hopes at Christmastime.” She gathered a few friends and colleagues together to provide toys, books, and clothes to Putnam City students in need. People also donated coats and shoes to provide basic necessities so those things don’t get in the way of learning.
Today CareShare Christmas helps over 1,200 children get presents thanks to the kindness of the community. Families, religious organizations, businesses and other groups can adopt a Putnam City family and provide them a few items from a provided list.
Penny’s Closet – an offshoot of CareShare named in honor of its founder – provided 325 coats and 216 pairs of shoes last year alone. A team of volunteers works with counselors in each school to ensure the students have proper outerwear and shoes.
As these programs have grown, the Foundation board determined it needed to create a stable funding opportunity so that the children would never have to go without. We are pleased to announce that with the Kirkpatrick Family Fund’s support, we will be helping children for years to come.
“We are so excited to have exceeded our goal for this endowment! The Kirkpatrick Family Fund’s support inspired our giving community to achieve more for Putnam City’s children,” said Jennifer Seal, Putnam City Schools Foundation President. “This is a touching tribute to a wonderful woman.”
More information about both programs is available here.
About the Foundation
The Putnam City Schools Foundation’s mission is to enhance and enrich the educational opportunities of children in Putnam City Schools. We serve the students, teachers, and staff of Oklahoma’s fifth-largest school district, through support, recognition, and advocacy, and have for over 30 years. More than 19,500 children and their families benefit from the work we do every day. The support we provide doesn’t just impact our schools. It enables our students to dream big and continue building the strong community we share. To learn more about the Putnam City Schools Foundation call (405) 495-5200, ext. 1205, or visit www.pcf4kids.org.
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posted by Kris Baggerly
June 12, 2020