Education Foundation of Sarasota County | Case for Giving

“Our kids are a third of our population but 100 percent of our future. Fostering
a love of learning and critical thinking skills in young kids exponentially
improves their chances of staying in school and being productive in life.
”
Tom Koski, retired CEO, Sarasota County Schools alumnus, philanthropist, second generation
of the Koski family to serve on the Education Foundation board of directors.
WHY NOW?
EDUCATION IS more than academic
achievement alone. It is the moral imperative
of our time to equip our children with the
skills, knowledge and abilities to navigate
an unknown future that is accelerating at
an unprecedented rate. We have no choice
but to go “all-out” for our students and
teachers now or we risk putting them at peril.
The world is becoming increasingly flat
and developing our students into responsible
global citizens doesn’t happen in one
day. It is the cumulative effect of
sustainable philanthropic investment,
coupled with a strong supportive teaching
and learning environment that will propel
our students forward.
We simply cannot wait.
Just as today’s iconic structures took visionary
designers who had foresight, it takes
strategic philanthropy to develop anything
worthwhile that lasts. We at the Education
Foundation are looking ahead, poised to
take steps today to secure a front row
position for our students of tomorrow.
Everything we do now changes the
trajectory of our students for the future.
Tomorrow already is here.
CHAMPIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS
The Education Foundation believes that every one of our students has a need, regardless
of their walks of life or unique family circumstances. And with our community’s support,
we intend to give 100 percent to all 44,000 of them.
We support innovations that challenge all of our students and teachers and infuse them with
knowledge and confidence that help them better themselves, their families, their
workplaces and their communities.
We forge the path in front of them so they can get ahead—because forward is where
their future beckons.
We have large aspirations, and our board and staff are dedicated to realizing these ambitions.
It will take time and a lot of hard work but we are doing it—for the 44,000 students and
5,000-plus school personnel counting on us now and the many thousands more who will
follow them.
The Education Foundation is uniquely poised to be
a pivotal organization in transformational change.
It is a call to action with a clear, broadly appealing mission statement about
why an investment in the Foundation is so important.