BISON Brochure 2018

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You Are Changing Lives MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN, PAUL D. BAUER To our Friends of the BISON Fund, The expression goes - “Time flies when you are having fun.” In our case time flies when energies are expended towards giving Families a Choice and Children a Chance. With this our 24 th year, more than 31,400 awards will have been made to economically disadvantaged children so that they have the life-changing opportunity to attend private elementary school. It is you, our donors, who have made it possible for these children to have a chance to break the cycle of poverty and lead productive lives. We look at the BISON Fund as being a facilitator between donors, schools, and the families of our BISON children. The real heroes though, are the families who have to come up with their share of tuition. For most this is a very big sacrifice, but they know that if the early foundation for learning isn’t made, there is very little chance of their children breaking out to a successful life. Last year we announced that the BISON Fund was starting a high school award program that would be limited to 8 th grade BISON scholars. Our first year goal was to make twenty $3,500 awards. The demand from the eighth grade class was overwhelming, with approximately 80% applying, or 125 children. Fortunately, other funders and donors stepped forward and we were able to make 49 awards! If you would like to underwrite awards that would be designated to a particular high school, we can easily handle such a gift. Please contact Amy Popadick, our Executive Director to work out details. The success of the BISON Fund is due to committed families and to our loyal donors who make it possible for these children to blossom. Plus, we are making for a stronger Western New York community. Please stay with us in this worthwhile endeavor that is changing lives. Thank you, Paul D. Bauer Board President YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK FISCAL YEAR EXPENSES $2,576,443 K-8 SCHOLARSHIP $2,351,876 (91.3%) K-12 PROGRAM ADMIN $76,159 (3%) FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 2018 FUNDRAISING $148,408 (5.7%)
DONOR SPOTLIGHT Lisa and Bill Huntress Giving all of our children an opportunity to learn is one of the most important goals of our society. It is through education and learning that we all have choices in life. Choices to prosper and help each other. Lisa and I believe that there is nothing we can do that is more important for the long term benefit of our community than helping young kids receive a sound education. The BISON Fund accomplishes this in a highly efficient and effective way and we feel fortunate to have the resources to help BISON fulfill its important mission to educate our children. Throughout our lives, Lisa, I, and our family have had the help and support of friends, family, business partners and the community which has allowed us to prosper. We feel blessed every day and believe that our children and the children of our community are all our futures. Through the help of the BISON Fund, children have the opportunity to gain holistic strength through education. The strength to be whoever they want to be. Thank you BISON Fund. We commend your efforts in helping families in WNY improve their children’s lives through school choice. BISON GOES HIGHER With the introduction of our High School Scholarship Program, we’re taking our investment in our families to the next level because we know they can and do succeed beyond 8 th grade. Expanding our program will provide even more pathways to successful futures for children and their families who might otherwise not get the opportunity they’ve earned. BISON is the only K-12 scholarship program in WNY, and the 5 th largest K-8 program nationally. Your ongoing support will allow BISON to continue offering a hand up – not a handout – to families who want to provide their children with the best education of their choosing. An annual $3,500 scholarship is awarded to eligible 8 th grade BISON Scholars. The $3,500 scholarship follows them through high school, continuing for all four years. Our community’s response to our new high school program has already been significant. We originally planned for 20 scholarships in 2018-19, but because of our community’s investment, we are offering 49 scholarships to high school students that includes two named scholarships: Judy Carr Beecher ’58 Memorial Scholarship. In memory of one of our BISON co-founders who passed away in late 2017, whose passion was to make school choice a reality for every child in Western New York. This scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming BISON freshman at Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Judy’s alma mater. Thomas J. Comer, Jr. ’81 Memorial Scholarship. In memory of a tireless champion of BISON, its work and children in general, who passed away suddenly in the fall of 2017. Tom was a BISON board member for 10 years and Chair of the Development Committee for BISON. Tom’s goal was to expand to follow our BISON scholars into high school to help families continue with private education. This scholarship is awarded to an incoming BISON freshman at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Tom’s alma mater.
Page 1 and 2: 31,439 NEW BEGINNINGS Giving parent
Page 3 and 4: WHY BISON? Your dollars go further
Page 5 and 6: 2018 BISON expands into high school
Page 7: Meet Eamon 4TH GRADE Eamon dreams o

BISON Brochure 2018

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