The Okeechobee Educational Foundation, Inc.
700 SW 2nd Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34974
Phone:	863-462-5000 x257
Fax:	863-462-5017
Sharon Vinson vinsons@okee.k12.fl.us

The Okeechobee Educational Foundation, Inc., was formed in 1981 by interested school employees, parents and business persons.   The Foundation has primarily been focused on increasing the number and amount of donated scholarships for graduates of Okeechobee High School.   This year 100 donors used the services of the Foundation to award 266 scholarships to 122 recipients; over $264,000 was awarded to 2008 OHS graduates!

Board of Directors

President - Linda Syfrett, Retired Pharmacist, IRCC Board of Trustees, 4-H Leader                                                       

Vice President - Mary Hurley, Assitant Superintendent for Instructional Services                                                   

Secretary - Ken Kenworthy, Assistant Superintendent for Administration

Treasurer, Facilitator - Sharon Vinson, Shared Services Network of Okeechobee

Parliamentarian - Debbie Clements, University of Florida Extension Agent

Directors:

Russ Brown, Principal, Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School                 

Tom Conely, Attorney, Comely and Conely                                                                          

Dr. Patricia Cooper, Superintendent, Okeechobee County School District                                                                

Mike Costopoulos, CPA, Costopoulos & Helton PA                                                                    

Peter Cruz, Branch Manager, Bank of America
Beth Lehman, Co-owner Lehman Auto Body

Danny Mullins, Past President, Retired Superintendent of the Okeechobee County School Distrcit                                                                    

Kelly Owens, School Board Member,                              

Gretchen Robertson, State Farm Insurance Agent                                                                 

Jeff Sabin, Waste Management                                                                        

Ben Sims, The Tucker Group                                                                            

Tabitha Trent, Riverside National Bank Branch Manager, mother and community member

Celeste Watford, Okeechobee CountyTax Collector                                                             

Highlights of Foundation Programs:

The Okeechobee Educational Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1981 by interested school employees, parents and business persons.  The Foundation has primarily been focused on increasing the number and amount of donated scholarships for graduates of Okeechobee High School.  This year, 100 donors used the services of the Foundation to provide 266 scholarships to 122 OHS graduates; over $264,000 was awarded in 2008!

An ongoing goal for the Foundation is the encouragement and recruitment of minority teaching candidates.  In 2000-2001 the "Grow Our Own" Scholarship was created and awarded for the first time.  In 2008, with generous community support, we sponsored another OHS graduate.  We look forward to continuing to award the "Grow Our Own" Scholarship each year.

The Okeechobee Educational Foundation through the payroll deduction plan with Okeechobee County School Board employees and United Way presented $4,000 in scholarships to 2008 OHS students.

Numerous reading, math and science mini-grants have been awarded since 2000. During the 2008-2009 school year the Foundation, with matching funds from the State of Florida, was able to award $4,000 in Developing Twenty-First Century Vocabulary Mini-Grants.  The intent of this grant was to provide teachers with funding to positively impact student achievement in ready by improving vocabulary instruction.     
 
The Kiwanis Club partnered with OEF again in 2008-2009 and awarded three $500 elementary math mini-grants in memory of Marge and Dick Blair to local teachers.

The Rotary Club of Okeechobee partnered with OEF for the first time in 2008-2009 to award $1,000 in elementary math mini-grants to local teachers.

New for 2008-2009, the Okeechobee Battlefield Friends, Florida History Mini-Grant.  The intent of this $500 grant was to provide a Florida History teacher with funding to enhance the Florida History curriculum in his/her classroom.

Through an agreement with Indian River State College, local scholarship money was eligible for state match.  The Okeechobee Educational Foundation received over $192,000, in 2006 and 2007, to award in additional scholarships.

Started in 2005 and continuing again this year, the Achieving Excellence Campaign.  Community members and businesses are encouraged to contribute to the Foundation to support their endeavors:  $2,500 Platinum, $1,000 Gold, $500 Silver and Friends of the Foundation.  Over $24,000 has been donated to this campaign.

Special Thanks:

The Okeechobee Educational Foundation, Inc. would like to thank the many individuals and businesses who have donated their dollars to provide scholarships and mini-grants!  Your generosity has given many students the opportunity to reach for a brighter future and obtain their dreams!

Updated: 9/08/09