Eanes Education Foundation raises $2.65M in donations for district

The Eanes Education Foundation presented its annual donation to the district during a May 26 regular board meeting. Kathi Haralson, the nonprofit’s outgoing executive director, announced a $2.65 million donation for the 2020-21 school year.

The donations in part will fund 53 teacher positions, according to Haralson, who said that when she began her work with the district the nonprofit was funding less than 40 positions.

“If we took 53 teachers out of our classrooms, our district would look very different,” Haralson said. “Adding almost 15 teachers in three years to that makes a big difference on every campus.”

$25,000 will be allocated to the district’s institute for excellence, and $210,000 will go toward the Eanes Endowment. Haralson also announced the Eanes endowment has reached $1 million.

These funds will be used to fund EISD’s future, according to Jennifer Ramberg EEF board president, who said the EISD endowment will act as an additional revenue stream for the district.

“No one is fundraising [alone] for $2.65 million,” Haralson said. “It takes the board of trustees; it takes the EEF board; it takes the staff; and it takes every parent in this district that is passionate about education.”

Superintendent Tom Leonard and trustees expressed their gratitude for EEF's continued support.