The Mahomet-Seymour Schools Foundation will celebrate 20 years of providing educational resources to the Mahomet-Seymour Schools during their annual Bulldog Bash fundraiser on May 16.
This year’s fundraiser will include a casual dinner buffet alongside a live and silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. The Foundation has collected five live auction items including packages to St. Louis, an Indy Car driving experience and dinner for eight with Jim Risley. Last year’s silent auction included over 90 items.
Central Illinois’ favorite 80’s band, The Brat Pack will perform from 7:30 to 11 p.m. The Foundation hopes The Brat Pack’s following will draw more people to the fundraiser.
“We’ve not had dancing before, and it seems like we really want to give that a try,” Board Member Tammy Marsh said. “So that’s why we went with the Brat Pack. We try to make an event that’s fun and attracts people, but then they can also learn about what the foundation does.”
MSSF fulfills many educational needs throughout all schools within the Mahomet-Seymour School District with grants and student scholarships.
Each fall, MSSF reaches out to teacher reps, principals, school board members and the Superintendent to collect teacher and student needs for the school year. Each year, they dispense approximately $10,000 in grant money.
Two years ago, The Foundation began to help the district with much needed technology upgrades by providing the schools with $52,000 in smartboards, iPads, Chromebooks and iPods over the last two years.
This year, the Foundation agreed to a three-year $24,000 commitment to supply the district with 200 teacher workstations.
Twenty years ago, The Foundation partnered with M-S art teachers to host Celebrate Art. During each school year, art teachers throughout the district select student art to be displayed at the annual event. The Foundation provides awards for the students each year. Celebrate Art will be held on May 11 at MSHS this year.
The Foundation also recognizes student academic and character achievements each quarter at Lincoln Trail Elementary and every semester at MSHS. Recipients receive recognition through publication, and also a small personalized gift.
In early May, the Foundation will award approximately 16 seniors with scholarship money. They also partner with the Mahomet-Seymour PTO to provide academic letters to students in the spring.
The Foundation provided MSHS with $125,000 to build a greenhouse for the Ag program. They will also partner with the Mahomet IGA to install a soft playground surface at Middletown Prairie and each year they give the MSHS Mentor Program $500 to use towards snacks.
In an effort to reunite MSHS alumni, the Foundation also formed the Mahomet-Seymour School Foundation Alumni project this year. Although in its initial stages, the Foundation would like to host class reunions or an athletic “Hall of Fame” in the future.
Tickets for the fundraiser are now on sale at the Mahomet IGA, Twist and Shout Dance and Cheer or through any MSSF board member. The fundraiser will be located one-half mile west of Turkey Farm Road off Route 150.
