Foundation Board Members
Anne Leavans, Co-President
Richard Whittington, Secretary
Arun Chatterjee
Judy O’Connor
Sonya Leszczynsk
Michael Kiec
Michael Kiec
The foundation raises funds and promotes awareness in support of Rosedale School. On behalf of the children of the Rosedale School, we accept your generous donations at any time during the year. The Rosedale Foundation is a registered 501-c3 organization and will be happy to send you a reciept for your taxes. You have the convenience of making your donations online from January 1 2013.
If you prefer to donate by check, please send a check to the Rosedale Foundation. We'll be happy to mail you or fax you back a letter for your taxes. The address of the Rosedale Foundation is on the CONTACT tab of the website.
If you prefer to donate by check, please send a check to the Rosedale Foundation. We'll be happy to mail you or fax you back a letter for your taxes. The address of the Rosedale Foundation is on the CONTACT tab of the website.
The Rosedale Foundation is an entirely volunteer-run organization. It operates with minimal overhead costs with the goal to maximizing the use of every donation to improve the lives of Rosedale students. Since 1999, with the generous help of individuals, foundations and corporations, the Rosedale Foundation has raised over $500,000. In 2003, proceeds from the Rosedale Ride helped enable the Rosedale Foundation to purchase a much-needed fully-accessible school bus. When not helping with big ticket items, the foundation helps the school acquire therapeutic equipment, communication devices, life-skills supplies and much more.
Taking Students to New Heights
It’s impossible to begin talking about what we need without saying how very, very appreciative we are for all that has been given to us. Samsung has been to good to us in so many ways, and will host the ride this year again as it usually does. The Austin Community Foundation and the Silverton Foundation have given us grants. We have received corporate support from Enterprise Car Rental and we receive contributions from the employees of Samsung, IBM, Dell and others through charitable campaigns sponsored by their employers. And this doesn’t mention the considerable contribution we enjoy from all of the riders. We’re constantly amazed at the generosity that has come our way since we began our efforts on behalf of Rosedale School.
And through it all, a question we get a lot is, “We’d like to do more. What do you need?” To answer that question, we offer a few examples of the kinds of things the School needs. If you would like to help us with any of these projects, we would love it.
Life Skills: The Rosedale School runs a life-skills curriculum on-campus. They have a mock apartment in which the students cook, eat, clean and do all the other things needed to live independent lives. To run this program requires groceries, cleaning supplies and other consumables. At the moment, they could also use a number of new appliances-microwave oven, toaster oven, refrigerator. They could also use new kitchen supplies-dishes, silverware, pots & pans and a canister set. Some of the money we raise with the Rosedale Ride is used to support the life-skills curriculum.
Special Needs: This stuff doesn’t need much explanation. A large-print, speaking barometer. A talking thermometer. A hanging hammock chair. Perineal rinse (no rinse soap). Computer touch screen. Computer software. Plastic, large piece construction toys. Classic hardwood, large size block set with arches, triangles, rectangles. Two adjustable-height basketball goal posts. Bowling ramp. (There are many more of these kinds of things the teachers tell us they could use.) Nonetheless, the Rosedale Foundation funds as much of these kinds of supplies as possible.
A Final Word Of Thanks: Please know that the money the Foundation raises literally takes the students to places they otherwise couldn’t go. It gives them opportunities to find personal potential they would otherwise never tap. The teachers and the administrators of the School tell us again and again what a significant impact the Foundation has on the daily lives of the students. On behalf of everyone involved with the Rosedale Foundation, we thank you so very, very much.
The Rosedale Ride
What Do Donations to Rosedale Pay For? As an entirely volunteer-run organization that relies in large part on in-kind contributions, The Rosedale Foundation operates with minimal overhead costs-ensuring that every donation is used to greatest capacity in improving the lives of Rosedale students.
Funding from The Rosedale Foundation contributes to a higher quality of life for Rosedale students by providing academic and experiential opportunities that would not be possible under AISD funding alone. Following the budget and program goals set by Rosedale School, The Rosedale Foundation funds special program and training support for students and staff-beyond the basic operating costs covered by AISD.
Each year, The Rosedale Foundation coordinates with School faculty and staff in a goal-setting committee that defines program and funding priorities. Foundation support has typically gone toward the following program-related expenses: special program supplies, adaptive equipment, academic materials, staff training, and individual needs. Examples include personal communication devices, library materials, and items for life-skills training—e.g., grocery shopping and food preparation.
Rosedale School Gets Much-Needed Wheels
New Bus Enhances School's Community Integration Program: In June of 2003, Rosedale School took delivery of a new school bus purchased with a grant from the Austin Community Foundation, private donations and proceeds from the annual “Rosedale Ride.”
The $60,000 school bus, fully wheelchair-accessible, enhances the school's Community Integration Program (CIP), which places students in area businesses to work and interact with their non-disabled peers. The purpose of the program, which requires transporting students safely and comfortably to their workplaces, is to improve students' quality of life with skills development and relationship building and to erase the social stigma so often attached to the severely handicapped.
Rosedale began its award-winning CIP program in 1988 with two neighborhood businesses and new partners with more than 20 local businesses, schools and state agencies in providing real-world experiences for Rosedale students, from jobs to special classes and events. Educators from across the state regularly visit the school seeking insights into Rosedale's innovative programing and positive impact on the community.
The Steve Hammon Butterfly Garden
In a celebration in September 2002, Rosedale School dedicated the Steve Hammon Butterfly Garden, which includes a beautifully decorated wall built by the Foundation. In addition to providing a colorful backdrop for the garden, the Garden Wall has textured objects embedded at wheelchair height that serve a unique purpose: As students travel the length of the Wall and feel the different objects, they experience a visual and tactile adventure that stimulates their senses and assists their cognitive development.
The Rewards of Success
Through support of programs such as the Community Integration Program, funding from The Rosedale Foundation augments the impact exercised by Rosedale faculty (through training support and teaching materials) and accelerates students' development of skills (through integration experiences and more individualized support). Overall, The Foundation's success lies in the interactions and rewards that Rosedale students gain every day-and that they would not experience without community support.