Three successful community foundations dedicated to assisting the local public schools have combined efforts to form the new nonprofit Roaring Fork Public Education Foundation.

Organizers from the former Roaring Fork, Carbondale and Basalt education foundations came together last spring with a goal of working jointly to assist the Roaring Fork School District.

“We feel we can better serve the RFSD if we are one unified organization. We believe our combined efforts will allow us to better utilize community resources and provide greater benefits to the teachers and students in the school district,” noted Nan Sundeen, RFPEF president.

The purpose of the foundation is to provide funds for educational activities that either have not been funded or have been underfunded in the school district’s operating budget.

“Our distribution of funds will be equal to all three communities,” Sundeen said.

With funds donated from the previous foundations, the philanthropic organization will kick off its first year by soliciting applications for Innovative Teaching Grants, also known as mini grants. Applications will be accepted Oct. 6 through Nov. 10 for grants up to $1,000 for RFSD teachers to use toward innovative and creative instructional approaches to learning.

Applications for the grants, which will be awarded in the fall and spring of each school year, will be sent to all teachers in the school district.

The public education foundation will kick off a Founder’s Drive fund-raising campaign with a luncheon in mid-November. Already, Alpine Banks of Colorado has stepped up as a leader in the campaign.

Said Dave Scruby, Alpine Banks vice chairman, “The Roaring Fork Public Education Foundation provides wonderful opportunities for teachers and students that might not otherwise occur due to the budget limitations of the Roaring Fork School District. Alpine Bank was pleased to provide the lead gift to the foundation so they could continue helping teachers with funding for special projects, classroom materials and other educational needs that enhance the student’s experience.”

Plans for the foundation include hosting a districtwide gala and silent auction fund-raiser each March as well as Academic Recognition Banquets each May to acknowledge outstanding students and teachers in each attendance area.

The foundation is supported through a 21-member volunteer board of directors with equal representation from the communities of Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt. The board currently has openings for four members from each community.

For more information, contact director Bev Raines at 704-1073 or RFPEF@comcast.net.