$1,200 raised to start Education Foundation
A group composed of the Herman-Norcross Class of 2003, the Herman-Norcross School Board, the Herman Foundation, and the Herman Development Corporation has teamed up to meet two needs.
The short-range need was providing an opportunity for those who came to the Herman-Norcross All-School Reunion to say good bye after a weekend of reconnecting with classmates and friends. The long-range need is the establishment of a foundation to provide supplementary support to the Herman-Norcross school.
Meeting the needs came together in a pancake and sausage brunch at the Herman-Norcross school on Sunday, July 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 6 was the last day of the three-day All-School Reunion.
With the guidance of school cook, Jeanne Sperr, the 2003 graduates and the three organizations cooked and served pancakes and sausage in the multi-purpose room at the school, providing Herman-Norcross graduates some nourishment and the opportunity to say good bye -- until the next reunion. There was no fee for the meal, but the group asked those who came to make free will donations.
The donations will be used to establish a Herman-Norcross Educational Fund to provide supplementary support -- most likely in the form of special purchases -- to the Herman-Norcross School. Like the Herman Tricentennial Fund, the Herman-Norcross Educational Fund will be a part of the Herman Foundation, which has already established legal status as a charitable foundation with a board of directors. Decisions about the Educational Fund, however, will be made by a separate board of trustees, probably composed of three people from three generations, such as the Class of 2003, the Class of 1983, and the Class of 1963.
The Fund will be able to accept donations with or without specific designation. It will invest those without designation and use the interest for projects that will be specified by the trustees later. It will use money designated for a special purpose as the donors wish. Because the Herman Foundation qualifies as a tax-exempt organization, donations to the Fund will qualify as tax-exempt donations.
Establishing foundations for public schools is not uncommon. One example is the Thief River Falls, which has established a foundation to provide both monetary support for district projects and volunteer support.
For more information about the fund, contact Owen Heiberg by phone at 320-677-2723 or by e-mail at oheiberg@runestone.net
