Friday, February 8, 2008

Highland Park ISD’s “Mad for Plaid” program raises $3.37 million

By Pegasus News wire

Photo not provided by Mad for Plaid campaign or Highland Park ISD

This year's campaign brought out all the stops to raise money for Highland Park.

The Co-chairs of the Mad for Plaid Campaign are honored to announce that this year’s campaign has raised a record $3.37 million. Six co-chairs - Cordelia Boone, Susan Farris, Judy Hinson, Jamie Moore, Connie O’Neill and Lisa Reid – led the campaign, which benefits the Highland Park Independent School District. Money raised will help to pay for teachers’ salaries, much-needed technology, and other needs at the campus and district levels.

When the campaign kicked off in October, the co-chairs set the ambitious goal of building on the past success of Mad for Plaid and to break the previous record of $3 million raised last year. The co-chairs attributed this year’s outstanding results to incredible teamwork.

“We are not only grateful to our donors, but also to our 350 volunteers who contributed their valuable time and effort toward making this year’s campaign such a tremendous success,” Hinson said. “Each year our number of volunteers has continued to grow. Many of the volunteers have been with us since the very beginning of this effort.”

Her sentiments were echoed by her fellow co-chairs.

“We are so very grateful to all of our donors,” O’Neill said. “The success achieved by the campaign this year is the result of the support of the entire community – parents, grandparents, residents and alumni who want to ensure that HPISD can maintain the excellence in education that is delivered to our students each and every day.”

“The entire community has a vested interest in our schools ... both parents and non-parents understand the high quality of our schools benefits us all,” Farris said. “The Mad for Plaid signs that line the streets display both support and pride in our community.”

HPISD Superintendent Dr. Cathy Bryce expressed thanks on behalf of the school district.

“I am thrilled with the response of our community and their incredible support for the Mad for Plaid campaign. There is no doubt that the funds make a tremendous difference for our students and teachers,” Bryce said. “This community never ceases to amaze me with its generous philanthropic spirit. We simply could not have school as we have it in HPISD without the support of private gifting.”

The conclusion of this campaign marks the end of the fifth year of Mad for Plaid as the combined fundraising effort of the Highland Park Education Foundation and the HPISD PTAs. This campaign provides the opportunity for the community to maintain and build upon the level of educational excellence that has become a standard for the Highland Park Schools. 100 percent of every dollar raised remains in the district and benefits each child in every classroom in HPISD.

Source: Highland Park ISD

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