By Dane Anderson, Staff Writer
The Eanes Education Foundation estimates it will award an $800,000 grant to the Eanes school district for the 2009-10 school year. EEF president Paul Trahan announced the grant during an April 29 school board meeting, stating the grant would cover 16 teaching positions.
Trahan also announced the foundation’s new executive director, Westbank resident Wally Moore.
The annual EEF grant to the school district was down from 855,000 in the 2007-08 school year and $725,000 in the 2006-07 school year.
“Like last year, the economy blew a stiff headwind into our efforts this year,” Trahan said. “Howev er, the community has proven to be an even stronger tailwind, propelling us forward to success. We thank the community for the tremendous support that has made this grant possible.”
This year, EEF brought in corporate support that kick-started the foundation’s Annual Giving Campaign with a combined donation of $60,000. The campaign was underwritten by Independence Title Company and included support from Broaddus and Associates; the Endeavor Real Estate Group; High-Tech Carpets; Randy Kunik Orthodontics; O’Keefe, Egan, Peterman and Enders, LLP; Slack & Davis, Westbank Dry Cleaning; and the Todd Organization.
EEF raised $636,000 during the most recent Annual Giving Campaign. The foundation’s other primary fundraising event, the Gala, raised $295,000 for 2009-10 district funding. Any additional donations made before the August grant will be used to increase the final grant total.
“The (funding) estimate is crucial to our early efforts to budget for the 2009-2010 school year,” said Nola Wellman, Eanes school district superintendent. “Every dollar of the teacher grant directly supports teacher positions in the district.”
New EEF executive director Moore has been an active member of the Eanes school district community for many years and has two children in district schools.
“Moore brings many important qualities to the position, including extensive experience with the foundation and the Eanes school district, deep roots in the Eanes community and an impeccable background in the business and nonprofit worlds,” Trahan said. “Wally has been a key driver of EEF strategy in his six years of service on the board. As we searched for our new executive director, it simply became clear that the best choice by far, was already among us.
Moore served as the 2005-2006 EEF president and is credited with launching the first organized campus-focused giving campaign. Moore recently has been helping the nonprofit organization develop its first five-year plan.
Prior to temporarily retiring to serve as a full-time father, Moore spent seven years with KLRU TV. His final position at the public broadcasting station was vice president of development.
“EEF has had great success over the past several years in growing community support for the Eanes school district,” Moore said. “I am thrilled to take on the challenges of the executive director position and am grateful for the trust that the board has placed in me. We have much to do, and we are already moving forward with next year’s plans.”
One new idea for funding for EEF came from an unusual source this year – Westlake High School students. Students enrolled in the teen teaching course held a benefit concert, Jamfest, on April 26 at the Belmont. The event, underwritten and co-organized by Dr. Randy Kunik, added $3,500 to the EEF coffer.
“This year our teen teaching motto is to “do hard things” and, by putting together this benefit concert, we are coming together as a team to accomplish something great that will help the community,” said WHS student Yen-Linh Tran. “We picked a music festival because it is something that everyone can participate in, no matter what age, because we want to involve the elementary schools as well as the high school.”