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Eanes Education Foundation gala set for Feb. 27
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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Plans are in full swing for the 2010 Eanes City Limits Gala, the annual spring fling to benefit the Eanes Education Foundation. The gala returns to the Austin Renaissance Hotel on Feb. 27 from 6:30 p.m. until midnight for a night of dinner, dancing, live music, live auction and fun with friends and neighbors.
“This is an exciting time for us,” EEF executive director Wally Moore said.
Moore attended his first EEF gala in 2000 in the Shriner building. Asleep at the Wheel headlined.
“We want people to come and have fun with their neighbors every year,” he said. “It’s a great community builder, and it brings in a fourth to a third of our annual funding.”
This year, EEF hopes to fund 20 teacher positions for the school district at a price tag of about $1 million. Property-wealthy school districts in Texas have come to depend on foundations like EEF to make up for the shortfall of funds they receive from the state. Donations to EEF passed on to the Eanes school district are not subject to state recapture laws, something that takes more than half the district’s tax dollars each year and sends the money to other school districts with poorer population bases.
EEF runs an annual giving campaign each fall, asking parents to donate to the organization without the auspice of a special event. Despite the downturn in the local economy and the disastrous recent impact on many local nonprofit organizations, EEF has remained strong in 2009 and 2010. The organization has already raised more than $700,000 for the Eanes district next year.
Moore said the organization has something unique that keeps it healthy – motivated parents. A large portion of EEF donors are parents with children in Eanes schools. Other supporters include businesses that depend on family customers and district alumni sup-port.
“We all make our charitable donations for different reasons,” Moore said. “But people always want to preserve their children’s schools until the very end. It is so heartening to us, and we acknowledge that we are very lucky. These are very committed parents with the desire and the ability to support their schools.”
EEF has been able to sustain a moderate growth in its membership base, something other nonprofits around the country would be happy to be able to boast. Last year, EEF said it wanted to broaden its membership among district parents, and it did that. In 2009, roughly 25 percent of district families contributed to EEF. This year, that percentage has risen to 35 percent.
But that doesn’t mean Moore or others at EEF can sit back on their laurels and wait for the money to roll in. Even in Eanes, getting people to give to schools takes some gentle reminding in these hard times. Headed into a probable bond election in 2010, many voters are wary.
“We want to people to understand how important their donations are to this community of excellence,” he said. “We want to continue to build and strengthen that community through giving. Gifts to the foundation help to build financial flexibility for each district principal. It allows them to staff their school and to reach their full potential. It fills in the gaps.”
Moore said the benefits of community go far beyond growing great schools and successful students. The reputation of the schools keeps property values strong, even during the recession. And the community attracts others looking for a healthy family lifestyle.
“We form a kind of a three-legged stool,” Moore said. “The community, the schools and EEF. There is a lot of trust based on history out here.”
The 2010 EEF Austin City Limits Gala is presented by Heritage Title Company of Austin and Treaty Oak Bank and features music by two local bands, High on Hotdogs and The Loose Wheels and a third band, Kopy Kats.
Auction items, which are still coming in, feature vacation time in Cabo San Lucas, a guitar signed by the Eagles and diamond earrings from All About Diamonds.
Individual tickets to the gala are $150. Table purchases range from $1,750 to $7,500. To view auction items, purchase tickets or tables or to find out more about the event, visit eaneseducationfoundation.org or call 732-9065.
“”It’s the best party in Westlake,” Moore said. “Don’t miss it.”
Moore said. “The community, the schools and EEF. There is a lot of trust based on history out here.”
There is a lot of mistrust based on history out here as well.
I’d love to be able to attend this event and not be perceived in the community as not doing our part, but this economy is really sending the message home to us. Property taxes are so high (ours are equal to a private college tuition!) and income has been flat for so long, and employment is uncertain. Even modest vacations are a thing of the past. Inflation is getting ready to hit us hard. I wrote a check to EEF and that is all I can do. I’m sure it was perceived as not enough.
This is exactly why I think it’s completely inappropriate for the schools to be posting the names of families who have and have not given.
Yes, since I am paying private school tuition for my student who was pushed out of Eanes, I’ll pass.
And this district not only posts the names of families who have given, they round up the elementary and middle school kids at lunch and take their photos and post them on the walls for special recognition. Because their parents gave. Because the children of donors are special, you know. And Eanes ISD will use the children to apply pressure to donate. Whatever it takes.
I guess I’m old fashioned by not really get into the politics of it all. When I see a nonprofit group that raises money to help pay for children’s education, thus bettering their quality of life, I tend to give as much as I comfortably can.
Having grown up in Westlake Hills, I learned the value of volunteerism and charity. I focused on the good that it would do for my fellow man. I did not pitch in because I thought that if I didn’t I would be ostracized or looked at unkindly by neighbors, but rather because it was the right thing to do.
If you can’t afford to give $150, give $15. If you can’t afford $15, give your time. If you don’t think it’s a cause very close to your heart, pick one that is. But PLEASE do not berate or insult a group doing good deeds by complaining about what amounts to petty and unremarkable issues. Just be happy it helps raise the level of education in this area and, indirectly, your EISD-zoned property values.
No thanks. I prefer to think rather than follow. And giving to EEF is not necessarily the best way to do good. If your focus is protecting your property value, go for it. But don’t call it noble.
Taylor, you aren’t focused on the “good that it would do for my fellow man”. If your priority is your home’s resale value, that isn’t charitable. And those who have the courage to speak out when the district pressures children in an effort to increase donations are anything but petty. Non-profit groups whether associated with an “education” mission or not are not above scrutiny. Just as school districts should open their books and be accountable so should their foundations (non-profits). Kudos to the volunteers who donate their time and energy to hold government accountable and protect the children of this district. They understand the real value of volunteerism and charity. It goes much further than writing a check and supporting the status quo without question.
Frankly, I was being sarcastic when I mentioned property values. Apparently that didn’t carry over well in text and I apologize. For the record, non-profits have open accounting books. If you would like a copy of their financials, I’m sure they would be more than happy to supply you with detailed lists of all income and expenditures. I’m on two non-profit boards of directors (neither of which are the EEF) and we hide absolutely nothing, whether it be financial or other data.
Special recognition is a normal practice by all non-profits, whether it is the United Way or the EEF. If you’re going to scrutinize an organization for this practice, then complain about every organization that does it. At least find something the organization is truly doing wrong before you openly denounce the particular cause.
Let’s hope that Taylor is correct in her assumption that EEF will be more than happy to open their books to the public for review. Along those lines, this community member is formally asking the EEF board to post pdf copies of all their check registers on the EEF website. I look forward to reviewing the public documents.
Taylor — EEF should recognize the adults who donate (if that floats their boats) … not the little elementary and middle school kids during their school day. That’s just ridiculous. Give the kids kudos for their own accomplishments rather than their parent’s choice to donate to EEF or not.
Taylor, I am aware that other nonprofits are very transparent. If there’s nothing to hide, then nonprofit agencies are generally happy to open their books to the public.
If you can obtain the EEF “detailed lists of income and expenditures” as you say (every penny, every detail), please scan and post them here on the Picayune.
I’ll take your word for it when you say that you were being sarcastic about the property value issue. However, there are plenty of people in this community who regularly cite “property value” as a reason to go along and get along … and they do so at the expense of children. Real estate agents, for example, are always at the top of the public school RAH RAH lists.
I agree with an earlier comment in this thread … pressuring young school children as a strategy to convince parents to donate is just wrong. (See comments above.) And if you want to learn more about the opinions of those in the community who believe that EEF is enabling Eanes ISD as as the district continues to prioritize wants over needs … read this link:
http://westlakepicayune.com/2009/10/12/eef-steps-up-effort-to-help-eanes-school-district-staff/“
I’ll bet EEF expenses are sky-high. It’s important to know specifically how this organization is spending the donations before we open our checkbooks.