Courtesy photo The Williston Coyote Foundation donated $30,000 to the six schools in Williston Public School District 1 on Thursday. Accepting the donations that are based upon student numbers for their respective schools included, front row, left to right, Duane Noeske, Keith Leintz, Darla Ratzak and Pam Lambert. Back row, left to right, are foundation volunteer director Del Easton, foundation President John Schmitz, Chris Kittleson and Terry Quintus.
Foundation volunteer director Del Easton, who is a former Williston Public School District superintendent, said the foundation is giving another $30,000 to the six schools in the district. This follows the foundation's first donation this year of $30,000 to the district this past February.
"We had so much appreciation from the staff members, including teachers and principals, that we decided to do it again now," Easton said of the second donation that was made Thursday.
The money is distributed among the six schools on a per student basis, he said. The funds are given to the district with no strings attached.
"There was no application form to fill out. The only thing that we ask is it has to be used for the education of the students," he said. The foundation exists to raise money from alumni and friends of the school district to give scholarships to students and grants to the schools, Easton said.
"Our motto is 'Helping teachers teach and helping students learn.' So this money needs to do that," he said.
Despite the struggling global economy, Easton said the foundation had a pretty good year in attracting gifts.
"We have a newsletter that goes out once a year. That goes out around Thanksgiving time," Easton said of some of the fundraising effort that is done.
"The reason that we send it out in the middle of November is because people are starting to think about taxes," he added. "We are a 501c3 (nonprofit) so that always helps."
He said the printed newsletter always brings out the loyal Williston High School graduates who send gifts to the foundation. Easton also has upward of 700 e-mail addresses of alums and friends of the district that he uses to send out an e-mail newsletter about once a week during the school year. The annual printed newsletter, however, is distributed to 9,000 people.
This past May, Easton said the foundation distributed $24,000 in scholarships to graduating WHS seniors. He also has arranged for Williston State College to match any scholarship given by the foundation for those students who choose to attend WSC.
This is the first year for this program with WSC, Easton said. It evolved after visiting with WSC vice-president for College Advancement Terry Olson.
"Terry said they are going to do this every year," Easton said of the new WSC matching scholarship program for WHS grads. "This coming spring we will put the word out. Parents who want to save money can apply for a Coyote Foundation scholarship and attend Williston State College I hope."
The Williston Coyote Foundation began in 1987 when Chuck Johnson, a 1943 WHS grad, wanted a vehicle to show his appreciation for the education he received in Williston.
The foundation was incorporated that year and it received its nonprofit status in 1992 after Easton became its volunteer director.
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