The Schools Foundation, Huntsville Utilities partner for public education

HUNTSVILLE – Customers of Huntsville Utilities are likely aware of Project Share, an initiative to help elderly, disabled and handicapped customers pay their utility bills. The program has helped more than 30,000 residents since it began in 1988.

Another enterprise doesn’t share an equally high profile, but is nonetheless an equally worthy cause – Sign Up to Round Up in collaboration with The Schools Foundation (TSF) in support of local public education.

In this program, participants can round up their utility bill to the next highest dollar, and that amount will support local schools. The maximum contribution per year is $12.

“The difference between their actual bill and the rounded-up total is then donated to The Schools Foundation, which in turn uses that money to support teachers and students at Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County schools,” Todd Long, electronic content administrator–external affairs for Huntsville Utilities, told 256 Today.

Huntsville Utilities also supports programs such as Eats 4 Education.

“Huntsville and North Alabama is a world-renowned technology center and economic engine for the Tennessee Valley and the State of Alabama,” Mary Beth Wilson, Foundation board president, said in a statement released during an education forum. “These achievements would not have happened without first-rate K-12 public education.”

Other TSF programs:

• Raise Your Hand – A National Board Certified Teacher is the greatest gift we can give to a student, to a classroom, to our community. Raise Your Hand is a bold initiative to add 500 new National Board Certified Teachers to Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County school systems. National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.

• Principally Speaking Network – PSN is a professional development program for school administrators designed to assist participants in increasing student achievement through more effective leadership practices.
• ReCharge Our Teachers – ReCharge provides tailored content for teachers and staff that focus on the importance of your mental health and overall wellness. Dive deep into engaging videos, informative articles, and curated content to help you navigate life’s challenges.
• Patrons and Players – TSF recently added a new program called Patrons & Players. This program supports the funding of extra-curricular activities such as sports and fine arts for students with financial challenges in Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County schools. We believe that no student should be left on the sideline based on financial need. Extracurricular activities are sometimes the one thing that will keep a child focused on their education.

“As our community continues to see exponential growth, please partner with The Schools Foundation and support our efforts to prepare our students for the ever-changing job market,’’ said Jeanne Greer, Foundation executive director. “Your generous donations will assist in the education of our students and future community members.”

For more information or to donate, visit www.theschoolsfoundation.org or www.hsvutil.org.