 The
Oklahoma School for the Deaf Foundation for Excellence
in Education, Inc. (OSDFEE) is looking for good men and
women who want to help enrich the lives of students who
attend the Oklahoma School for the Deaf.
Over 10 years ago, a few OSD staff
members, some deaf adults, and other professionals in
deaf education from around the state started working on
setting up a foundation.
After a few false starts, several
postponements, changes in board
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Since early in 2000,
OSDFEE has awarded:
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Early Childhood
(3)
ECDP Tee Shirt
Amtrak Train Experience
Ride the Boats at Bricktown
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$590.00 |
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Elementary
(15)
Elementary Learning Lab
Accelerated
Reading
Box Rewards
Accelerated
Reading
Rewards
Enhancing Education with Field Trips
Train Ride
Honor Roll Rewards
Reward Trip for Honor Roll
Visit Channel 9 Weather Studio
Way to Go!
Hands On Science Trip to Arbuckle
Wilderness
Honor Roll Reward
How’d They Do That?
Lower Elementary to OKC Zoo
First Grade Fishies
OSD Homerun Kids
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$2,771.26 |
members, and going
through all the redtape and paperwork, the Oklahoma
Foundation for Deaf Children and Youth, Inc. was
established. The first board of directors included
people from across the state and the mission was
statewide.
As time passed, even though their
hearts were with the foundation,
it seemed hard for
people who lived far
away to attend the meetings. The
board changed by having more local people involved.
Early in 2000, the first teacher
grants were awarded. the first postsecondary
scholarships were awarded in the fall of 2001.
During the September 2001 board
meeting, a motion was made and unanimously carried by
the current Board of Trustees to focus only on students
and programs at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf. (As
you can see, the new name reflects that decision.)
Since early 2000, OSDFEE has
awarded:
27
Classroom grants have been awarded to teachers in all
departments as follows:
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Special Needs
(5)
A Trip Back in Time
The Work Room
WOW—Water on Wheels
V-Cam Now Digital Video Camera
Amtrak Experience
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$2,149.70 |
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High School
(10)
High School Video Library
Billy Seago in the Classroom
Embroidery Unlimited
Classroom Video/Book Library
High-Interest
Reading
Accelerated
Reading
Store
No Teacher Left Behind
Jousting Outing
Football/Volleyball Trips
5 Star Dining Experience
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$6,211.26 |
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Classroom Grants Total |
$11,722.22 |
Deaf
Academic Camp
(4 years)
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$6,800.00 |
ArtSign Trip (Spring ’03)
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$2,300.00 |
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GRAND TOTAL GRANTS |
$20,822.22 |
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Scholarships:
9
students, 20 semesters @
$250.00/semester
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$5,000.00 |
(One of the high school grants, "Billy
Seago
in the Classroom," was really school-wide.
Mr.Seago worked with all different ages in each
department of OSD, as well as teaching an all-day
interpreter workshop at ECU in Ada and putting on an
evening performance for the local Deaf community.
OSDFEE wants to continue these gifts
to enrich the educational program with extra activities
that OSD's budget doesn't provide.
"The Foundation will serve as a
partner in Deaf education by providing grants to support
programs and teaching projects for which funds are not
available from federal, state or local sources and by
offering scholarships for OSD graduates' post-secondary
education."
Foundation trustees volunteer their
time and expertise. EVERY CENT given goes to work for
the students at OSD. No money is used for office rent,
paying gas for trustees to travel to the meetings,
buying lunch for the trustees, etc.
OSDFEE is a 5013C organization, so all
donations are tax exempt!
How can you help?
It's simple!
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