The Avon Education Foundation (AEF) recently welcomed new Executive Director Darci Borcherding, and she’s hit the ground running with fundraising events and new ideas to support Avon Community School Corporation teachers and staff.
The idea of working with the community, finding solutions and supporting educators interested Borcherding.
“I have a background in fundraising both personally and professionally,” she said. “I moved to Avon from Iowa five years ago and when this opportunity came up, I was really excited to work in Avon schools. I have children here and it seemed like the perfect fit.”
Her mother and grandmother were teachers, and Borcherding said she knows they would have appreciated some of the established programs and grants available through AEF that they didn’t have the opportunity to pursue.
In addition to some popular annual events and programs, Borcherding hopes to expand the programs and add new opportunities as well.
“I have so many ideas of fun things we could do to raise funds, and I want to get the students involved,” Borcherding said. “There are so many things we can do to impact the area and the school system.”
This summer, Supply It Forward will return for students on the free and reduced lunch program. They’ll receive school supplies and other resources at no cost. The gymnasium is set up like a store environment and students are able to “shop” for book bags, notebooks, pencils and other supplies on their list.
There will be music, resource booths and other opportunities throughout the day.
“Last year we served a little over 1,000 kids,” Borcherding said. “Nearly 50% of our students in the Avon School Corporation is on the free and reduced lunch program, so there’s a big need out there. In addition to school supplies, we also have hygiene products and vaccinations if needed. I hope to continue to grow that program in the future.”
They also offer the Supply Our Schools store throughout the school year. Teachers can submit orders for supplies from dry-erase markers to hanging file folders. Students from the work-study program come in four days per week, pull the orders and then deliver the items on Fridays.
“This is at no cost to the teachers and it’s been a big blessing to them,” Borcherding said. “Businesses with supplies they don’t need anymore donate to us. Others donate when they catch a sale at the store. It saves a lot of money for our teachers, and you wouldn’t believe how many glue sticks and dry-erase markers they go through each year.”
AEF finds ways to support their teachers through the Honor an Educator program. Families can purchase a sign, write a special message on the back, and the signs are displayed at the entrance to the school in appreciation for teachers and staff in the building.
Teachers also have options to apply for grants for their classroom.
“Helping Hands Grants are up to $500,” Borcherding said. “Teachers can apply for something they need in the classroom. We surprise them during class and that’s always a lot of fun. It’s always something teachers might not be able to buy otherwise. For example, we just awarded a grant to one teacher to get duck eggs and watch them hatch in the classroom. The kids were extremely excited to have this opportunity and we’ve seen teachers jump up and down when they get the grant.”
Other grants supported science magazine subscriptions, outdoor toys for the preschool program, and supplies for a clay art program, to name a few.
Borcherding said walking into work every day sparks a new idea or a new dream of a future program.
“I’m a big dreamer and I love thinking about solutions to a problem,” she said. “Right now I’ve been working on something that allows our students to take their computers home. It’s things like that. Sixteen percent of our students are multilingual. What kinds of programs could we do to help those children?”
She’s also looking at additional ways to continue helping students in need.
“I’ve thought about a type of mental health event,” she said. “That can be difficult due to privacy issues, but nearly every day, something comes up that I think, ‘I can help here.’”
Their largest fundraiser each year is the Monte Carlo event in the spring. While they skipped the event in 2024, it will return in 2025. They also host an annual Broadway Kids Camp.
According to Borcherding, the events often highlight the great work the AEF board of directors puts forth.
“We have an unbelievable board who works on this,” she said. “They’ve literally taken care of 99% of the Monte Carlo event and we sold out again this year. None of these things could happen without our board. They make everything possible, and in the past three months they’ve been such a blessing to me.”
Borcherding has been amazed by the board, but also by the community. One of her tasks as executive director is to create partnerships and relationships with local businesses, community leaders and individual supporters.
“I have been amazed at the different businesses sponsoring, how interested they are in being involved, and how great it’s been to meet different people in the community,” Borcherding said. “They are always positive and always have something great to say about AEF. None of this could happen without our sponsors.”
“We really appreciate all the support we receive,” Borcherding said. “I don’t think people realize how much teachers spend out of their own pockets to get their classrooms going and it’s just amazing to see all the neat things they are doing. I had the opportunity to see the robotics team prepare for the state competition. When you see all the opportunities our students have and just how smart they all are – I’m just amazed.”
For those who want to support AEF and teachers at Avon Community School Corporation, they can always reach out to Borcherding.
Donations are accepted at avoneducationfoundation.org. If anyone is interested in sponsorships, supplying donations or volunteering for an event, email aef@avon-schools.org.
