Nonprofit raises $16,000 for SF schools at annual golf outing
At its sixth annual golf outing in late July, the South Fayette Foundation for Excellence raised approximately $16,000 to donate to the South Fayette School District.
The South Fayette Foundation, a nonprofit organization, began in 2008 as a way to assist the school district financially. President Maureen Pedzwater said the amount raised this year is the highest total the organization has ever raised at a golf outing, which was held at the Southpointe Golf Club.
“We want to thank everyone who sponsored and participated,” South Fayette Superintendent Bille Rondinelli said. “It was a nice mix of our teachers, our community members, our retired staff members, our administrators and our foundation members.”
Pedzwater was appreciative of the 11 sponsors of the golf outing.
Since the golf outing began six years ago, Pedzwater said the foundation has donated more than $40,000 to the school district. The money goes towards teacher grants, improvements to curriculum and scholarships for graduating seniors. Also, Rondinelli has proposed to the foundation to consider donating a portion of the money to help pay for technology equipment at the middle school.
Prior to the forming of the South Fayette Foundation, Pedzwater said the school board had a revenue generating committee.
“We started (the committee) in the district because of the tax situation and the fact that we needed to generate other money to be able to provide services to our students, scholarships and for teacher grants,” said Pedzwater.
Out of this idea, she said, is what led her and others to start the South Fayette Foundation in 2008.
“We’re extremely grateful, not only for the South Fayette Foundation for Excellence and all of the board members and people who support it, but also for the passion that Maureen Pedzwater brings to her role in supporting the Foundation,” Rondinelli said.
Pedzwater previously worked as a career coordinator in the high school before retiring in 2013. She still consults for the high school to help students in college and career readiness.
Her desire to help the district even after she’s retired, she said, is due to the “excellence” the school district provides for its students.
“I drank the kelly green Kool-Aid, I guess,” she said.