June 2011 President’s Message
The Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation (MRTF) is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) charitable corporation devoted to raising funds to carry out certain charitable, educational, scientific, and literary purposes of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Public School Personnel (MRTA).
Since being approved by the MRTA Board of Directors, the Internal Revenue Service and the Missouri Department of Revenue, the Foundation has had as its motto, “Honoring the past and giving to the future.”
As a very young Foundation, established in 2001, partnering with the MRTA we embarked on a major building campaign to provide a permanent office building and public classroom for the Foundation and MRTA. Since ribbon cutting and open house, the Foundation has provided meeting space in its Classroom Center and Board Room for educational organizations and associations, not-for-profit organizations, businesses, and the committees of MRTA. During 2010, more than 1,000 persons attended meetings, classes, or training in the MRTF Classroom Center and Board Room.
MRTF’s priority continues to be to seek contributions and organize fundraising campaigns to reduce the mortgage of the new office/classroom. During 2010, as part of MRTA’s 50th birthday celebration, the Foundation had several fundraising campaigns such as the patio brick and wall tile campaign, entryway tile sealed bid campaign, and a very successful Branson raffle which enabled us to add more $136,000 to the $500,000 that we had previously raised, reducing our debt to less than $262,275. Nevertheless, the Foundation continued to have an annual fundraising luncheon for our Scholarship/Grant Program. Because of the most successful scholarship luncheon ever, and generous member and corporate contributions, we were able to award seven MRTF Classroom Grants in 2010 to worthwhile projects across the state.
Since its beginning, the Foundation has been able to give thousands of dollars in classroom grants and scholarships. To date the Foundation has been able to award $56,000 in scholarships to 56 students working toward degrees in the field of Education. During 2010, classroom grants totaling $3,500 were awarded to seven applicants bringing our total of classroom grant awards to $12,000.
The Foundation will continue to concentrate its efforts on paying the office facility mortgage, having fundraising activities and encouraging businesses, corporations, and individuals to make tax deductible contributions to one of the Foundation’s four fund choices: MRTF/MRTA office facility, educator scholarships/classroom grants, MRTF endowment fund and the MRTF general fund.
As President of the Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation, I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to each and every one of you who have made donations to the Foundation since its beginning in 2001. We look forward to a successful 2011.
Jane Fullerton, President
Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation