Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
The Hurley School Board receives a $125,000 check from the Hurley Education Foundation on Monday, in support of the new school science lab currently under construction. From left are, board members Jessica Leinon-Novascone, Kathy Saari and Leslie Kolesar, president, HEF President Gary Pelkola, and school board members Andy Laurin and Kathy Levra.
By TOM LAVENTURE
Hurley - The Hurley Education Foundation presented its annual report to the Public School Board on Monday, with plenty of thanks in a celebration of giving and some details on upcoming events.
Gary Pelkola, HEF president, said the HEF worked to collect slightly more than $140,000 in donations during 2020 and 2021, he said. He then presented the $125,000 that was pledged to the school for the new science lab that is currently being constructed with a budget of $175,000.
"It's my understanding that the donations you are making toward the science lab are going to supply all of the equipment and furnishings, which is huge," said Leslie Kolesar, school board president. "Thank you very much."
The foundation was organized in 1999 and has five unpaid board members who devote themselves to fundraising among an alumni network, Pelkola said. The foundation has a list of more than 9,000 school district graduates, with a current active mailing list of over 5,000 alumni and 50 friends and families who are not Hurley graduates.
"The main purpose of the foundation is to raise and disperse funds for the enhancement and enrichment of education for our students of the Hurley School District," Pelkola said. "Our alumni and friends have donated over $2 million to benefit all the students of the Hurley school district to this point."
The HEF recently received its bulk mailing permit from the U.S. Postal Service, he said. This will significantly reduce mailing costs which means more money for the students.
The school administration, volunteer staff and students all help with HEF mailings and event support, he said.
"It's a real community effort and I'm proud to be part of it," Pelkola said.
The HEF is currently planning an open house at the Hurley K-12 School to be held during the Iron County Heritage Festival, to include a complimentary breakfast, school tours, and induction ceremonies for the HEF and Quarterback Club on July 31, he said. The open house will coincide with an all-class reunion when there will be many people traveling to the area to attend the festival along with an annual Quarterback Club golf tournament on July 30.
"We want to get as many of them here (for the open house) to see this beautiful facility and to see where their money is going," Pelkola said.
Other fundraising mechanisms include the annual Labor Day weekend golf tournament, Pelkola said. The Cash for Kids patronage refund check donation program with Midland Services, has also brought in more than $150,000 in donations since 2010.
