ROCK SPRINGS – Hundreds of people came out to support the Sweetwater One Public School Foundation but the Kari Access Award fund was the big winner of the evening.
The school foundation supplied wine and hors d’oeuvres as people came to enjoy an evening of wine and conversation. They had the opportunity to taste over 50 different wines while benefitting the students of Sweetwater County School District No. 1.
Over 300 tickets were sold and more than $8,000 was raised for the Kari Access Award. Many, including from the foundation, were amazed at the amount of people who came to the fundraiser.
Executive Assistant Teri Hansen said they didn’t know how many people to be ready for but added they were thankful and amazed at the turnout. She said it is also amazing to see how supportive the community is, especially to the children and the school district.
Kari’s Access Award was the first fund to help students after the foundation was formed. It was created by Larry Fusselman and the Director Shelly Wall. Fusselman wanted a way to honor his daughter whose life was cut short in a vehicle accident.
The fund provides support to students, many who have a disability or financial challenges which stops them from participating outside of school. Say a young student really wants to go out for gymnastics or maybe an ADHD students wants to be in an art class. The Kari Access Award will provide these students with what they need to be part of the experience.
Parents, teachers, even neighbors who might know of a student who fits the criteria can nominate them for the award. All a person has to do is contact the foundation and put in an application.
Every month these applications go to the Kari Access Award Committee. The Committee will approve those applications that fit what the fund was set up to do. After that, the student is participating in a favorite activity they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be a part of before.
The Sweetwater One Foundation is not resting after having such a successful event. They are now preparing for the next one.
Their next event will be the Kick Off Event. Right now it is tentatively set for March but no time, place or date has been finalized. The foundation will award its Stepping Stone Scholarships at this event.
Hansen explained it is an event that will show people where the foundation has been, but will also show residents where they are going.
Keep your eye on SweetwaterNOW as more details for the event become available.
