Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 3, March 2003
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Ingraham seeks public support for much needed improvements
By NIKKI SCHORMANN
Ingraham High School is following in the footsteps of other Seattle public schools.
Regular Seattle School District funds do not cover all of the school's expenses, so like many other schools in the area, Ingraham has formed a foundation to enhance support for the school.
This foundation, which consists of alumni, present and past staff members, and active community members, will raise money for a broad range of programs at Ingraham.
It will be a challenge. In addition to the slow economy, which has made it more difficult for all non-profit groups to raise contributions, Ingraham has the additional disadvantage of lacking the long history of support from multiple generations of alumni as have other older schools.
Compared with Ballard High School, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, Ingraham is practically a new kid on the block, having opened in 1959, with its first graduating class taking place two years later.
Other North End schools, such as Ballard, Nathan Hale and Roosevelt, have already established fund-raising foundations for their schools. Up until this year, Ingraham had never before attempted to reach out to the community for support.
That is all about to change.
Ingraham's needs are fairly broad. Updating its auditorium is one of the school's top concerns, because not only does the school use it, but it is also used extensively by the community. The auditorium needs new sound and lighting equipment, in addition to a new curtain for the stage, which can cost up to $25,000. The curtain has not been replaced once since the school was built.
Ingraham's students also need new band uniforms, music equipment for both the marching and concert bands, and weight room and video equipment.
This is just the beginning of their needs. The school currently has 980 students, but has a projected attendance of over 1,100 next year, which will require even more money.
Richard Lee, coordinator of the newly formed Ingraham High School Foundation, says that the group would like to raise funds to benefit programs that will reach the most students. This will be especially important in upcoming years, with such an increase in school population.
Lee does emphasize, however, that money raised by the foundation is not to replace the financial responsibility of the School District, but simply to enhance what Ingraham has.
Steve Wilson, principal at Ingraham, pointed out that the foundation will not compete with the school's already active Parent Teacher Student Association, which is currently planning a commemorative brick project that will be completed this summer.
The Ingraham High School Foundation is also currently planning several major fundraising events, the first of which will be its first annual "Back to the Future" dinner/auction on May 9.
On Au.g 13, the foundation will hold an Ingraham High School invitational golf tournament at Echo Falls golf course. The funds raised by the tournament will be earmarked for use by Ingraham's athletic programs.
On Sept. 6, the foundation will hold a rededication ceremony of Ingraham High, to display the school's new library and science wing to the public. An "Ingraham Night at the Mariners" is also in the works.
Alumni and community members are needed to support the foundation financially and with their time and participation. "The foundation is a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference for the kids at Ingraham" says Lee.
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For more information about the Ingraham High School Foundation, contact Richard Lee at 391-5555 or rjlee@seattleschools.org.