Bass Pro Shops, Schneider Family recognized at Foundation for SPS Donor Luncheon
At its annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon, the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools celebrated its donors and supporters, while recognizing the outstanding support of two local organizations.
Bass Pro Shops was named the Corporate Partner of the Year award for its decades of ongoing support for the students and programs of Springfield Public Schools. In 1985, the retailer helped bring back to Springfield the Tournament of Champions, one of the nation’s most attended high school basketball tournaments.
In the years since, Bass Pro Shops has continued its support of SPS students with the creation of the Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility, or WOLF School, housed within Bass Pro Shops’ national headquarters in Springfield. The program provides innovative, hands-on learning experiences for 46 Springfield fifth-graders each year, who learn the core fifth-grade curriculum within the lens of conservation.
“Over the years, they’ve also contributed to our Back to School grant program, funding back to school grants for Pipkin Middle School students to experience the great outdoors,” said Natalie Murdock, executive director of the Foundation for SPS. “This allows many of our students to experience the Missouri outdoors in a new way.”
Also recognized at the luncheon was the Schneider Family Foundation, which was awarded the 2018 Advocates for Education award. For two decades, the Schneider Family Foundation has generously supported the International Baccalaureate program at Central High School. This year, its total contributions will reach one million dollars in support of the advanced academic program, which benefits high school students districtwide.
“We’re proud that we’ve been able to support the learning opportunities for exceptional students in Springfield,” said Henry Schneider. “Those opportunities will hopefully give students brighter futures.”
Last year, the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools awarded more than $700,000 to SPS teachers and students, funding innovative field trips, modern learning tools and additional learning supports.