Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation and Moorhead Area Education Foundation are joining forces in supporting Moorhead’s schools and students. In July 2019, each board of directors voted unanimously to merge as one entity, called Moorhead Legacy Education Foundation. 

MAEF has primarily provided graduating seniors with scholarships and teachers with grants through funding from endowed funds. MSLF has been providing teacher grants within Moorhead Schools and holding fundraising events to pay for snack/milk breaks for current elementary students in the district. Together, the newly merged board of directors aims to address the needs of students in grades K-12 and beyond, while also supporting the staff and facilities of Moorhead Area Public Schools.

MAEF President Lisa Staiger said, “Together we can do more for the students and teachers of Moorhead Public Schools. Our goals are bigger, and we believe our reach will be higher now that we have merged to form Moorhead Legacy Education Foundation.”

The announcement of the merger was made at the Moorhead Schools all-staff assembly on Aug. 26. The merged foundation’s first joint event will be the SpudTacular Gala, with entertainment by Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome, on Oct. 5. Tickets and sponsored tables are available for purchase at www.MoorheadLegacy.org.

Photo: Lisa Staiger, Janelle Leiseth and Rob Bye announce the merger of the two education foundations to the assembly of Moorhead Area Public Schools employees on Aug. 26. The new Moorhead Legacy Education Foundation board will have 12 members under the executive leadership of Janelle Leiseth, Chair; Lisa Staiger, Vice Chair; Heidi Gregoire, Secretary; and Pete Larson, Treasurer.

With help from donors, Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation wants students in Moorhead Area Public Schools to receive milk and snack break, even if their families are struggling to make ends meet. On Feb. 14, the Legacy Foundation will be part of Giving Hearts Day 2019, and contributions to the foundation’s Food for Thought campaign will fund this effort.

Donations made on Giving Hearts Day, which is co-hosted by Dakota Medical Foundation, Impact Foundation and Alex Stern Family Foundation, will be matched, furthering the impact. Learn more at www.givingheartsday.org.

Currently more than 900 of the 2,600 K-4 elementary students in Moorhead Area Public Schools are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but this program doesn’t cover the cost for elementary milk and snack break or fill the gaps when families’ financial situations change. For some students daily snack break is one of their meals.

In 2017, Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation’s Giving Hearts Day ​Food for Thought ​campaign raised funds to support 200 students, providing them with milk and snack so they could learn and focus in the classroom. In 2018, more than 180 donors raised $13,900 for the Legacy Foundation’s Food for Thought campaign to provide students in need in Moorhead Area Public Schools with milk/snack.

This year the Legacy Foundation wants more students to be able to focus and learn better in the classroom by providing funds to the schools to support milk, snack and critical needs. Donations may be made at www.givingheartsday.org on Feb. 14 or scheduled in advance.
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Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization focused on funding the needs of current and future students in Moorhead Area Public Schools and creating an endowment to support the schools in the future. Learn more at www.moorheadlegacy.org.

The Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation was awarded a prestigious $10,000 Alex Stern Family Foundation grant last month to support the foundation’s Food For Thought campaign, which provides milk and snack to students in need.
 
For the past two years, the Alex Stern Family Foundation provided grants giving much-needed operational funds for the Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation. The grant funds allowed the Legacy Foundation to continue its work of making an impact in the Moorhead Schools community by enhancing the school district’s programs and facilities and creating an endowment for the future.
 
In 2018, more than 180 donors raised $13,900 for the Legacy Foundation’s Food For Thought campaign to provide students in need in Moorhead Area Public Schools with milk/snack and meals. In 2017, donors from the community made it possible for the Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation to donate more than $9,500 to Moorhead Area Public Schools food and nutrition services to support elementary milk and snack break at the district’s elementary schools.
 
The Legacy Foundation held its second annual SpudTacular Gala in September 2018, and this fall awarded $5,000 in Spud Student Impact grants to teachers in the Moorhead Schools. The foundation is preparing for its third Giving Hearts Day in February 2019 in support of its Food For Thought campaign to support milk, snack and meals for students in need.

The Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation is hosting its second annual SpudTacular Gala from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Courtyard by Marriott, 1080 28th Ave. S., Moorhead, to support the educational experience of all students in Moorhead Area Public Schools.

Enjoy cocktails followed by dinner and dancing to Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome, voted one of the best live acts in Fargo-Moorhead.

Join the Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation to celebrate everything SpudTacular at Moorhead Area Public Schools. In addition to music from Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome, gala goers will enjoy featured performances from the cast of “Newsies,” Moorhead High School’s 2018 fall musical, and selections from Moorhead High School’s Apollo Strings.

Attendees also will have the opportunity to bid on items, including a Carson Wentz autographed framed print, art item from local artist Sue Boyd, a private dinner party, custom “SpudTacular” themed items, and much more.

The gala is made possible by gold sponsors Muscatell Automotive Group, Gehrtz Construction, Zerr Berg Architects, and other sponsors including Fargo Linoleum, American Crystal Sugar, Heyer Engineering, Sanford Health, Sundog/Brent and Jodell Teiken, Blackridge Bank, Dakota Medical Foundation, Bremer Bank/Bremer Insurance, Northwest Blinds, Glacier Snow, Bell Bank, Eide Bailly LLP, Scheel’s, Vogel Law Firm/Corey and Brenda Elmer, Bert’s Truck Equipment, Remax Realty and more.

Donations will help support the educational experience of all students in Moorhead Area Public Schools. Help us empower students to shine and impact tomorrow, today.

​Tickets: Purchase tickets online at http://www.moorheadlegacy.org; limited number of tickets available. For information, contact Deb Becker at 218-284-3371.
Date & Time: Saturday, September 29, 2018
6-7 p.m. Cocktails/Auction
7 p.m.-midnight Dinner/Program/Entertainment
Master of Ceremonies: Kevin Wallevand
Entertainment: Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome

The Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation granted its first round of eight $500 Spud Student Impact Grants last fall to teachers in Moorhead Area Public Schools. The foundation is currently accepting application from Moorhead Area Public Schools educators for the second round of grants to be awarded this fall.
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The grants funded several hands-on, innovative opportunities and impacted student learning during the 2017-18 school year. Read about the 2017-18 grants. ​

As part of its mission to help children in the community, the MOMS Club of Fargo/Moorhead donated $250 to the Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation’s Food for Thought program on June 22. Club members Crystal Rayamajhi, Alecia Hultgren and Megan Green presented the check to Lisa Borgen, chair of the Legacy Foundation.
 
The Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation supports students in Moorhead Area Public Schools and is creating an endowment to support the schools in the future. The foundation’s programs include Food for Thought, which provides funds for milk and snack for students in need, and Spud Student Impact Grants for educators. 

​With help from donors, Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation wants students in Moorhead Area Public Schools to receive milk and snack break, even if their families are struggling to make ends meet. On Feb. 8, the Legacy Foundation will be part of Giving Hearts Day 2018, and contributions to the foundation’s Food for Thought campaign will fund this effort.
 
Donations made on Giving Hearts Day, which is co-hosted by Dakota Medical Foundation, Impact Foundation and Alex Stern Family Foundation, will be matched, furthering the impact. Learn more at www.givingheartsday.org.
 
Currently more than 900 of the 2,600 K-4 elementary students in Moorhead Area Public Schools are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but this program doesn’t cover the cost for elementary milk and snack break or fill the gaps when families’ financial situations change. For some students daily snack break is one of their meals.
 
Last year Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation’s Giving Hearts Day 2017 ​Food for Thought ​campaign raised funds to support 200 students, providing them with milk and snack so they could learn and focus in the classroom. This year the Legacy Foundation wants more students to be able to focus and learn better in the classroom by providing funds to the schools to support milk and snack break for all K-4 elementary students on free or reduced-price meals.
 
Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization focused on funding the needs of current and future students in Moorhead Area Public Schools and creating an endowment to support the schools in the future.

Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation is the recipient of $250 through Bell Bank’s Pay It Forward program, which encourages employees to help others in need. Each full-time employee receives $1,000 and part-time employees receive $500 to give to individuals, families or organizations in need. 
 
Bell Bank employee Dean Froslie gave $250 to the Legacy Foundation’s Food for Thought program this week. The Legacy Foundation’s Food for Thought campaign raises funds to support milk and snack break for all elementary students in need. 
More than one-third of students in Moorhead Area Public Schools are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but this program doesn’t cover the cost for elementary milk and snack break. 
 
The foundation’s Giving Hearts Day 2017 campaign raised $9,530 for Food for Thought. The foundation is preparing for its second Giving Hearts Day in February 2018 in support of its Food for Thought campaign.
 
Donate to Food for Thought online.

The Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation was awarded a prestigious $10,000 matching Alex Stern Family Foundation grant this month.
 
For the second year in a row, the Alex Stern Family Foundation grant provides much-needed operational funds for the Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation. The grant funds allow the Legacy Foundation to continue its work of making an impact in the Moorhead Schools community by enhancing the school district’s programs and facilities and creating an endowment for the future.

The matching grant was made possible in part by generous donations from supportive community members and local businesses.
 
The Legacy Foundation held its first-ever SpudTacular Gala in September and awarded eight Spud Student Impact grants to teachers in the Moorhead Schools. The foundation is preparing for its second Giving Hearts Day in February 2018 in support of its Food for Thought campaign to provide milk and snack to students in need.

The past, present and future combined to make Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation’s first-ever SpudTacular Gala a success. Attendees had a glimpse of the past of Moorhead Area Public Schools, heard messages from present Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation board members, and listened to music from future leaders.
 
The Oct. 21 sold-out event featured Brian Cole as honorary chairman/host. He shared stories of the history of Moorhead Area Public Schools. Foundation board members Lisa Borgen and Rob Bye shared comments, and gala goers enjoyed featured performances from the cast of “Aida,” Moorhead High School’s 2017 fall musical, and selections from Moorhead High School’s Apollo Strings.
 
Attendees had the opportunity to bid on items, including a Matt Cullen autographed hockey stick, a Carson Wentz autographed football, and a private dinner party at Mezzaluna, followed by dinner and dancing to Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome.
 
The Legacy Foundation recognized the recipients of the first eight $500 grants awarded to Moorhead Area Public Schools educators. Proceeds from the gala will help the Legacy Foundation support students in the areas of academics, activities, arts and athletics and grow its endowment.
 
The gala was made possible by presenting sponsor Muscatell Automotive Group; gold sponsors Zerr Berg Architects and Gehrtz Construction; silver sponsors Sanford Health, Bell State Bank, Blackridge Bank, Bremer Bank/Bremer Insurance and Eide Bailly LLP; and bronze sponsors American Crystal Sugar, Fargo Linoleum, Vogel Law/Corey and Brenda Elmer, Scheels, Bert’s Truck Equipment, Glacier Snow, Dakota Medical Foundation, Northwest Blinds and more.
 
Next year’s SpudTacular Gala is set for Sept. 29, 2018.