GREENFIELD — The impact of Greenfield-Central teachers today and the legacy of educators from the past were celebrated in the Red Letter Gala Saturday.
More than 230 gathered in a formal event hosted by the Greenfield Central School Foundation at the Community Life Center in Indianapolis, according to a press release from the school corporation.
Teachers and administrators mingled with business, nonprofit and government leaders at the gala that celebrated the impact of philanthropy and education on the lives of students in the past, present and future.
The GCSF connects the community to the classroom to support student learning and provide extraordinary experiences to prepare students for success by providing educational grants for teachers to make an impact far beyond what school budgets allow.
“The Greenfield community truly cares about our students and generously gives,” said Ginny Brown, director of the Greenfield Central School Foundation. “Over $300,000 in teacher wishes have been granted these past 10 years. Saturday, $30,000 in wishes were funded.”
The foundation also annually honors those who make a difference in the community. Saturday, Jason Cary, Charlie Hart and Dan Riley each earned awards for their impact on the G-C community. Four new members were also inducted into the GC Alumni Hall of Fame: Rev. Dr. William Nigh, Andy Arland, David Spencer and Claudia Foster Sahm, Ph.D.
“This has been a fantastic evening,” said Judy Swift, president of the foundation board. “They’re all amazing– truly amazing. Sometimes we would have no idea what these people are doing with their lives if we didn’t take the time to honor them.”
The event included videos of children, with teachers explaining the impact of grants made by the foundation from hygiene items at the junior high, to robots in which children learn coding skills in a fun, playful way.
The GCSF began in 1986 as a Set A Good Example Foundation. The Greenfield Central School Foundation is a champion for private giving to G-C schools, recognizing both the need and the opportunity to provide stronger financial support for the school corporation as a whole.
Tax dollars alone cannot fully fund all of the extraordinary experiences students need to succeed. At Saturday’s gala, dozens of teacher wishes were lined up on a board for people to grant, from classroom rugs to sensory boards; cookware to digital cameras. There are still many ways to give through gcschoolfoundation.com/wish-upon-a-star.
Nostalgia took center stage as four alumni were honored at the event. The 2024 GC Alumni Hall of Fame were:
-Andy Arland, class of 1983, whose impact on the pharmaceutical profession included delivering vaccines to long-term care facilities during COVID;
-David Spencer, director of marketing and community engagement for NineStar Connect;
-Claudia Foster Sahm, Ph.D., an economics and consultant whose has advised key decision makers at the Federal Reserve White House and Congress; her Sahm Rule is a closely-followed indicator of recessions;
-And Rev. Dr. William Nigh, who was honored posthumously. As a pastor, Nigh was remembered for his deep care and impact for people impacted by unemployment and the homeless.
All four were honored for their impact on community organizations as well. In their acceptance speeches, several named specific educators who had made an impact on their lives years ago.
In-depth profiles on each of the new members to the GC Hall of Fame can be found at gcschoolfoundation.com/red-letter-gala/.
While the Hall of Fame recognized the impact of the schools in the past, today’s influencers were also honored. Jason Cary, assistant superintendent for the school corporation, received the Robert Albano Award for outstanding leadership, character and service to others. Cary is the former high school principal; the award is named after the founding father of the foundation.
Charlie Hart received the 2024 Friend of the Foundation Award. Hart is a former teacher and currently supports the foundation.
Dan Riley received the Dr. Todd Kaminski Award for community service. The award annually honors an individual for outstanding leadership, volunteerism, character and service.
G-C Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin said the event Saturday was a great reminder of the many outstanding partnerships the school corporation has with the community. The hall of fame induction is a way to show how an education at G-C schools can open the doors to success in a variety of pathways, he said.
“This year’s four inductees have all made a significant impact on our local community, state and nation,” Olin said. “Conversely, the other three awards that were presented are given to individuals who have been incredibly supportive of the school foundation or who have been impactful employees of the school corporation. Any time we can recognize people who are making a big impact on our students and schools, we need to do it. I have had an opportunity to spend time with all of the award recipients who attended the 2024 program, and they are all high character individuals worthy of the recognition they received on Saturday night.”
As attendees mingled at the event, they enjoyed music provided by G-CHS orchestra students. A display showcasing robotics was also available as an example of local financial gifts making an impact on the future of children today.
Heather Toney, an eighth grade teacher, shared about the impact of the Care Closet in her classroom. The space is available for anybody to grab an item they may not have at home – anonymously. Toney shared that she saw a group of Foundation volunteers at a coffee shop this summer, and thanked them for all of their work for the community. Toney said she is grateful for their support and the behind-the-scenes effort the board makes for her students who may not have even the simplest of items at home that make a big difference on their self esteem.
“Sometimes it’s as simple as getting a Band-Aid, but sometimes it’s deodorant– and nobody asks,” Toney said. “Thank you so much for all the work that you do, because it really does matter.”
Videos about the care closet and robotics can be found on the corporation’s website, gcsc.k12.in.us.
