By Brigette Rambadt

Executive Director for the Austin Public Education Foundation

Here comes 2016 — a new year and a time for the Austin Public Education Foundation to try new ways to become more visible with in the Austin community. As we work to become more familiar, our mission to be staunch supporters of educational excellence in Austin stays steadfast!

The APEF is a local, grass-roots, non-profit organization dedicated to being a constant and reliable source for grant funding, available for every grade level at every public school in Austin.

Each year Austin’s dedicated teachers and staff design and submit inspiring grant requests to the APE Foundation. These “creative variations on a theme” demonstrate the passion these mentors have for education. These grant funds are built for fueling and inspiring student success through programs, artist in residencies, new technology and tools, sports training devices and supplies for the root essentials of reading, writing, math, art and music.

The Austin Public Education Foundation is a direct line from the community to educational excellence. Our vision is to play a fundamental part in creating an environment that goes beyond sustaining education to one that supports thriving student success.

Thank you to everyone involved to-date in the Austin Public Education Foundations vision. We hope we will connect with more of Austin in 2016, and together find new ways to partner in Austin’s educational success.

Please consider these ways to become a part of our mission:

—When you shop online with Amazon, please use AmazonSmile and choose the Austin Public Education Foundation as the charitable organization you support.

Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the purchase price on eligible products to the APE Foundation for school grants. It’s so easy to do and really adds up. There is a link to AmazonSmile on the APE Foundation website located within the Austin.k12.mn.us webpage, under the “community” tab or visit AmazonSmile and enter our special link: smile.amazon.com/ch/41-1676826.

—Support our work and give anytime online, at givemn.org and enter our address link; www.givemn.org/organization/apefoundation.

—Donate directly to the APE Foundation in any amount or through a “Floor on the Wall” memorial plate at $250 or $500. Give a gift of stock, plan an estate gift or an on-going donation.

—As an ISD No. 492 employee, participate in the “Packers pay it Forward” payroll deduction program.

—Save the Date: July 18, 2016, for the Austin Public Education Foundation’s 19th Annual Packer Classic Golf Tournament — our biggest fundraiser. Please join with us in supporting educational excellence for the over 4,000 students of the Austin Public Schools. Whether as a sponsor, a golfer, a volunteer or with a donation, together we can impact and inspire our youth for the future.

The Austin Public Education Foundation invites you to connect with us and our mission to support educational excellence in Austin Public Schools by phone at 507-460-1938, by mail at P.O. Box 878 Austin, MN 55912, and on the web at Austin.k12.mn.us through the “community” tab.