Adna Community Supports Students Through Tributes to Loved Ones

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Adna is a small community with a rich and long history. “We’re a small community and don’t have the financial resources of larger areas. We have to do this for our kids or they may not have any other resources,” explains Charlotte Frank, Treasurer of the Adna Scholarship Foundation (ASF). “You’ve heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a village to raise money. How else are we going to help our kids?”

Moerke and SonsFrank is talking about the Adna Scholarship Foundation. There are many community members supporting the foundation and I sat down with three of the ASF Board Members to find out what makes the scholarship program, and annual fundraising auction, so important to them. The common themes were honoring loved ones, and responsibility.

Bob McCormick’s children attended the Adna school system. After graduation, his daughter received an alumni scholarship for two consecutive years. He then felt a moral obligation to repay his daughter’s “debt” and began helping with the foundation. Now in his sixth year of service, he also created a scholarship for electrical engineering since he had worked as a lineman.

McCormick’s main contribution to the scholarship auction is his relationships with local business owners. “He knows everybody,” laughs Frank. McCormick tells how the first year he talked to about 12 different businesses and most of them donated. The next year it was 24. Last year he convinced 53 business to donating. “People have been absolutely great,” he marvels.

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Bob McCormick, Jim Stafford and Charlotte Frank are very dedicated to helping the students in the Adna community.

Frank’s children also went to school in Adna. Then tragically Frank lost her daughter, Cathy (an Adna High School graduate), in 1988. A friend of the Frank family made a donation to the scholarship fund in her daughter’s name and that got Frank and her husband thinking about how they can help other kids. They set up an annual memorial scholarship in Cathy’s name. Frank’s main contribution to ASF is her organization skills, and serving as treasurer of the organization.

Jim Stafford comes from a long family history in the Adna area. His family has been there for over 100 years so Stafford and his children also completed their education at the Adna school system. Sadly, Stafford also lost his son, Chris (also an AHS Graduate) leading Stafford to create a memorial scholarship in his son’s honor. Stafford’s main contribution to the yearly auction is his historical perspective of the Adna community, as well as his famous, and highly prized, bronze statues. “It’s the best feeling in the world to be able to contribute, knowing that you’re helping a little bit. Our kids are our future resource and we need to help them,” explains Stafford.

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Jim Stafford’s bronze statues area always a big hit at the auction. Photo courtesy: Adna Scholarship Foundation.

The group laughs as they remember the beginnings of the auction in the 1980s. It was started by Adna High School Principal, John Green after he contacted Dollars for Scholars (DFS) who provided support and ideas. “We didn’t have to reinvent the wheel,” explains Frank. Recently, the foundation has separated from DFS, and moved forward on their own. The first dinner had about 30 attendees and was held at Kit Carson restaurant. “We had primroses for door prizes,” laughs Frank. Then word got out and the auction grew.

Now there are about 30 memorial scholarships. Family, friends, and neighbors contribute to the funds. One scholarship is funded completely by staff from the Adna School District through monthly contributions. Other than private donations, the yearly auction is the only fundraiser. Scholarships can be used for college, university or trade school. Last year the Adna Scholarship Foundation gave out 54 awards to graduating seniors, and eight scholarships to AHS alumni.

When asked if they ever know what happens to the kids after they receive the scholarships, the trio says they are lucky. “Most of them still have family around so we hear what’s going on.” McCormick also tells about one of his scholarships going to a boy that wanted to learn how to be a lineman. After he was finished, he stopped by to tell McCormick what a great time he had and his future career. “I tell kids, just do something meaningful,” McCormick comments. He continues, “We have students all over the country. They have three years to use the funds, so if they can’t go right away, the money will wait.

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Adna PTO had fun creating this gift basket for the 2015 auction. Photo courtesy: Adna Scholarship Foundation.

Stafford says the auction is always a great social time. “But we are running short-handed,” explains Frank. “We can always use more worker bees.”

Frank, Stafford and McCormick all nod in agreement as they declare, “It’s just a great program.”

The Adna Scholarship Foundation Auction will be held this year on Saturday, March 19 at the Adna High School. Tickets go on sale at the high school on February 1. Cost is $25 which includes dinner. If you would like to help, either by donating auction items or serving as a “worker bee,” contact LeeAnn Parker, ASF President at 360-748-0362 or parkerl@adnaschools.org.

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