Date: December 12th 2007

The Education Foundation board of directors would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The board would also like to thank all of our donors who have generously given to the foundation for the benefit of teachers and students in Mansfield ISD. Thank you to the teachers who have spent their days, nights and weekends writing their grant proposals. We applaud the dedication you have to your profession and your dedication to the students that you educate every day.

**NEW** – November Grant Awards Video
Come along and join the fun and excitement of awarding grant funds to teachers and students. Community members, donors and foundation board members deliver those big checks to many MISD campuses. Watch highlights from the November 2007 Fall Round of grant awards. To watch the video please visit the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation website.

**NEW** - More Donors See Benefits of Giving Securities Over Cash
More donors are choosing to give charitable gifts in the form of securities — such as stock, mutual funds, and other investments — instead of cash, reports The Wall Street Journal. The current strong stock market and the benefits of efficiency and tax savings for the donor and the recipient charity seem to be driving this trend, the newspaper says. Visit the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation website for the complete article.

Foundation 2nd Round Grant Application Deadline
Signed applications are due to Linda Bacsik, Director of Foundation & Grant Development, at the MISD Administration office no later than Tuesday Jan. 22 by 4:30pm.

REMEMBER - If you are applying for a grant with technology equipment you must have your TTCC certification or be signed up for an upcoming class. Please send your grants to Ray Jaksa for approval.

Reminder - MISD Education Foundation NEW 2008 Marketing Video!
Produced by Allen J. Oliver Productions in Association with the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation. Annual Drive Chairman, Mark Matula and Foundation Board Member, Tamara Hilliard hosts the 2008 Mansfield ISD Education Foundation Annual Drive Celebration, see new and innovative teaching grants in action. Also, special guest appearances by Superintendent Vernon Newsom and a host of grant recipients. For behind the scenes photos and to watch the video please visit the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation website.

Reminder - Video Library Update – New Grants in Action!
Please visit the video library section of the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation website and see new innovative teaching grants in action. Including:
· Cowboys Count with Winning Numbers
· Explore!! (Improving Science Skills through Hands-On Laboratory Experiments)
· More Summit High School Fish Fest
· Outdoor Learning Center - National Semiconductor Math & Science Grant
· Welcome to Glass Class
· Lights Fantastic – Summit High School
Produced by Allen J. Oliver Productions in Association with the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation.

The Harlem Ambassadors
Coming February 7, 2008 to Legacy High School - The Harlem Ambassadors vs. the Mansfield All-Stars benefiting the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation at Legacy High School, Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Come see the Harlem Ambassadors Show with guest appearances by Deion Sanders, Spud Webb, Ken Hill (former Texas Ranger), Carlos Francis (Oakland Raiders), Kevin Mathis (Atlanta Falcons), Mike Williams (Former Detroit Piston) and many more. For more information please visit the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation website or call (817) 299-6354.

Planned Giving to the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation!
Want a way to support your community’s teachers and students? Charitable giving to the MISD Education Foundation is a great way to help Mansfield ISD retain excellent teachers and develop well-educated students. What if something happens to you? Would you want to leave anything to any charitable organization? The Mansfield ISD Education Foundation could be your charity of choice. Gift planning can help you make charitable gifts from your estate while receiving financial benefits for yourself. You can do this either through a charitable remainder trust, charitable lead trust, or gift annuity. To learn more please visit the "How You Can Help" section on Mansfield ISD Education Foundation website.

Have a question about the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation?
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions and about our programs as well as information on becoming a volunteer or a foundation board member. Links throughout the answers to your questions will guide you to further information on our website. To learn more please visit us at www.mansfieldisdfoundation.org

If you are a Mansfield ISD Education Foundation grant winner and have fully implemented your grant idea please let us know. We want to feature your grant on the website complete with a detailed description of your grant, photo gallery and chance to be featured in the foundation annual marketing video. Please send us photos in the jpeg format and a word document explaining your grant.

Please encourage anyone in the district and the community to become a subscriber of the MISD Education Foundation's newsletter and they will receive foundation news relevant to their needs.

Allen J. Oliver is the media coordinator to Foundation Director, Linda Bacsik. All foundation video material is produced by Allen J. Oliver Productions, since 1998.

Please let us know you stopped by and don't forget to save us in your favorites. Visit the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation Website at: www.mansfieldisdfoundation.org

Stay tuned to the news and announcement ticker at the top of our homepage for all the latest information happening with the Mansfield ISD Education Foundation.