Fr.O.G.S. To Date:
Since our first Golf Outing, the informal Fr.O.G.S. Group has raised over $50,000 that has been donated to two funds in the Kent City Schools Treasury.
Gregory Alan Starc Memorial Scholarship Fund:
The first year of the outing, $7,000 was raised and donated to support this fund. The fund was initially opened in 2010 and was funded by monies from friends, family, and memorial donations. This fund is currently fully funded and awards a $1,500 scholarship annually to a Kent graduating Senior.
Kent City Schools Special Education Fund:
All monies raised since 2012 have been donated to this fund. To date the following major purchases have been made:
- $1,500+ for student personal needs (clothing, bus passes, etc.)
- $20,000+ for computer and digital technology to benefit special needs students
- $20,000+ to help fund a transport van for students with disabilities to access community work opportunities
*Money raised between 2010 and 2019 were raised prior to the formal 501C3 designation.
From Kent City Schools
We (with the monies raised by Fr.O.G.S.) were able to team up with our Career Technical Program to purchase a van to use for students with disabilites working and accessing the community. Originally we thought we might use the van occasionally during the week, but due to the COVID pandemic, I drive students with disabilities up to 4 times a day to and from worksites. This van has been essential to programming this year. We have not put the design on the van yet. The above picture is a mock-up of what we intend to have the van look like. We will be putting the Fr.O.G.S. logo on it as well. Every time I drive this van I think of the Fr.O.G.S. efforts, Greg, and how his legacy still helps individuals everyday.
It is great that you are still getting donations during these crazy times. I have a couple of "out of the box" ideas that could possibly use some of this year's funds for that will continue to help students develop employability skills in the community. (ed. - Also being discussed is a “sensory friendly classroom”.)
As I said above, I am very excited where everything is currently headed with Fr.O.G.S. and the direct impact the funds raised has and will have on the lives of students with special needs.
Bryan Harvey, Kent City Schools
Paying it Forward, Going Forward:
As Fr.O.G.S. wraps up its first decade as a loosely knit, informal group, we have begun to make the transition to an official 501(c)(3), formal non-profit group. Please accept this sincere thank you for all that you may have individually done, and collectively what Fr.O.G.S. has accomplished in the past. Here’s to the next decade!!!
"Now here's a hand my trusted friend
Now give a hand o' thine,
We'll raise a glass of kindness, yea,
To Days of Auld Lang Syne!!!"
2020 Check Presentation
In addition to a virtual meeting, the below letter was sent to Debbie Krutz of Kent City Schools:
Dear Debbie,
Thank you so much for taking the time and participating in our Zoom meeting with the Fr.O.G.S. (Friends of Greg Starc) 501(c)(3) Trustees’ meeting this morning. It is exciting for us to now be a formal non-profit corporation in the state of Ohio and for us to have the IRS grant us official 501(c)(3) status. All of the trustees enjoyed meeting with you, albeit virtually, and discussing the role Fr.O.G.S. can play in support of the Special Education Program within the Kent City Schools.
As an informal group for a decade, the Fr.O.G.S. through funds raised by the Fr.O.G.S. Annual Golf Outing has contributed over $50,000 to both the Greg Starc Memorial Scholarship Fund as well as the Fr.O.G.S Technology Fund. Unfortunately, due to the current 2020 Public Health Crisis, we exercised an overabundance of caution and canceled this year’s outing, which would have been our 10th. In light of that, instead we directed our efforts and established the 501(c)(3).
So, as Fr.O.G.S. begins our second decade, and first as a 501(c)(3), we look forward to bigger and better things in continuing to work in supporting what Greg dedicated his life to, Special Education. And even though our outing was canceled, several very generous individuals stepped forward and contributed so that we could still make a donation possible this year. To that end, we are pleased to announce, and enclose a check in the amount of $7,250.00 to the Fr.O.G.S Technology Fund. One of the projects mentioned was the creation of a “Sensory Room” for students with special needs. The Trustees are very excited about this and look forward to its completion.
Stay Safe! Stay Healthy!! Keep the Faith!!!
Sincerely,
Joseph Frank Starc Jr.
President/Treasurer, FR.O.G.S.
For the Fr.O.G.S Trustees
2019 Check Presentation