Sultan Education Foundation continues its focus on the kids

For 22 years, the Sultan Education Foundation (SEF) has been providing scholarships and classroom grants that benefit the students enrolled in the Sultan School District.

Primarily funded through cash donations, employer donation matching and fundraising events that occur throughout the year, the mission of the foundation is to "enhance academic and cultural opportunities for students in the Sultan School District in order to encourage their personal development, scholastic excellence and life skills.GÇ¥

This year's first Battle of the Badges fundraiser, coordinated by community volunteer Elizabeth Emmons, will take place starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 28, at the Sultan High School (13715 310th Ave S.E.) softball fields. All are welcome to attend to watch firefighters from both Sultan and Gold Bar battle it out against law enforcement officers from Snohomish and King counties. All Battle of the Badges law enforcement officers are participating in the tournament on their day off. Firefighters from both Sultan and Gold Bar will remain on call during the event.

The softball tournament is free to attend, with donations to SEF encouraged.

Fund generated through concession sales, T-shirt sales and sponsorships will also go toward supporting the foundation.

Over the years, the foundation has experienced significant progress in relation to achieving a secure investment portfolio. Currently, SEF assets top out at more than $500,000.

"It started in 1993,GÇ¥ said SEF President Debbie Copple. "Basically in that time, we've gone from giving one $300 scholarship every year to administering a total of $28,250 to this year's students.GÇ¥

The $28,250 was divided up between a total of 33 Sultan School District students who received scholarships that ranged from $250 to $1,000.

Foundation board members Laura Koenig, Debbie Copple, Brian Copple, John Seehuus and Ole Carlson believe strongly in the students the foundation was created to support. They each make regular contributions to the organization using their own funds. SEF donations can be used to support classroom grants, scholarships or the foundation's endowment fund, which generates interest to provide for ongoing programming.

"It's not government money. It's our money that we're willing to invest in them because we believe that they're going to be a good investment,GÇ¥ Debbie said. "I think that that has a lot of value.GÇ¥

There are several ways to support the foundation. Foundation board member Carlson advocates for $10 or $20 monthly donations, which can be automatically deducted from the contributor's bank account. Carlson feels that the convenience of an automatic monthly deduction facilitates greater ease of use for the donator, also pointing out that even small monthly contributions add up to significant amounts when you look at the larger picture.

"Twenty dollars a month is $240 a year,GÇ¥ Carlson said. "If you got 10 people doing the same thing, you would match what we used to do in the golf classic.GÇ¥

Formerly the foundation's primary annual fundraiser, this year, the golf classic is being replaced with the Battle of the Badges softball tournament.

Another way to support SEF is through the AmazonSmile program. Through AmazonSmile, Amazon.com will donate .5 percent of the price of a customer's online purchase toward the charitable organization of their choice.

"It's painless, it doesn't cost them anything and we get a percentage of whatever people buy,GÇ¥ Copple said.

Through the SEF Trust for Tomorrow program, supporters are able to pledge their support by designating the SEF as one of the beneficiaries to their estate. Contributors do not need to inform the foundation of the size of the gift, just the fact that they will be making a pledge to support the foundation after they're gone.

"We're more than willing to go out and talk to people who want to talk about estate planning and setting things up for the future,GÇ¥ Copple said. "It makes it easier for their families, it makes it clear what they want and they don't have to tell us anything about the amount of money.GÇ¥

To learn more about the Sultan Education Foundation, or to make a donation, visit sultaneducationfoundation.com. To become a Battle of the Badges tournament sponsor, contact Elizabeth Emmons at elizabeth_ben2003@yahoo.com.-á

To comment on this story, write to editor@monroemonitor.com.-á