CONE Foundation - 17 years of philanthropy

The 2013 CONE grant recipients, pictured above with the senior CONE Foundation members, include Group Living, Inc., Lighthouse Ministry, Clark County Humane Society, Pregnancy Resource Center of Southwest Arkansas, Boys and Girls Club of Clark County, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Clark County, Arkadelphia Junior Auxiliary, DeGray Rural Fire Department, Lions Club of Arkadelphia, Pleasant Hill AME Church, Perritt Primary School (YAC Grant Recipient), Central Primary School, Peake Elementary School, Goza Middle School, Project Prom, AHS JROTC, APS Athletic Department, and the Badger Scholar program.

Ross Foundation dedicated to community development, nurturing future leaders

For the 17th consecutive year, students from Arkadelphia High School awarded local, non-profit organizations with grant funding through the philanthropic effort of the CONE Foundation. In 2013, $10,285 of grants were awarded because of the Ross Foundation’s continued support and dedication to bettering the local community, and simultaneously teaching the next generation of community leaders about philanthropy by allowing AHS students in the gifted and talented program to manage the process. Students evaluated grant applications that totaled $26,098 of requested funds and were able to match their available funds to what they deemed as the most worthy and needy causes.

The Ross Foundation matches money raised by the CONE Foundation students 9-to-1, and students raised $1,000 by “CONE’ing” the yards of local businesses and residents. The unique fundraiser worked by inviting community members to donate to the CONE Foundation in order for someone else in the community to have their yard “coned.” The students then scattered an abundance of large, orange, construction cones in that yard with instructions for how to contact a CONE Foundation member to have the cones removed. Upon the students’ return, they asked for a donation from the yard owner, who then sent them on to “cone” another home or business. After their portion of the funds are raised, and the grant applications are reviewed, students determine how to divide the funds and then organize and host an awards banquet to recognize the grant recipients. In the first months of the following year, students conduct site visits to observe how the funds are utilized.

Knit Unto Others on Main St. in Arkadelphia, shown here after being "CONE'd" as part of the student-led fundraiser, was one of many local businesses and residences which supported the grants by donating to the foundation. 

An AHS staff member's vehicle was also targeted by CONE members during the "CONE'ings."

"You got 'CONE'd'!" Instructions for contacting a CONE Foundation member for cone removal as well as a few small tokens of appreciation were attached to one of the cones, which were left on the property of those who were "CONE'd."

Overseeing the CONE Foundation members and AHS gifted and talented program is Kimberly Davis, who said the students involved in the work learn valuable lessons in making challenging financial decisions.

“Ultimately, the students come away with rewarding experience in fundraising, decision making, and grant coordinating while also bettering the local community through the grants awarded. Many, many thanks to the Ross Foundation for making this program possible.”

-Kimberly Davis, AHS GT Coordinator and CONE Foundation sponsor

“The students work hard to raise at least $1,000 during their junior year, which they exceeded last year,” Davis said. “Ultimately, the students come away with rewarding experience in fundraising, decision making, and grant coordinating while also bettering the local community through the grants awarded. Many, many thanks to the Ross Foundation for making this program possible.”

This year’s grant recipients were Group Living, Inc., Jane Lucas; Lighthouse Ministry, Joseph Burt; Clark County Humane Society, Nicole Matocha; Pregnancy Resource Center of Southwest Arkansas, Beverly Hankins; Boys and Girls Club of Clark County, Erik Edington; Court Appointed Special Advocates of Clark County, Carrie Goodman; Arkadelphia Junior Auxiliary, Nicole McGough; DeGray Rural Fire Department, James Tate; Lions Club of Arkadelphia, Mark Overturf; Pleasant Hill AME Church, Edna Ford; Perritt Primary School, Carrie Sharp (YAC Grant Recipient); Perritt Primary School, Elizabeth Morris; Central Primary School, Charlotte Dewitt; Peake Elementary School, Paula Whittle; Goza Middle School, Christy Smith; Goza Middle School, Angela Garner; Goza Middle School, Sarah Moss; Project Prom, Amy Hornsby; AHS JROTC, Michael Sheperd; AHS Athletics, Chris Babb; and Badger Scholar, David Maxwell.

The class of 2014 CONE Foundation members are Braden Archer, Kelsey Kobe, Kaylee Bridge, John Franklin Matros, John Buckner, Cole McAnally, Michelle Carter, Noah McMillion, Chris Clark, Devan Moses, Madeline Cook, Kolton Overturf, Jessica Cornelius, Taylor Parsons, Seth Daniell, Hunter Penfield, Julie Anne French, Jordan Philson, Peytyn Garrett, Cameron Ray, Kiara Gray, Callie Smith, Haley Harvell, Alexa Spinks, Carrie Herron, Spencer Tuggle, Emily Hilton, Austin White, Dalton Huerkamp, Rachel White, Jacob Knight, and Cameron Wilson.


APS News Service
sean.ruggles@arkadelphiaschools.org


For more information about the Ross Foundation and their involvement in community development, visit their website rossfoundation.us.