January 2026 Newsletter
KEEPING UP WITH PEELY Every Student. Every Opportunity to Succeed.
iRun Early Bird Registration Open Through January Early Bird Registration Ends Jan. 31 More on Page 3 LOOKING FOR IRUN SPONSORS! - PAGE 4
Peely’s Odds and Ends Room Shopping Jan. 30th - Open to GAPS Teachers & Staff More on Page 5
Scholarships Open Soon
2026 Scholarship Applications open Feb. 13- March 13 More on Page 6
Also in this Newsletter: Letter from our Executive Director Event Calendar Flexible Seating in Jacque Thwaite’s classroom at North Albany Elementary School Flexible seating such as “tables at various heights, different chair styles, stools, and other resources that allow students to stay active while keeping their minds engaged. Many of them thrive when they can move around, as it helps them focus and opens up space for creative problem-solving.”
“May this year be full of good health, happiness, and unforgettable moments” Thank you all for your generous year-end giving support to the Albany Public Schools Foundation. Your financial contributions play a crucial role in helping us fulfill our mission to support students within our community and provide them with every opportunity to succeed. With your generosity, we are able to support students and teachers in our community. Here is a look back at 2025... With your help, we awarded: $280,800 in scholarships to graduating seniors from our 3 high schools $30,000 in mentor and student grants $102,744 in Classroom Grants $22,000 in Big Impact Grants $70,849 in Enrichment Grants $20,000 to Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention $50,000 for Water Awareness-swim lessons for 3rd and 4th graders $23,335.42 Peely’s Teacher Supply House. Free school and classroom supplies for Greater Albany Public Schools teachers. Looking ahead to 2026, we aim to increase our support for students through scholarships, assist more teachers with grant funding to enhance their classrooms teachings, and provide additional school supplies. With your help, we can achieve these goals. Other ways you can support the Albany Public Schools Foundation iRun for Kids is March 14th. We are currently looking for sponsors for this popular community event. Please contact me if you have any questions and are interested. Also, our registration is open for this event. We offer both 5K and a 10-mile run for more experienced runners. For our younger students, we have the Little Leprechaun Dash. Come out and support the kids! You can register HERE. Early Bird registration ends on January 31st. A great way to kick off the year and those exercise goals! iSwim for Kids is April 25th. This super fun fundraiser is just like the old-fashioned swim-athon. Another event that we are needing sponsors for. Not only for the event, but you can also be a sponsor of a student. Many of our students in our community don’t participate in the event, thinking they need pledges. Your support of a student breaks down that barrier. Both ways to support can be found HERE. As the new year begins, we look forward to helping more students and teachers in our community. We know investing in young people’s lives is the best investment we can make. With your continued support, we can make it a reality. Happy New Year!!
Peggy Burris
Executive Director executive@albanypsf.org 541-979-2773 Ext.1
5K 5K
10 10 MILE MILE
LITTLE LITTLE LEPRECHAUN LEPRECHAUN DASH DASH
Presented By By
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026 West Albany High School Track
Early Bird Registration ENDS Jan 31. Event
K-12 EARLY BIRD Adult Student Adult Price Price Price 12/1 - 1-31 2/1 - 3/12
Little Leprechaun Dash (K-2nd Grade)
$10
5K
$20
$40
$50
10 Mile
$20
$55
$65
Races start 9am
Why Come to iRun? Help a GAPS School win $500! All runners vote for a school – the school with the most votes will win $500!
Fun for all ages and skill levels – Anyone Can Participate! Run/Walk in the 5K, or challenge yourself or others in the 10 Miler!
*NEW* You can now purchase extra T-shirts & sweatshirts when you register online!
*NEW* Sponsor a Student Help low-income GAPS students be able to participate in iRun! With just a $20 donation, you can help cover the cost of one student to be able to participate in iRun. (Donate during registration or on our website)
Kids are welcome Kids in K-2nd grade can run in the Little Leprechaun Dash!
Help support Albany Students! All proceeds benefit the APSF and help support our programs.
REGISTER NOW
albanypsf.org/events/irun-for-kids/
5K 5K
10 10 MILE MILE
Be an iRun Sponsor! MARCH 14, 2026 Now’s your chance to really make an impact! YOU COULD GET: Up to 8 free race entries with shirts A booth at the event Your logo on the race shirts Your logo on event flyers Your logo on our social media pages, on our website, and in the newsletter Your business banner hung at the event Promo items in swag bags Your logo in post-event thank you newsletter
See Sponsorship Packet
Available Sponsorship Levels: Achievement Apple Red Apple Appleseed *NEW* Student Support
500+ Runners & Walkers, both kids and adults attend this event
CALL US
541-979-2773
VISIT OUR WEBSITE albanypsf.org/events/irun-for-kids/
EMAIL US
Marketing@albanypsf.org
LEARN MORE
The APSF will be at ANNE!
(Albany Nonprofit Networking Event) Thursday, January 15th Boys & Girls Club of Albany Community time will be 11:30am-1pm Come meet the nonprofits of Albany!
The APSF is the January Recipient of the North Albany IGA Monthly Round Up Round up your change at the register to support the APSF! 100% of all donations will go to us. January 1 - 31
2026
A R L S O HIP H C S A T C I I O L N P P A FEB. 13 - MAR. 13 S OPEN SOON WHO CAN APPLY? Open to ALL Graduating GAPS Seniors who plan to attend any accredited College, University or Trade School One inclusive application works for over 100 scholarships Includes all majors, GPAs, and backgrounds
CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT TODAY! Note: Applicants must use a personal email address, not their GAPS student email.
LEARN MORE
albanypsf.org > What We Do > Scholarships
programs@albanypsf.org 541-979-2773 x3
Board of Directors
Upcoming Events
Executive Officers President - Joanne Alford Vice President - Ben Watts Secretary - Cassidy Osuna Treasurer - Roger Wylie
Dec. 1 Jan. 31
iRun for Kids Early Bird Registration albanypsf.org/events/irun-for-kids/
Board Members
Jan 1-31
North Albany IGA The APSF is the January recipient of the Monthly Round Up! Round up your change at the register to help support us.
Jan. 15
ANNE - Albany Nonprofit Networking Event Boys & Girls Club of Albany Community Time 11:30am-1pm
Jan. 19
Martin Luther King Jr. Day APSF Office Closed
Jan. 30
Peely’s Odds & Ends Room Shopping & Open House 9am-5pm
Feb. 2
Peely’s Teacher Supply House Second semester ordering begins
Feb. 13 Mar. 13
Scholarship Applications Open
Monica Banks-Figueroa Ed Bock Megan Dow Cindy Draper Pat Eastman Dana Lovejoy Jerrie Matuszak Gary Miller Dave Pautsch Jerry Shipman Will Summers Elaine Wells Ilynn Winn
APSF Staff Peggy Burris Executive Director executive@albanypsf.org Dulcie Hawley Staff Accountant and Administrative Assistant bookkeeper@albanypsf.org Andrea Recek Director of Programs programs@albanypsf.org Robyn Parrish Marketing & Events Coordinator Marketing@albanypsf.org
View our full Event Calendar
SAVE THE DATE March 14, 2026
April 25, 2026
Albany Public Schools Foundation Mailing: PO Box 1772 Albany, OR 97321 Physical: 2953 Clover Ridge Rd. NE, Room #10, Albany, OR 97322 541-979-2773 | info@albanypsf.org www.albanypsf.org