September 2026 Newsletter
KEEPING UP WITH PEELY Every Student. Every Opportunity to Succeed.
Get your tickets NOW for iCelebrate!
More on Page 3
SNEAK PEAK at our Auction Items for iCelebrate! We have a Silent and a Live Auction and hundreds of items to bid on! More on Page 4
Volunteers needed for iCelebrate! Looking for other ways to help out? Be a volunteer! More on Page 5
Also in Also in this this Newsletter: Newsletter: Letter from our Executive Director
Peely’s Supply Drive Thank You
Lunch and Learn Evening Edition
Peely’s Teacher Supply House - Open for the new school year
Classroom Grants Open Now
Event Calendar
"Autumn. Time to dim the sunlight, cue the moody fog, and watch nature’s most charming story unfold.” – Angie Weiland-Crosby As summer comes to a close, the new school year is almost here. Teachers are getting their classrooms ready, and students are counting down the days until they can see old friends and make new ones. Here at the Albany Public Schools Foundation, we have been busy stocking Peely’s Teacher Supply House with hundreds of pencils, crayons, and other much-needed supplies. We are especially grateful to everyone who donated at our drop-off locations, our community business partners, employees who donated to the cause, and everyone who visited us when we were set up in front of Bi-Mart, Walmart, and Fred Meyer. Thanks to your generosity, teachers can order classroom items and school supplies that will help students start the year prepared and supported. We truly can’t thank you enough for the amazing items donated and for helping make this school year a successful one. By now, many of you have received our Impact Report in the mail. I hope you have had a chance to read all the wonderful things we were able to support this past year with your help. We are very proud of these accomplishments, and we are very thankful to our donors. If you didn’t receive an Impact Report, here is a digital link to view it. As I mentioned in the report, your support is greatly appreciated and deeply needed as we begin a new school year. Classroom Grant requests will be coming in soon, and scholarship season is just around the corner. If you would like to contribute to either effort, please contact me—I would love to hear from you. Registration is OPEN for our iCelebrate Kids Gala & Auction on October 24th at the Linn County Expo, and we would love to have you join us. We have a fun night planned with some amazing auction items you don’t want to miss out on. This is our largest fundraising event, and we could use your support! As the days get shorter and the leaves start to turn colors, please take time to stop and enjoy the season. Thanks for all the support you show the Albany Public Schools Foundation. Take care
Peggy Burris Executive Director executive@albanypsf.org 541-979-2773 Ext.1
iCelebrate Kids Benefit Gala
An Autumn Evening of Giving: Harvesting Hope for the Future
DINNER & LIVE AUCTION FUNDRAISER
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026 Linn County Expo Center
Silent Auction | Wine Pull | Raffle | Dessert Dash REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Single Ticket: $80
Table of 8: $600
LEARN MORE AND GET YOUR TICKETS albanypsf.org/events/icelebrate-kids-benefit-gala/
THANK YOU TO OUR GOLDEN APPLE SPONSOR
541-979-2773 albanypsf.org info@albanypsf.org
Sneak Peek at our auction items! Ocean Fishing Excursion for Four
Donated by Chicken Little’s Guide Service Fishing trip for 4 includes all fishing gear, cleaning, fileting, and bagging. You must bring your fishing license. Offering Trips in Oregon for: Winter Steelhead, Spring chinook, Ocean salmon/bottom fish, Fall chinook/coho, crabbing, kokanee
14K Gold Necklace w/Sapphire Pendant
Donated by Jordan Jewelers
From Jordan Jewelers, a 14K Yellow Gold and blue sapphire necklace. REAL sapphire from Montana - and is .10ct The chain is 14 K yellow gold and is 18" long
$150 Pet Adoption Certificate Donated by Safe Haven Humane Society
$150 Pet Adoption Gift Certificate from Safehaven Humane Society Good towards the adoption of a dog, cat, or pet at SafeHaven! This Pet Adoption Certificate will completely cover the adoption fees of a Cat or Kitten! Pictured: Hacker - an actual 2mo old kitten available for adoption at Safe Haven!
One Week Vacation in San Diego for 4 people Donated by Elaine Clark
Take a week vacation to San Diego and stay the Hyatt Vacation Club at The Welk! DATES: Sunday, May 30 - Sunday, June 6, 2027
Family Pass aboard the Holiday Express Train
Donated by The Oregon Rail Heritage Center
The Holiday Express is a 45-minute train ride in Portland featuring Santa Claus, holiday decorations, cookies, and hot cocoa, running from Thanksgiving through the end of December.
Four ride wristbands to Oaks Amusement Park Donated by Oaks Amusement Park
Ride wristbands include unlimited rides on all rides, all day long! Each is valid for any standard amusement park operating day.
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED
We are in need of volunteers of all ages to help out with our largest fundraiser of the year!
We Need Help With: Setup on Fri. Oct. 23rd- 11am-5pm Registration & Checkout - MUST BE CONFIDENT WITH COMPUTERS Silent Auction - Closing the auction, matching items to winners, helping carry items to cars Heads or Tails Game - Adults & Students needed (Must be good with people)
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 24, 2026 4PM-9PM LINN COUNTY EXPO CENTER 3700 Knox Butte Rd E Albany, OR 97322
Contact Us marketing@albanypsf.org 541-979-2773
Wine Pull - (Must be over 21 years of age, good with people) Raffle - (Must be good with people) Clearing tables - must be 18+ to clear tables with alcohol glasses on them Takedown (Around 9pm) - decorations, linens, garbage, etc
SIGN UP ONLINE Or go to Albanypsf.org >iCelebrate Kids >Scroll down to Volunteer
Thursday, November 5, 2026
6pm - 8pm Located at Comfort Inn Suites of Albany 100 Opal Ct, Albany, OR 97322
Navigating the PERS Retirement System Focusing on the PERS retirement process and how to blend pension income with social security and other retirement assets in a tax efficient manner. Topics also covered are things that people should be considering as they approach retirement.
With Guest Speaker Erik King, CFP, Bridges Wealth Management Who should attend: All GAPS Staff are invited! It’s never too early to start planning your retirement! Recommended to attend if you’re within ~5 years of retirement.
Free to attend!
Coffee and desserts will be provided. RSVP on our website at Albanypsf.org >Events >Lunch & Learn Evening Edition
RSVP Here
Thank you to our Sponsor
CLASSROOM GRANTS
Applications Open September 1 - October 19 Scan to Learn More Or go to ALBANYPSF.ORG/WHAT-WEDO/CLASSROOM-GRANTS/ FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.ALBANYPSF.ORG QUESTIONS? EMAIL PROGRAMS@ALBANYPSF.ORG Classroom grants support teachers in providing enriching programs and supplies in the areas of art, music, STEM, and health and wellness. GAPS teachers, staff, and administrators are eligible to apply.
PEELY’S TEACHER SUPPLY HOUSE Albany Public Schools Foundation
THANK YOU!
SUPPLY DRIVE
To all of our community partners, drop off sites, and donors We couldn’t have had such a great supply drive without you! Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Albany City Hall Altrusa International of Albany, OR ATI Chilly’s Custom Auto Works Citizens Bank - 14th Ave SE Albany Location Clayton Homes F45 Fitness North Albany MandyCakes Mennonite Village Oregon State Credit Union - North Albany Location Pacific Power Riverfront Community Center Selco Community Credit Union Therapeutic Associates Mid-Valley Physical Therapy VFW Post 584 Willamette Valley Bank
FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR GAPS TEACHERS
NOW OPEN FOR THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR
First Semester Ordering is Open Now! Peely’s Serves All Grades! Teachers and eligible staff may place an order once per semester. Visit our website to learn more! albanypsf.org > What We Do > Peely’s Teacher Supply House > Teachers
Register Online Now Must use your GAPS email Delivery by GAPS courier Certified and classified staff with instructional or behavioral-management responsibilities may use Peely’s. Admin/office/clerical staff are not eligible.
Board of Directors
Upcoming Events
Executive Officers President - Joanne Alford Vice President - Ben Watts Secretary - Cassidy Sciarratta Treasurer - Roger Wylie
Board Members Monica Banks-Figueroa Ed Bock Megan Dow Cindy Draper Brooke Dvorak Pat Eastman Dana Lovejoy Jerrie Matuszak Gary Miller Dave Pautsch 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
Sept 1 - Oct. 19
Classroom Grant Applications Open
Sept. 7
Labor Day - APSF Office Closed
Sept. 8
School starts for the GAPS school district
Sept. 17
The APSF Hosts Greeters 8:15am - Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Members invited! Located at our Office: 2953 Clover Ridge Rd. NE, Room #10, Albany, OR 97322
Sept. 23
Albany Business Extravaganza Linn County Expo Center 2:00pm - 6:00pm: Open to the Public (Free) We’ll be there with a booth!
Sept. 25
Family Tree Relief Nursery Corn Hole Tournament We’re competing in the tournament! Wish us luck!
View our full Event Calendar
SAVE THE DATE
October 24, 2026
Robyn Parrish Marketing & Events Coordinator Marketing@albanypsf.org
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