July 2026 Newsletter
KEEPING UP WITH PEELY Every Student. Every Opportunity to Succeed.
iCelebrate Kids Registration Open Aug. 1 iCelebrate Volunteer sign-ups also open Aug. 1 - Volunteer to help us run our largest fundraiser of the year! More on Page 3
Peely’s Back to School Supply Drive August 1-31 - Help us restock Peely’s Teacher Supply House for the new school year!
SUPPLY DRIVE
Special events!
More on Page 4
Supply Drive Special Events!
The APSF will have a table at Bi-Mart and Fred Meyer, PLUS there will be a special Car Show benefiting us! More on Page 5
Also in Also in this this Newsletter: Newsletter: Letter from our Executive Director Enrichment Grants Open / Peely’s Odds and Ends Shopping Event Calendar
“Welcome July! In the remaining half-year, we must fly to reach high” ~Vaidesh Vardanth Summer greetings from the Albany Public Schools Foundation! I hope your summer is off to a wonderful start, with time to enjoy long summer days with friends and family. This summer for us at APSF is being spent planning and preparing for our largest fundraising event, iCelebrate Kids Benefit Gala Dinner & Auction. The iCelebrate Kids Gala & Auction is one of our most meaningful and important fundraisers. As a nonprofit, we depend on the generosity inspired by this event to help care for the students and teachers in our school district. The funds raised allow us to provide grants for teachers and administrators, free classroom and school supplies, and scholarships for graduating seniors—helping ensure every student has what they need to learn, and every teacher feels supported in the work they do. The evening brings our community together for a live and silent auction, a catered dinner, the lively Heads or Tails icebreaker, a Dessert Dash, a video highlighting all that we do, a guest speaker, and a paddle raise. More than a night of fun, the gala is a chance to celebrate the incredible programs we support in our schools and to remind our guests of the lasting difference their generosity makes for local students and educators. I hope you will join us on October 24th at the Linn County Expo. Tickets go on sale August 1st. We are very proud of the work we accomplished this year in supporting our teachers and students in our community. But the fact remains that this wonderful community we live in played a significant role in that. We couldn’t do what we do without the support we receive from our donors. You help us fulfill our vision of giving every student every opportunity to succeed. Now more than ever, we need your help to keep that vision alive. As we prepare for the next school year, we have had to make the difficult decision to reduce how much we can financially support many of our programs. Due to a reduction in funding, we need your help. We have many ways for you to give and support the Albany Public Schools Foundation. Please visit our website or give me a call. I would love to sit down with you and discuss how you can make a difference. Have a wonderful July. I look forward to hearing from you! 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 OPENS AUGUST 1 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
PEELY’S TEACHER SUPPLY HOUSE Albany Public Schools Foundation
SUPPLY DRIVE August 1-31
Help us restock Peely’s for the new school year Donate new, unused, and unopened school supplies for GAPS teachers!
Teachers shouldn’t have to pay for school supplies out of their own pockets. Peely’s Teacher Supply House is a program of the Albany Public Schools Foundation that helps provide FREE school and classroom supplies for teachers in the Greater Albany Public School District.
Most Requested School Supplies:
Colored sharpies, Construction paper, Disinfecting wipes, Dry erase erasers, Dry erase markers, Facial tissue, Hand sanitizer (8oz.+), Highlighters, Markers (all types), Pencil top erasers
Participating Drop Off Locations: More Drop Off Locations TBA
Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Albany Public Schools Foundation Office Chilly’s Custom Auto Works Citizens Bank - 14th Ave SE Albany Location Oregon State Credit Union - North Albany Location Therapeutic Associates Mid-Valley Physical Therapy
See all needed supplies and learn more Visit our Website at ALBANYPSF.ORG
Willamette Valley Bank
peely@albanypsf.org | 541-979-2773
PEELY’S TEACHER SUPPLY HOUSE Albany Public Schools Foundation
SUPPLY DRIVE Special events! We’ll have a table in front of these Albany locations! 1. On your way in to shop, grab a Most Requested School Supply Shopping List from us for Peely’s Teacher Supply House. 2. Pick up some school supplies while you shop 3. Drop off your donations to us on your way out!
Tuesday, August 11th 10am-3pm Saturday, August 29th 10am-3pm Saturday, August 8th - Car Show & School Supply Drive Chilly’s Auto Works – Car Show & School Supply Drive Noon-4pm nd 2 Anniversary Car Show Entry Fee: School Supplies for the APSF! 32841 99E Tangent
GAPS Principals: Enrichment Grant Applications Open
June 1 - August 14
Enrichment Grants support innovative programs, tools and supplies that create enrichment opportunities for students in the areas of art, music, science and health/wellness. This is different than the classroom grant program in that the applicant is the school principal and the grant is for a school wide program.
Learn More and Apply
GAPS Teachers & Staff:
See all event details on our calendar
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
June 1 - Aug 14
Enrichment Grant Applications Open Learn More and Apply
Aug 1
iCelebrate Kids Registration Opens! Click Here to add a reminder to register to your personal calendar!
Aug 1
iCelebrate Kids Volunteer Sign-ups Open
Aug. 8
Chilly’s Auto Works – Car Show & School Supply Drive Noon-4pm | 32841 99E Tangent 2nd Anniversary Car Show Entry Fee: School Supplies for the APSF!
Aug. 1-31
Peely’s Back to School Supply Drive Help us re-stock our shelves for the new school year!
Aug. 28
Peely’s Odds and Ends Room Open for InPerson Shopping Open to GAPS Teachers and Staff 9am-5pm
View our full Event Calendar
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
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