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History of LEAF

Annotated History

2024

  • LEAF celebrates 30 years as a nonprofit
  • Adopt-a-Classroom sets a new record of $54,000 and 216 classrooms “adopted”
  • Long time LEAF Executive Director, Bruce Hentges, retires and LEAF hires Natalie Copeland as the new Executive Director
  • LEAF surpasses the $3 million mark in total grants given to District 742 programming

2023

  • Ayan Omar & Jesus Sandoval raised over $55,000 for the LEAF Student Participation Fund through the CMCF “Dancing With Our Stars” Fundraiser!!
  • Adopt-a-Classroom sets a new record of $51,350 and 205 classrooms “adopted”
  • The “Retired Educators Fund”, begun in 2012, reaches $104,683 and provides $5,234 in grants
  • LEAF begins a new “LEAF 742 Distinguished Alumni Award”

2022

  • 20th Annual LEAF Night of the Stars is held to raise funds for the District Activities Program and LEAF Activities Endowment 
  • Adopt-a-Classroom raises $44,245.  177 classrooms are adopted
  • Over $50,000 raised for the LEAF Homeless Student Services Fund
  • Four new Legacy Funds are begun

2021

  • Adopt a Classroom sets new record of $38,478 raised and 154 classrooms adopted
  • LEAF makes special grants of $22,000 to support expansion of preschool, $20,000 to encourage activities participation and $4,000 for AP programs
  • “Music Matters” – a new Legacy Fund to support the district-wide Music Program is begun

2020

  • LEAF surpasses the $2.1 million mark in total grants given to District 742 programming
  • LEAF accepts a $400,000 gift from the estate of George & Shirley Torrey for the Activities Fund
  • COVID related grants total $24,400
  • Total Legacy Funds (gifts of $25,000 or more) reach 12

2019

  • PAKCAT (Partners and Kids Counting A-lot Together).  Building on the success of PAKRAT, this new Math program is begun with a $22,350 grant from the Morgan Family Foundation.
  • LEAF Photo Contest “The Best of 742” begins

2018

  • LEAF funds an “Activity Bus” for middle school students through the generosity of two $10,000 grants:  One from the Morgan Family Foundation and a Difference Maker grant from the Central MN Community Foundation

  • Randy Warzeca and Lucille Guinta-Bates represent LEAF in the CMCF Women’s Fund “Dancing with our Starts” event and raise over $7,200 for LEAF’s Homeless Student Services Fund

  • LEAF grants $171,002 during 2018, bringing the total grants given since 1996 to $1,685,286!

2017

  • Matching $10,000 challenge grants from Mark & Ann Thelen and Mike Podawiltz and Diana Murphy-Podawiltz help LEAF raise $54,855 for the LEAF Homeless Student Services Fund

  • An annual $10,000 grant from Paul & Joanne Dorsher for the Fund-a-Need auction helps LEAF raise $21,359 in that auction and to donate $10,677 to the District Talent Development Program

  • Liberty Bank partners with LEAF at the Liberty Block Party and donates $15,000 to various LEAF initiatives

  • LEAF begins a new “Activities Participation  Fund” to encourage needy students to participate in the activities program

2016

  • A LEAF makes $140,683 in grants to academic, activities, arts and athletic program in District 742

2015

  • LEAF purchases a bus for the Summer Roll & Read PAKRAT Program and expands the program throughout the school district

  • A “PeaceMakers Concert” features the Apollo & Tech choirs is funded with a $3,000 LEAF grant

  • The LEAF “Retired Educators” Legacy Fund reaches the $25,000 level and begins making grants to District Academic & Activities Programs through the regular LEAF grant cycle

2014

  • The LEAF Homeless Student Services Fund and Language Immersion Program Fund begin

  • LEAF receives the Innovation Grant and $2,000 from the Center for Nonprofit Excellence & Social Innovation (CNESI)

  • The Otto Bremer Foundation awards a $29,414 grant to LEAF for the PAKRAT program!

  • The LEAF endowment reaches $1 million!

2013

  • Twelve Night of the Stars features three performances and nets $11,435 for student activities

  • Third annual Learning Renaissance nets $19,930 in Fund-A-Need direct support of academic programs and $16,068 for the Academic Endowment Fund

  • Total Endowed Fund 12/31/13 = Activities Fund: $720,984.01, Academic Fund:  $184,491.70

2012

  • LEAF Board meets with ClearPath to develop an updated Strategic Plan

  • The Adopt a Classroom Program raises $15,000 and provides 60 classroom grants

  • Tech Football and Tech Athletics designated/Legacy funds reach the $25,000 level and begin providing annual returns to those programs

  • LEAF obtains two grants for the PAKRAT Program and provides $51,914 in support of this P-3 literacy and parent involvement program

  • The second annual Learning Renaissance nets $13,790 in “Fund-a-Need” direct support of academic programs and $13,790 for the Academic Fund

  • Total LEAF grants = $115,307 during 2012-13 school year!

  • Total Endowed Funds 12/31/12 = Activities Fund: $597,523, Academic Fund:  $130,268

2011

  • NOTS sets a new record, returning $8,049 in ticket revenue to student activities programs

  • LEAF’s new “Adopt A Classroom Program” raises $11,750 and funds 49  classrooms with $250 grants for supplies

  • October: The second Academic Fund Event: “A Learning Renaissance”,  raises over $23,000 and nets $14,734 for the Academic Fund

  • LEAF grants for 2011-12 school year = $103,055!

2010

  • NOTS Silent Auction moves to on-line only

  • March: First LEAF Academic Fund Grants:  $12,500

  • October: First Academic Fund Event:  “Food for Thought” held at Tech High School

2009

  • Establishment of the LEAF Academic Opportunity & Enrichment Fund by Board vote in July, 2009. LEAF now has two funds for donors to consider:

    • Academic Opportunity & Enrichment Fund
    • Student Activities Fund

  • Roll out of new LEAF web page in October: leaf742.org

  • Retreat to update LEAF Strategic Plan held in October

2008

  • 15th Year Campaign. ($456,800 Pledged, $284,443 collected as of 12/31/10)

  • August: First LEAF Welcome Back Luncheon at Kelly Inn

2007

  • LEAF Endowment stands at $450,000 as of February, 2007

  • LEAF Web Page developed: leaf742.org

2006

  • LEAF Board Handbook developed to encourage Board professionalism.

2005

  • Year-long development of a Strategic Plan and Vision Statement with funding from the Initiative Foundation.

  • NOTS moves to Paramount Theatre to a “sold out” crowd!

2004

  • LEAF Hires an Executive Director

  • First LEAF Appreciation & Awards Banquet at Steve & Paulette Schwegman’s home to recognize the many contributions of individuals to the success of LEAF

2002

  • LEAF undertook a special fundraising project, netting $140,000, to assist in preserving Junior High School activities programming.

  • LEAF Begins Night of the Stars (NOTS) fundraiser

2000

  • LEAF hired a fundraising consultant and began organized fundraising activities.

1996

  • Status as a tax exempt, 501(c)(3) non profit organization was received from the IRS.

  • The LEAF endowment reached the $200,000 level.

  • LEAF began its twice yearly granting program utilizing 5% of its endowment fund for the support of extra curricular activities programming in the District’s K-12 schools.

1995

  • The first LEAF Board of Directors was formed and began meeting regularly. The organization’s by-laws were developed and formally adopted.

1994

  • Articles of Incorporation as a non-profit organization were developed and filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office. Application was made to the Internal Revenue Service for tax exempt status.

1993

  • The Board of Education approved the formation of an activities foundation to be called the District 742 Local Education Activities Foundation (LEAF). In June of 1993, the Board approved a transfer of $100,000 to the Central Minnesota Community Foundation to establish the LEAF Endowment Fund. 

  • The Board also approved a ticket price increase of $1.00 on each adult admission and $.50 for each student admission with the subsequent annual revenue from this increase to be deposited in the LEAF Endowment fund.

1992

  • The Board of Education formed an ad hoc committee to research the possibility of forming a foundation for the purpose of providing support for extra curricular activities in District 742.

  • Student Activities Advisory Committee subsequently recommended to the Board that such a foundation be formed.