For nearly a decade, revenues for K-12 schools have been characterized by annual reductions and as result our district has had to make very painful decisions when it comes to programs and services not directly related to academic achievement. Vibrant extra-curricular programs provide many children with great opportunities to apply classroom learning, but due to budget reductions, this is not always possible.

In 2008, the Education Foundation of Greenville (EFG) partnered with the Greenville Area Community Foundation to initiate two successful fund drives which have resulted in the establishment of permanent endowment funds for our performing arts programs as well as academic offerings which inspire advanced learning in our classrooms. At that time, our athletic programs were modestly, but adequately funded and in no apparent danger of pending reductions. Instead, our greatest need at that time was in terms of safe and appropriate facilities, a concern well addressed by our community in the passage of the May 2011 Bond election, resulting in the current construction project certain to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure for all of our athletic programs.

This year we experienced the largest cuts ever to Michigan's public schools and although we minimized the impact to athletics, we could not completely avoid cuts in some offerings. Further pressures are just as certain to impact our ability to provide annual operating funds for programs and services.

Our community has spoken, and been clear in demonstrating the value they place in our academic and athletic programs. The EFG is responding to these interests, and needs your help in establishing the third leg of the OUR3 Endowment Funds, dedicated to Greenville Athletics.