Organization working to support teachers, students fires up fresh campaign
By Ben Cox
Photo/Ben Cox
For four decades, the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation has worked behind the scenes, stepping in where help is needed most for students and educators across Jacksonville School District 117.
From providing winter coats and school supplies to funding scholarships and classroom technology, the foundation has grown from a small grassroots effort into a cornerstone of community support.
Now, as it marks its 40th anniversary, the organization is launching a new fundraising effort—the Crimson Jubilee Campaign—aimed at sustaining and expanding that mission for years to come.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS ROOTED IN NEED
The foundation’s origins trace back to a simple but urgent need observed in local schools.
Helen Baldwin, one of the original board members who continues to serve as secretary, remembers those early days vividly. At the time, she was principal at Jefferson Elementary School, where she saw firsthand the struggles some students faced just to get through the school day.
“There were children coming to school without coats, without basic necessities,” Baldwin says. “It wasn’t neglect—it was that families simply couldn’t afford those things. And life was very difficult for those kids.”
That reality became the spark that ignited what would become the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation. What began as an effort to help a handful of students quickly grew into something larger.
“We just knew we had to do something,” Baldwin says. “We started helping where we could—getting clothing, helping with confidence, even finding ways to support students’ interests. I remember helping one student get a musical instrument because that was something he wanted to pursue.”
Those early acts of kindness laid the groundwork for a formal organization dedicated to supporting students districtwide.
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
Joy French Becker, another original board member who still serves as treasurer, said the transition from informal support to an official nonprofit organization came with the realization that more could be accomplished with structure.
“There were people in the community who wanted to give, but there wasn’t really a mechanism for that,” French Becker says. “[Individuals] had seen similar foundations work in other communities and encouraged us to organize as a nonprofit so donations could be handled properly.”
From there, the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation was born, complete with a board of directors and a mission to support students and educators in meaningful ways.
The original board in 1986 included community leaders such as William E. Chipman, who served as the first president, and J. Merle Wade, vice president, along with others who helped shape the organization’s early direction.
Interestingly, French Becker said the foundation’s earliest projects were not always focused directly on student needs.
“It really started as a pass-through organization,” she shares. “People wanted to give to specific things, and we helped
facilitate that. Some of the first big projects included improvements like the parking lot at The Bowl and fundraising tied to sending the cheer team to the Peach Bowl.”
While those projects may not have directly targeted student welfare, they helped establish credibility, build relationships and create a framework that would later allow the foundation to expand its impact.
GROWTH AND EXPANSION
Over the past 40 years, the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation has evolved dramatically in both scope and scale.
Today, the organization supports students across all schools in District 117—from elementary buildings to Jacksonville Middle School and Jacksonville High School. Its reach extends far beyond what its founders initially envisioned.
JPSF Executive Director Leslie DeFrates said one of the most common misconceptions is that the foundation serves only a limited portion of the district.
“In reality, we serve the entire district,” DeFrates says. “We get requests from every school—Eisenhower, Lincoln, the middle school, the high school. The need is everywhere, and we do our best to meet it wherever it arises.”
The types of assistance provided have also expanded significantly over time. What began with basic necessities has grown into a wide range of support services.
“We provide coats, shoes, clothing and school supplies,” DeFrates says. “But we also help with emergency needs. We’ve purchased glasses for students, helped with transportation and even bought a tricycle for a young man who needed a way to get to work after his father passed away and his mother became disabled.”
In addition to direct aid, the foundation has become a major contributor to educational opportunities through scholarships and classroom support.
“What started as a couple of small scholarships has grown into something much bigger,” DeFrates shares. “We now offer a range of scholarships, including one that covers full tuition.”
Technology has also been a focus at various points in the foundation’s history.
French Becker recalled efforts to help the district keep pace with changing classroom needs. “There was a time when the schools were struggling to afford technology,” she says. “We helped fund computers and Promethean boards—tools that are still being used today.”
INDEPENDENCE WITH PURPOSE
While the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation works closely with District 117, its leaders emphasize that it operates independently.
“I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that the school district controls what we do,” French Becker says. “That’s not the case. We are completely separate.”
That independence allows the foundation’s board to make decisions based on identified needs and available resources.
“We work hand in hand with the district, but ultimately our board determines how funds are distributed,” French Becker says.
This structure has allowed the organization to remain flexible and responsive, stepping in to address gaps that might otherwise go unmet.
A COMMUNITY EFFORT
The success of the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation over the past 40 years has been driven largely by community support.
“We’ve had incredibly generous donors over the years,” French Becker says. “That’s what has made all of this possible.”
Past initiatives, such as community drawings and other fundraisers, have helped generate support not only from local residents but also from people with ties to Jacksonville who want to give back.
DeFrates said those connections often come full circle. “I’ve had people donate because they remember a teacher helping them years ago,” she shares.
“Even before the foundation existed, there were educators in this district making a difference in students’ lives. When those individuals hear about what we’re doing now, they want to be part of it.”
That sense of community investment continues to be a driving force behind the foundation’s work.
MEASURING IMPACT
Since its inception, the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation has contributed more than $3 million in direct support to Jacksonville School District 117. That figure does not include the value of clothing closets, school supplies and other ongoing assistance programs managed by the foundation.
For families and students, the impact is often immediate and deeply personal.
“It might be something as simple as a coat or a pair of shoes,” DeFrates says. “But for that student, it can make all the difference in the world.”
Beyond meeting basic needs, the foundation also aims to create opportunities and build confidence.
“It’s about giving students a boost,” DeFrates notes. “You never know how one small act can change the trajectory of someone’s life.”
LOOKING AHEAD: THE CRIMSON JUBILEE CAMPAIGN
As the foundation celebrates its 40th anniversary, leaders are looking to the future with the launch of the Crimson Jubilee Campaign.
Set to begin in April, the campaign is both a celebration of past achievements and a call to action for continued support.
“We are deeply grateful for everything the community has done over the past 40 years,” DeFrates says. “This campaign is about ensuring that we can continue to meet our mission—building, supporting and serving the students and educators of District 117.”
With ongoing needs and new challenges on the horizon, the foundation’s role remains as vital as ever.
Plans for future support may include additional investments in technology, particularly as the district looks ahead to the new facility in Murrayville-Woodson and evolving educational tools.
“We’ll be right there to help,” DeFrates says. “Just like we’ve always been.”
A LEGACY OF SERVICE
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation is its continuity. Of the original board members, both Helen Baldwin, now more than 90 years old, and Joy French Becker remain actively involved in their original roles—a testament to their enduring commitment.
Their presence provides a direct link between the foundation’s humble beginnings and its current impact.
“It’s amazing to think about how far we’ve come,” Baldwin shares.
From a small effort to help a few students in need to an organization that serves an entire school district, the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation has built a legacy rooted in compassion, community and opportunity.
As it enters its fifth decade, that mission remains unchanged—ensuring that every student has the support they need to succeed.
And with the Crimson Jubilee Campaign set to begin, the foundation is inviting the community to help write the next chapter of that story.
Learn more about the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation at jsd117.org/foundation.
