This year is already off to a great start, but we don't want to forget everything that we accomplished as a foundation last year. In case you missed them, we want to recognize some of our biggest events and the growth we have experienced over the past eight years. We are so thankful to have such a large community willing to give of their time and money to make each year better than the last. It takes a village, and Cherokee County is certainly one of the best as we seek to cultivate a thorough educational experience for our students. 

• Named an Innovative District by The International Center for Leadership in Education
  
• Ranked second among metro counties for average SAT scores 
  
• Reached a new high with an 87.4% graduation rate 
  

We heavily rely on our events for providing funds for our grants. Our events serve a dual purpose of raising money for our public schools and bringing our community together. These events certainly put the "fun" in "fundraising."

Golf Classic

Last October, we hosted the annual Golf Classic at Bridgemill Athletic Club and were overjoyed with the amount of participation we saw. Golfers got to play at a beautiful course, while getting to know additional CCEF supporters. This event raised over $60,000! 

Chick-fil-A Moo've It Road Race

This race has grown to be one of the largest road races in North Georgia, and we're so thankful for the crowd it draws. Proceeds from this event go towards CCEF as well as the Cherokee County Special Olympics and provides a day full of outside activities and fun for the whole family. Last year, over $75,000 was raised. A huge thank you to Chick-fil-A for hosting this fantastic event!

Celebration of Education Gala

As you probably know, every year CCEF hosts the Celebration of Education Gala. This black-tie event brings people from all over Cherokee County and beyond to recognize both past and present staff and students. All proceeds go directly to grant programs for Cherokee County School District staff and students. In 2019, the Gala raised over $100,000! This event was incredibly successful thanks to the silent auction donations and to all who attended. Way to show up and support, Cherokee County! 

T-Shirt Campaign 

Last Fall, we launched our annual t-shirt campaign with the theme of "Good to Great." Schools that participated in the selling of this t-shirt were eligible to receive a grant for a portion of the funds from t-shirt sales. This campaign not only supports the CCSD, but also spreads CCSD pride. Last year, we decided to present an award to whoever travels the furthest with their t-shirt on! Some of these t-shirts are still being sold, so there has not been a final count of the funds raised from the campaign at this time.

Did you know?

We have grown so much this year as a foundation and in the amount of funds we have raised. In 2015, we rewarded $59,101 in grants, with a 41,169 in student enrollment and 4,562 in staff. In 2019 we were able to give $186,909 in grants with 42,511 in student enrollment and 4,877 in staff. This is a 216% increase in grant money in only five years! 

 Due to our generous donors like you, CCEF was able to support the following programs:

• Credit Recovery and CHOICE
• Teacher of the Year Recognition
• Support Staff/Classified Employee Recognition
• CCSD Partner of the Year Recognition
  

Absolutely none of these accomplishments would have been possible if it weren't for the generosity of our donors. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts whether you donated, attended our events, bought a t-shirt, or even just spread the word about our Foundation. No gift is too small, and your investment in our public schools and community will last for generations to come. 

If you would like to learn more about our Foundation, click here.