Bowling Green Set for Annual Fundraiser to Support Future Educators

Bowling Green Set for Annual Fundraiser to Support Future Educators

Bowling Green, KY – The Green River Regional Educational Cooperative (GRREC) is gearing up for its second annual fundraiser event on September 19, aimed at providing financial support for aspiring educators through the Aspiring Educator Scholarship Program. This program specifically caters to high school seniors in the GRREC region who plan to pursue a degree in education at Western Kentucky University.

Event Details and Ticket Information

The fundraiser will take place at 6 p.m. at the GRREC Event Center, located at 230 Technology Way in Bowling Green. Tickets are priced at $60 per individual or $200 for a table of four. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit both current and future scholarship recipients, continuing to support students aspiring to make a difference in the classroom.

Last year’s event drew in more than 180 guests and raised approximately $4,500. This funding was pivotal in supporting students with a scholarship of $2,000 per year for four years of college. The same funding is set for this year’s award, with the aim to serve two new students annually, addressing an increasing need for teachers in the state.

Addressing Teacher Shortage in Kentucky

Indeed, there’s a pressing issue at hand; teacher shortages continue to escalate across Kentucky. According to data from the Legislative Research Commission of the Office of Education Accountability, nearly 11% of teachers in the 2023 school year did not return to teaching. Additionally, 17% left their school districts, and 20% opted not to return to the same school. These numbers indicate the highest rate of teacher turnover in the past decade, highlighting a critical need for concerted efforts to encourage new educators.

“At the regional level, we want to help remove financial barriers any way that we can to get more educators certified to go into classrooms,” stated Savannah Denning, a creative media specialist at GRREC. This initiative stems from the desire to attract and retain passionate teachers in Kentucky classrooms.

A Night of Networking and Inspiration

Those attending the event will not just support a worthy cause, but also have the opportunity to network with superintendents, educators, and others involved in education. Besides the meal, there will be inspiring testimonials from previous scholarship winners sharing their journeys and the impact of the financial aid on their futures.

Moreover, a keynote address from former University of Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith will highlight the evening. Denning mentioned, “Sometimes in education, it is someone unconventional that can be a person for a kiddo that changes sort of their trajectory…lots of times, it’s teachers, but also, it’s coaches or music directors.”

For More Information

To find out more about this impactful event or to register, interested individuals can visit bit.ly/BMBF24. The GRREC is hopeful that this fundraising effort will continue to grow and directly contribute to improving education in the region.

As autumn approaches, the community looks forward to a night filled with hope, inspiration, and efforts towards a vital cause—fostering the next generation of educators.