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May 14, 2025

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2 News Homepage News News Portal Highlights

Profiles in Philanthropy: TCPS Foundation’s Mariana Lesher and Dale Rauch on Closing the Gap

October 26, 2022 by Dave Wheelan

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Almost a half-century ago, the public institutions of higher learning in Maryland had no real need to seek out private philanthropy. Well supported by Annapolis lawmakers and the goodwill of their local community, those schools could comfortably operate without the need (or expenses) of seeking donations from individuals and family foundations.

But slowly, but quite surely, that blissful era has come to an end over time.

Faced with the growing limits to taxpayer revenue, the state’s colleges and universities began creating or improving their private fundraising programs to close the increasing gap between state support and the actual costs of quality higher education.

This fiscal reality has also been seen in the state’s primary and secondary public schools. Year after year, teachers have reached into their own pockets to buy supplies and tools they need to succeed in teaching young people.

And like their higher education institutions, Maryland public schools have started to formalize their private funding efforts as nonprofit foundations exclusively devoted to providing needed funds for their counties.

Five years ago, Talbot County took this critical step in forming the Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation to meet that need.

The Spy visited with board members Mariana Lesher and Dale Rauch last week to learn more about this vitally important organization and its critical new role in our public schools.

This video is approximately 4 minutes in length. For more information about the Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation, make a donation, or sign up for its Fall gala, please go here.

Mission Possible, the Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation’s annual fundraising event, will be held on November 18, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. at the Oxford Community Center. A distinguished alumnus from each of the three Talbot County high schools will be recognized at the event. The purpose of the event is to recognize distinguished alumni, celebrate Talbot County Public Education, and raise funds, awareness, and support for the Education Foundation grants program.

The evening will include a cocktail reception catered by Chef Jordan Lloyd, a performance by the Easton High School Marching Band.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage, News Portal Highlights

About Dave Wheelan

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Letters to Editor

  1. Anne Stalfort says

    October 26, 2022 at 3:35 PM

    So glad Talbot County Public Schools have a foundation. I graduated from the public high school in Wyoming, Ohio. Wyoming public schools have had a foundation since 1965. It is amazing what the Foundation has accomplished and provided to the school system. Community and alumni support of the Talbot County Public School Foundation can be transformative.

  2. Rebecca H. Firth, Ph.D. says

    October 26, 2022 at 6:31 PM

    With the support of the TCPS Ed Foundation, talented and motivated teachers are encouraged to pursue important instructional initiatives so important for their students. It is a win-win situation. The Foundation supports teachers who want to work hard to bring their students forward. The public wants to see students succeed and become successful members of the community when they graduate. When we support the foundation, we contribute to bettering Talbot County.

  3. Deborah Dawkins says

    October 26, 2022 at 7:02 PM

    Couldn’t the Covid education relief money have been used?

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