Bee the Hope for Tomorrow

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We are eternally grateful for our 2022 "Bee" the Hope Sponsor!

What is "Bee" the Hope For Tomorrow?

“Bee” the Hope For Tomorrow is the Irving Schools Foundation’s annual fundraising campaign in support of the Food for Thought program. Our annual campaign runs throughout the entirety of the summer – this way, we can make sure that we are ready to serve our students prior to every school year!

Bee the Hope is symbolic as it represents the teamwork of honey bees.  Much like the honey bee, we rely on our community to achieve a brighter future for the students of Irving ISD.  

Original size Original size Original size Food for Thought Postcard 7.1 × 5.5 in 1

For more information regarding the sponsorship opportunities available to our community partners, please contact Yasmin Alfurati at [email protected]

Original size Original size Original size Food for Thought Postcard 7.1 × 5.5 in

A Letter to Our Community

During a time where we are experiencing unprecedented challenges as a nation, the Irving Schools Foundation has had to evolve as an organization to serve the “whole child” which has been incredibly overwhelming and stressful but something that we knew had to be done and something that we could not do without your support. Many of our families were on the cusp of not making it, but they were still able to provide “the basics” to their children. Now, due to the state of our nation, our families are experiencing so many new challenges as a result of job losses, and economic instability. We have seen many of our families fall into a situation that they never thought they would be in before.

A couple of months ago, on a day when I couldn’t get the thought of “how are we going to survive this as an organization?” out of my mind, I came across a quote from Albert Einstein that read: “Learn from Yesterday. Live for Today. Hope for the Future.” This quote struck a chord with me because we have learned so much from this pandemic and although it has been stressful, we are surviving, and we are so hopeful for our future…our children.

So, at this point, I move into hoping for the future…and this brings me to the story of the bumblebee. Many people have marveled at the anatomy of the bumblebee, who day in and day out defies physics and flies despite its wings being too small for its large body. Somehow, the incredible bumblebee defies the odds.

Much like the bumblebee, our students are defying the odds daily. When you look at where many of our children come from, and the struggles they are having to endure, they “shouldn’t” have the grades that they have, they “shouldn’t” be passing the AP exams that they are passing, and they “shouldn’t” be excelling and thriving academically. But they are. Our children know that education is the key to break the cycle of poverty.

So many of our children are struggling to learn and so many of our families are struggling to make ends meet. We need the help of our community because we simply cannot do this alone. Our children need clothing, shoes, food, and technology. But most of all, they need hope and that is what I am asking for today.

I am asking that you consider a donation to the Irving Schools Foundation to help us provide hope to our students for the future. To provide the means that they need right now to make sure that they can continue some semblance of normalcy. I realize times are tough right now for so many and therefore I am asking for any donation that you can make- any denomination makes a difference, and no donation is too small.

If you are not able to contribute financially, I would like to ask that you keep our children and our teachers in your thoughts and prayers because now more than ever, they need you.

Warmest regards,

Crystal Scanio, CFRE, CEFL

President and CEO

P.S. Speaking of bees, for any contribution over $150, we will send you a jar of honey (while supplies last)- locally produced at our Elise Walker Outdoor Learning Center (*not produced by the bumblebee…but rather it’s friendly relative, the honey bee). We are excited to share this with you as our thank you to you for making a difference and “bee-ing” the hope for the future.

We are eternally grateful for our amazing 2022 "Bee" the Hope Sponsor!

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Thank you, donors!

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Bethlyn Fisher

Programs Assistant

Randy Randle

Board Member

Bethlyn is a native to the Wise County area and holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in Elementary Education from Tarleton State University.

Bethlyn comes to Irving Schools Foundation with a background in teaching. Prior to her time with ISF, she taught in Irving ISD at Elliott Elementary for 6 years. She also has experience in Irving ISD as a swim instructor for the district’s Swim Safe program. Bethlyn’s main passions include helping the community and teaching others.

Bethlyn lives in Bedford with her husband, Dillon, and 2 cats, Gadget and Gizmo. Her hobbies include swimming, reading, baking, crafting, exercising, and caring for her plant collection.

Adriana Colunga

Development Manager

Adriana Colunga

Development Manager

Margie Stipes

Director Emerita

Margie Stipes

Director Emerita

Margie Stipes has been an Irving resident since 1955. She and her late husband, John, raised three children together, Randy, now deceased, Larry, and Stacie. Margie worked 30 years as a secretary at American Airlines, receiving the company’s Customer First Award.

She has been active in schools and the community, serving on several bond program committees and with the city’s Charter Review Committee. Margie was president of the Nimitz High School Booster Club for several years and has been a longtime member of both the Keep Irving Beautiful Board and the Irving Schools Foundation Board of Directors.

Margie’s accolades include the High Spirited Citizen Award, Greater Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, Irving Schools Foundation Gala Award, and multiple local and national PTA awards for extended service. In 2014, she was inducted into the Irving Sports Hall of Fame. Margie is honored to be a namesake for IISD’s John and Margie Stipes Elementary School in south Irving.

Randy Randle

Board Member

Randy Randle

Board Member

Randy Randle is a lifelong resident of Irving. He attended Otis Brown Elementary School, Bowie Junior High School and graduated from Nimitz High School.  Randy attended The University of Texas at Arlington and received a Business Administration degree in accounting.

Mr. Randle has been married to Lynda for 28 years and has two sons who attended Irving Schools.  Randy has long been serving in leadership roles in both our schools and our community.  He has served as PTA fundraising chairman, Band Booster president and chairman of baseball concessions for the Booster Club.  Randy has served on two campus improvement committees and the District Improvement Committee.

Randy served on the Irving City Council for six years and was chairman of the finance committee. He also served as chairman of the City of Irving Bond Task Force.

Randy has attended the same church for 66 years and serves as a trustee, as well as chairman of the building committee.  Randy works in the family business, which has been in Irving for 60 years.

Andy Jones

Board Member

Andy Jones

Board Member

Andy is Vice President and Learning Experience Development Team Manager for Texas Capital Bank.

He has received the Volunteer of the Year Award at Texas Capital for the last two years. Andy continues to volunteer at the Resource Center Community Health Clinic (9 Years), the AT&T Performing Arts Center (6 years), Make a Wish Foundation (5 years), Oak Lawn United Methodist Church Administrative Board (1 year) and the Dallas Titans (9 years), a local softball team where he has coordinated raising over $120,000 to give back to the community in the form of back-to-school supplies, food for a local food pantry and sending children with cancer to summer camp.

Andy has a Masters Degree from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor Degree from Winthrop University.

Kitty Boyle

Board Member

Kitty Boyle

Board Member

Kitty has held many leadership positions throughout her 55 years in Irving, TX including founding and serving as past chair for the Community College Association for Texas Trustees. Kitty is presently Chair of the board for the Ranch Academy, a charter school, where she have served on the board since 1998.

All six of her children graduated from IISD as have five of Kitty’s grandchildren as well. In 2011, Kitty and her husband John were named the Irving High Spirited Citizens. Kitty has a genuine heart for the citizens of Irving and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Tracy McNeil

Secretary

Tracy McNeil

Secretary

Tracy McNeil is a Senior Sales Agent at Liberty Mutual Insurance/Comparison Insurance Agency. Prior, she retired from Enterprise Rent a Car after 27 years, with her achievements ranking her repeatedly in the top 10% nationwide.

In 2015, Tracy was voted Liberty Insurance Rookie of the Year for both Auto and Home. That same year, she joined ISF, serving on the Board of Directors before taking on the role of  Secretary of the Executive Committee. She has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House Charities for Children and has great passion for the youth in Irving ISD.

Roger Carbajal

Personnel Chair

Roger Carbajal

Personnel Chair

Shannon Brown

Chair Elect

Shannon Brown

Chair Elect

Shannon has been a member of the ISF Board since 2019, having previously held the position of Development Chair. He currently serves as the Chief Compliance Officer at CoreLogic, which has its largest office in Irving and is an established corporate partner of ISF.

Shannon has lived in the DFW area since 1995 and in his spare time enjoys traveling, boating, and tennis; he participates on a softball team that has raised over $150K for DFW charities over the past 11 years. While having no children of his own, Shannon is passionate about helping the Irving ISD students, parents, teachers, and administrators.

David Pfaff

David Pfaff

Chair Emeritus

David Pfaff

Chair Emeritus

Anne Pfaff

Chair Emerita

Anne Pfaff

Chair Emerita

Michael Kelley

IISD Board of Trustees Representative

Michael Kelley

IISD Board of Trustees Representative

Michael Kelley grew up attending Irving ISD schools, and now he is serving them as a Trustee. He attended Townley Elementary School and Bowie Middle School and graduated from Nimitz High School in 2001. Kelley worked in manufacturing for 17 years and has been a realtor in Irving for six years. He and his wife, Stefanie, have two sons – a 10-year-old who attends Farine Elementary School and a 3-year-old who will enroll in the district’s tuition-based PreK program at Clifton Early Childhood School. 

In addition to his role on the Irving ISD school board, Kelley also serves his community in the following ways: neighborhood association president, vice president of the Irving-Las Colinas ABMUCS and youth baseball coach. He also served on the Irving Parks and Recreation Vision Committee. He has been a member of Fellowship Church for 15 years and serves on the church greeting team.  

Michelle Grady

Teacher Representative

Michelle Grady

Teacher Representative

Brook Tretter

Board Member

Brook Tretter

Board Member

Brook Tretter joined CoreLogic in 2006 and has held key client-facing and leadership roles throughout her tenure. She is currently responsible for leading the North America insurance sales organization and driving revenue growth and retention through innovative solutions that help insurance companies optimize their underwriting, risk management, and claims practices. She is passionate about driving growth and helping clients achieve their business objectives through strategic partnerships and a customer-centric approach.

Brook holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from California State University, San Bernardino, where she developed a deep understanding of the science of language and its impact on society. She is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion and is actively involved in various employee resource groups and a founding member of CoreLogic’s PRIDE.

Allen Treadway

Board Member

Allen Treadway

Board Member

Smita Patel

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Smita Patel is an assistant vice president and wealth advisor with Frost Wealth Advisors. She joined Frost in 1997 and enjoys helping her clients reach their financial goals. Frost has been an ISF partner and Legacy Gala sponsor for many years.

In addition to being a member of the Irving Schools Foundation Board of Directors, Smita volunteers often with our Food For Thought program, assembling weekend food bags for IISD students experiencing food insecurity. She is honored to be part of ISF and  enjoys serving the community.

Smita enjoys cooking, traveling, and visiting family in her hometown of Toronto, Canada.

Reena Patel

Board Member

Reena Patel

Board Member

Andrew Knowlton

Board Member

Andrew Knowlton

Board Member

Andrew Knowlton, a 16-year Irving resident, is a driven professional who was recently appointed to the Irving Schools Foundation’s board of directors. He is currently employed at Spectrum Enterprise as a Program Manager, where he leads cross-functional teams and projects that drive business growth.

Andrew is a dedicated philanthropist and entrepreneur in addition to his professional accomplishments. He co-owns the Irving, TX-based Elite Dance Company of Texas with his wife Tiffany, where they provide top-notch dance education and training to students of all ages. Andrew and Tiffany are also the founders of the nonprofit EDCT Cares Inc whose mission is to inspire a lifelong passion for performing arts by providing dance and theater opportunities to children without access.

Andrew brings a love for education and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of students to the Irving Schools Foundation as a new board director. With his diverse background and wealth of experience, he is well-positioned to make a significant contribution to the Foundation’s mission and vision.