ALBANY - With a generous anonymous donation and a matching pledge of up to $1,000 by the Madison Community Foundation, the Educational Foundation of the Albany Community is well on its way to meeting its goals in 2008.

"The foundation was started by the members of the Albany School Board to promote innovative and creative educational programs and opportunities for Albany youth in areas that are not typically funded by tax dollars," foundation President Forrest Ross said.

Ross said that since November, when the foundation officially was formed and the bylaws were signed, board members have been organizing two major fund drives for 2008:

• A raffle to coincide with the Alumni Banquet on Memorial Day Weekend.

• A golf outing fundraiser that will tie in with the annual Lions Club's Pig Roast on the first Saturday in August.

Ross said board members hope to make these annual events.

The board, which includes Ross, president; Julie Helland, vice president; Sherry Hlavachek, secretary-treasurer; Jim Haddinger and Sharon Pryce, is also developing marketing materials including a brochure that will help promote the foundation and help with fundraisers.

In addition to establishing the newly-formed foundation and organizing the fundraisers, Ross said that the board members want to make a couple of grants by the end of 2008.

"Our goal is to raise $10,000 each year so that five years from now we have $40,000 to $50,000 or more to work with," explained Ross. "This may seem like a big goal, but it's one I believe we can shoot for."

District Administrator Steve Guenther, who is serving as a liaison between the school district and the foundation, said that the reception to the foundation "has been very enthusiastic."

"Albany residents have always supported their youth and its programs," Guenther said. "Through the foundation we can promote excellence in education for youth beyond the school."

Guenther said donors will be able to earmark money for a certain purpose or request money go to a particular student for a school year, after which a scholarship would be provided.

Ross added that because other community organizations focus mainly on the schools, the foundation's goal is to focus on community wide activities.

As stated in the bylaws, the mission of the Educational Foundation of the Albany Community is to be "an independent community organization that seeks to promote excellence in education for the youth of the Albany School District and the entire community through the use of private philanthropic dollars."

The purpose of the foundation, according to is mission statement is five-fold:

• To encourage creative and innovative educational programs and activities;

• To encourage local business, civic and private sector involvement and collaboration within the schools;

• To promote the use of the most recent technologies;

• To promote scholarship; and

• To encourage and recognize professional growth and leadership.

In addition to providing matching funds, the Madison Community Foundation will act as the fund manager for the Foundation. The Madison Community Foundation works with members of foundations such as the Education Foundation of the Albany Community to establish permanent endowment funds and facilitate charitable gifts that have a lasting impact.