Nonprofit supporting Keller school district cancels annual gala over split debate
A Keller nonprofit that supports teachers and students through grants and scholarships is canceling its biggest fundraising event in response to the proposed school district split.
The debate over the school district split has affected some sponsorship for the Keller Education Foundation’s annual “Rooted Gala,” said CEO Amanda Migura, however, she stressed it wasn’t the main reason for the cancellation.
“In the best interest of our community right now, we feel like that’s the right move to make,” she said, adding the foundation will instead focus on showcasing the work of teachers who’ve been helped by the organization’s grant funding.
The Keller Education Foundation has been working in the district for the past 20 years. It gave out $120,000 in grant funding in 2024 to help teachers offer innovative approaches to school curriculum.
It is an independent nonprofit that is not governed by the school district or its board. It emphasized that point in a Jan. 17 statement following the first of two contentious school board meetings discussing the proposed split.
“Our commitment to serving this community has never wavered, and it never will,” Migura said in a press release announcing the gala cancellation.
The gala regularly brings in about half the foundation’s revenue, according to annual reports. While it is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the event doesn’t define the organization’s work, Migura said.
“The work we do defines us, and our donors know that importance, and I think they’re going to still really show up and make sure our teachers are cared for,” she said.
Migura said she and her staff plan to take sponsors to Keller school campuses to highlight the work of teachers and see the impact of the grant funding in person.
Often sponsors are present when the teachers are presented with their checks, so this will be an opportunity to revisit those grant recipients, she said.
“I think that will remind people of what we’re here for as an organization, and spark knowledge in our community that we still need those funds to provide avenues of learning and experience,” she said.
The Keller school board is considering a plan that would split the district along U.S. 377 with some members arguing it would address funding concerns and avert school closings.
However, a Dec. 19 email from a school finance consultant to members of the school board revealed the split would shift costs for underfunded programs onto the new district west of U.S. 377.
Regardless of what happens with the split, Migura said her organization will stay committed to its mission to serve students and teachers across the district as a whole.
This story was originally published February 12, 2025 at 12:54 PM.
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