A Letter from Our Executive Director

August 9, 2023

Summary

A letter from Heidi Lanier, executive director of the Quincy Public Schools Foundation, reflecting on her first year on the job.

Looking back at my first year on the job

Hi Everyone,

I have officially finished my first year as Executive Director of the Quincy Public Schools Foundation and all I can say is Wow, what a time! I am truly humbled to have the opportunity to work with the amazing people that comprise the QPSF community, including the Board of Trustees, the QPS staff & students, and most importantly, the vast network of QPS supporters and alumni.

When I started my role last July, it was a little intimidating stepping into this position. Quincy has such strong traditions, and I hoped I would bring value to the table. Though I was nervous, there were some things I was certain of: I knew that the QPSF trustees were an impressive and experienced group committed to helping the organization succeed. I knew that Quincy is a unique place that has an outstanding school district. And I knew that helping the Foundation grow would be a win for the entire community.

QPS Foundation board members and staff at a Circle Celebration in August 2022. My first official QPSF event!

The QPS Foundation staff have spent the last year working hard to secure resources and opportunities for Quincy Public Schools. Our offices are located inside Quincy High School, and it is invigorating to have the opportunity to get to know QPS students. From the outstanding group of Leadership students who were vital to the success of this year’s Color Run and the Beta Club & National Honor Society students that volunteered at Night to Dream Big, to the students who would regularly swing by our office to say hi and get a piece of candy, having the opportunity to see these students on a daily basis has kept our mission at the forefront of our minds.

The last year has been one of growth for QPSF. With the help of the Board of Trustees and all of our constituents, this past fiscal year:

● Fundraising records were set during our Annual Campaign, A Night to Dream Big, and the Dream Big in Color 5K Run.

Color Run was a joyous event that raised more than $40,000 for Quincy Public Schools!

● Four new Circles of Investment were created, providing lasting funding for our schools spanning the Early Childhood & Family Center all the way up to Quincy High School.

We were honored to dedicate the Wilmer & Sylvia Holzgrafe Family Fund for Experiential Learning at QJHS.

● More than $135,000 in principle was added to the Foundation’s Endowment.

QPSF staff, board members, and supporters announce this year's record-breaking fundraising campaign totals during a Blue Devil Basketball game. — We raised more than $320,000 in this year’s Annual Campaign. I love this pic because it shows what a community effort it was!

● QPSF distributed more than $216,000 in funds to Quincy Public Schools through our grants program and with pass through donations.

A sampling of some of the grant awards we made to QPS teachers and administrators this last year. The best part of my job is surprising people with a large check!

The Foundation’s grant program funded some truly interesting and engaging projects, including a Mobile Maker Space for Rooney Elementary, a Projector for the QHS Theater, and a Finish Lynx Timing System for the Track & Field program. This coming school year, we are also excited to fund projects like iPads for the Quincy Junior High Orchestra program, decodable books for literacy instruction across the district, and goalie training equipment for the QHS Soccer program. These examples demonstrate the wide range of needs within the district, as well as the desire of the Foundation to work to advance the many facets that comprise a thriving school district.

We are also very enthusiastic about the future of QPSF. Through the Nonprofit Excellence Initiative grant awarded by the Quincy Area Funder’s Collaborative, we are beginning the strategic planning process for the Foundation this fall. We are thrilled at the idea of expanding our impact within the district through the utilization of this strategic planning process and grateful for the opportunities provided with the NEI grant.

The support we have received from the Quincy community and QPS alumni around the world has been incredible and inspiring to the entire QPS Foundation team. We want you to know how appreciative we are, and how seriously we take stewarding the funds that you have donated to the organization. With your continued help, we will truly make the Quincy Public Schools experience one that sets every single student, teacher, and administrator on the path to success.

Thank you!

Heidi Lanier
Executive Director
Quincy Public Schools Foundation
lanierhe@qps.org
217-228-7112, ext. 1641

A Little About Me

I was born and raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho. After graduating high school, I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Idaho. I met my husband, Josh, during a summer job in Yellowstone National Park. Josh was born and raised in Quincy and is a proud QHS Grad, Class of 1999.

Josh and I first moved to Quincy in 2009. I finished my undergraduate degree at Quincy University. After graduating, I worked for one year in the financial aid office at QU, before accepting the Writer & Editor job at Culver-Stockton College. During that time, I also pursued my master’s degree in marketing and communications from Franklin University.

In 2015, our family relocated to Medford, Oregon. While in Oregon, I worked as the Director of Marketing for Southern Oregon PBS. We made the decision to move back to Quincy in 2021. A major deciding factor for the timing of our move was that our oldest was about to begin high school, and giving her the complete Blue Devil experience was important to our family.

Josh & I have two children, both attending Quincy Public Schools. Our family enjoys spending time at our family farm, cooking, traveling, and cheering on the Blue Devil athletic teams.