News and Events

Educators make a real impact on our lives and in our community, often lasting long after we leave their classroom. We'd like to share a series of letters in thanks to D51 educators and beyond for all that they do. ...

The 10th Annual White Iced Celebration was truly one for the history books! The D51 Foundation was proud to Celebrate this year's White Iced Award Winners and Outstanding Academic Growth Schools. Thank you to all who came to celebrate with us, and for all your support...

The District 51 Foundation is pleased to announce its 9th round of Professional Learning Grant Award Recipients. A total of over $6,000 in grants will be awarded from the D51 Foundation to 15 District 51 staff members. Since 2018, the D51 Foundation has given over...

"We came back to school today energized and ready to build what we learned into our instruction."   Congratulations and a big thank you to Mesa County Valley School District 51 staff members Myra Brown, Mercy Madison, and Jessy McKinley who recently attended the "Courage to Risk...

The D51 Foundation is pleased to unveil the new date for our 10th Annual White Iced Celebration. We are looking forward to gathering with you on Friday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the CMU Outdoor Plaza Tent where we will host this year's event. It's...

It's time for the 6th Round of Bloom Where You Are Planted Grants! Since the beginning of 2020, approximately $8,800 has been granted to 85 children to pay for extracurricular activities. The Bloom Where You Are Planted Grant Fund was created by the family of Karl...

The 9th Round of Professional Learning Grants for D51 Staff is now open. Applications will be accepted until February 15, 2022. Find the application here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FSxzjerqN3by7DAOQud02-_e621Fy9ucsjdQfHVIV5E/viewform...

3 Cheers for Art! D51 Art Teachers were able to attend the 2021 CAEA Conference thanks to a generous grant for Professional Learning from the D51 Foundation. Because the mission of the D51 Foundation is focused on academic growth and achievement, we prioritize funding professional...

Donor driven designations allow donors to support students and teachers in a way that is meaningful to them. A generous donor recently donated $1000 to purchase coats for students in need. We are so grateful for their warm-hearted generosity to ensure that our kids stay...

In its 8th Round of Professional Learning Grants, the D51 Foundation funded a grant request for 5 teachers to attend the dual language education conference, La Cosecha, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to the teachers, "We were able to attend many sessions and workshops that...

The D51 Foundation is proud to participate in Colorado Gives Day this year on December 7, 2021. On Colorado Gives Day all donations made to D51F via our profile on Colorado Gives will receive a boost through a $1.6m incentive fund. See our profile to...

Thanks to generous donors and community partners, more than $2200 in funds and 44 boxes of school supplies were donated in this year’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive! Stuff the Bus has been supporting our students for over 20 years. Many of our D51...

Since 2018, the D51 Foundation has given over $72,000 to 135 D51 staff members for professional learning. These grants are funded by generous contributions from individuals and businesses throughout Mesa County. Funds are limited, and granted twice per year. Applications received from October - February...

Bloom Where You Are Planted HONORING THE LIFE OF KARL BLOOM GRANTS TO PROVIDE k-12 STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED THE SUPPORT TO ALLOW THEM TO PURSUE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES The Bloom Where You Are Planted Grant Fund was created by the family of Karl Bloom. Karl's life was an example...

The Guys Giving Club of Grand Junction makes a big difference in our community, and the D51 Foundation is grateful to be nominated and selected as the recipient of their Summer 2021 donation. The funds from the Guys Giving Club will help fund Teacher Professional...

https://www.nbc11news.com/2021/07/29/prospace-interiors-fci-constructors-make-donation-grand-mesa-middle-school-district-51-foundation/ https://www.westernslopenow.com/news/local-news/grand-mesa-middle-school-gets-new-rover-makerspace/...

Stuff the Bus has been supporting our students for over 20 years.  Many of our D51 students can't afford to purchase school supplies.  Started by Townsquare Media, Stuff the Bus has partnered with Mesa Mall, D51 Foundation, and D51 Schools to help provide much needed...

Alpine Bank has generously donated $50,000 to the D51 Foundation to provide grants specifically to be used by D51 teachers, principals, and counselors to support Social Emotional Learning needs. Grants range in all amounts: small needs and large! Two $25,000 rounds will provide immediate support...

Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner! It's time to let your teachers know how much they mean to you! Consider purchasing a paper doll and an optional coffee gift card to say "thank you" to a teacher. It's easy! The paper dolls will...

The D51 Foundation just donated over $18K to outfit six D51 classrooms as "21st Century Digital Classrooms." This is an exciting new way to support in person and remote learning through technology now that we've realized our goal of helping to achieve a 1:1 ratio...

Donate Through Colorado Gives  The D51 Foundation is a member of Colorado Gives. Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving.  In 2017 more than 153,000 donations were made to support 2,308 nonprofits for a total...

Boxes and boxes of Enstrom toffee will be arriving at schools late this week and early next week. All the toffee was generously donated by Enstrom Candies. We are so thankful to have Enstrom VP Manufacturing/Co-Owner Doug Simons, Jr. serve on our D51 Foundation Board...

Join our Celebration! Our first 10 years have been filled with celebrations, achievements, and connections. The momentum has been remarkable! That's because of generous donors and supporters like YOU! The impact of the D51 Foundation includes a total of over $800K in donations to help fund...

D51 Foundation to announce grants $13K going to local teachers, principals for training Grand Junction, CO – The District 51 Foundation is pleased to announce its 6th round of Professional Learning Grant Award Recipients. A total of $13,451 in grants will be awarded from the D51 Foundation...

  Don't forget about this year's Stuff-the-Bus! We've made it easy to donate through the foundation. Help D51 students get the supplies they need to start the school year. Click Here to Donate  ...

Donor Spotlight Roy and Pamela Blythe: A Legacy of Building As a young man, Roy Blythe went off to college hoping to become a teacher and a coach. He discovered architecture along the way and became a registered professional architect instead. Fast forward four decades, Roy...

#GJ Strong: $25,000 to D51 Foundation for staffing and food expenses for Emergency Meal Program serving 20,000 meals each week while school is not in session at neighborhood drive through sites and mobile meal truck. Funding limited to GJ Sites only. Colorado COVID Relief Fund Grant:...

Once again, the D51 Foundation is proud to be a significant sponsor of the 2020 Summer Institute. For the past four years, the D51F has used proceeds from its fundraising to financially support a portion of Summer Institute where over 500 teachers gather for professional...

Sending a big thank you to the entire community for your support! As we transition to remote learning and work to provide Chrombooks to students so they can continue their education, we want to recognize who has helped make this possible. The D51...

The D51 Foundation surprised Roy Blythe with our 1st Friend of the Foundation Award. Roy was the founder of the foundation over 10 years ago. He was driving over the mountains and stopped in Vail to pick up a paper and read that...

The Bloom Where You Are Planted Grant Fund was created by the family of Karl Bloom. Karl's life was an example to so many people about how to give back to your community. He was very involved in helping with extracurricular activities as a way...

We want to extend our congratulations to New Emerson Elementary and Principal Terry Schmalz. They were recognized during our White Iced Awards Dinner as our Foundation Spotlight School. They have been an 8-time winner of the prestigious John Irwin Excellent Award. Way...

A new program in Colorado will let you give some or all of your state income tax refund to support our work. On your return or tax software, look for the prompt to Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit and use our Registration Number: 20113031302 Find...

2020 Outstanding Academic Growth Schools English Language Arts Appleton Elementary Mesa View Elementary Scenic Elementary Shelledy Elementary Wingate Elementary Math Appleton Elementary Dual Immersion Academy Mesa View Elementary Scenic Elementary Thunder Mountain Elementary...

2020 White Iced Award Matt Borgmann                   Palisade High School Jade Decker                          Orchard Avenue Elementary Nancy Harris                        Loma Elementary Christina Horn                     Career Center Jami Lewis                            Shelledy Elementary Molly Moyer                         New Emerson Elementary Patrick Roenicke                  East Middle School Tommie Witt                        Chatfield Elementary...

It's time to dazzle in honor of our public educators in Mesa County. The White Iced Celebration presented by the District 51 Foundation is February 1st at the CMU Meyer Ballroom.  Don your best white, silver, cream, or gold attire and join the fun: dancing ,...

Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 10th The D51 Foundation is a member of Colorado Gives. Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving. https://www.coloradogives.org     The D51 Foundation is a member of Grand Valley Gives. It was formed in...

The 2019 Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce Leadership Day gave participants an in-depth look at D51.  The visit included: Welcome from Superintendent Dr. Diana Sirko Greeting from Dr. Raul de Villegas- Decker, President of D51 Foundation Lunch from The Lunch Lizard  School Bus Ride Tour old & new Orchard Mesa...