McDonald County Schools Foundation

08/20/2026

🎉💰 Who Doesn't Love a $50 Back-to-School Surprise? 💰🎉

We were thrilled to add a little extra excitement to the McDonald County Schools Back to School Celebration this week! ❤️🖤

Eight teachers and staff members were selected at random by the McDonald County Schools Foundation to receive a $50 check! Three of our winners are new to McDonald County Schools, while five are returning staff and teachers.

Congratulations to our lucky winners! 👏🎉

❤️ Keeli Williams
❤️ Rachel Acuff
❤️ Chasity Johnson
❤️ Alenda Johnson
❤️ Dalana Fuller
❤️ Cheyenne Vilatoro
❤️ Chestina Owens
❤️ Casey Burkhart Henson

Pictured with the winners is Gary Wasson, President of the McDonald County Schools Foundation.

What a fun way to kick off a new school year! 🎉

And for us, it’s about more than just a $50 surprise. The MCS Foundation is proud to support teachers and students throughout the year through teacher grants, scholarships and other ways of helping our schools.

Every dollar donated to the Foundation goes right back to supporting the teachers and students of McDonald County Schools. ❤️🖤

Congratulations to all of our winners, and here’s to a fantastic school year ahead! 🎉

We’re proud to support McDonald County Schools, one teacher and one student at a time.

05/29/2026

❤️🖤 Honoring the Past…Investing in the Future ❤️🖤

The McDonald County School Foundation would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Anderson Alumni Association for the generous donation of $1,843.73 to support students and teachers in McDonald County Schools.

For decades, the Anderson Alumni Association brought together graduates of Anderson High School to celebrate friendships, memories, and community traditions. Through reunions, newsletters, and the faithful support of alumni through the years, the organization built something lasting — a legacy of giving back.

As the association officially closes this chapter, its members chose to invest the remaining funds into the future of McDonald County students through the McDonald County School Foundation. Their generosity will help provide opportunities, support classrooms, and continue making a difference for students and teachers across our district.

What a powerful reminder that the impact of a school community never truly ends. 💫

Thank you to the Anderson Alumni Association for preserving the spirit of Anderson High School and for continuing to support the next generation of McDonald County students! ❤️🖤

05/26/2026

🍎 Investing in Teachers. Impacting Students. ✨

The McDonald County Schools Foundation is incredibly thankful to the La-Z-Boy Foundation for their generous $12,500 donation to support teacher grants for the upcoming school year!

Foundation members recently traveled to La-Z-Boy’s headquarters in Neosho for the special check presentation with company leaders. This donation will help provide creative classroom resources, specialized equipment, innovative learning tools, and unique teaching supplies that otherwise may not fit within the district budget.

Each year, teachers across McDonald County Schools apply for grants through the foundation to bring exciting ideas and enhanced learning opportunities directly to students. Thanks to partners like the La-Z-Boy Foundation, those ideas can become reality in classrooms throughout the district.

We are grateful for community partners who believe in supporting education and investing in the future of our students! ❤️🖤

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

🎓✨ A Night of Achievement & Opportunity at McDonald County High School! ✨🎓

The McDonald County School Foundation proudly awarded nearly $26,000 in scholarships during this year’s Senior Scholarship Night—investing directly into the future of some truly deserving Mustangs. ❤️🖤

We are incredibly proud to recognize the following scholarship recipients:

🎓 MC Schools Foundation Scholarships
Jeremiah Foskuhl
Jayden Mustain
Sammi Dowd
Dawt Par
Raygan Allgood
Thomas Creason

🎓 MC Schools Foundation Belcher Nominee
Dawt Par

🎓 Poland Family Banquet Nominee
Flor Maldonado

🎓 Mike & Debbie Wood Memorial Scholarship
Taylor Craig
Tatym Trudeau

🎓 Babbitt Memorial Scholarship
Jamie Washam
Jeremiah Foskuhl

🎓 Bob & Carolyn Davis Scholarship
Carly Jackson
Taylor Craig

🎓 Randy & Lynda Smith Scholarship
Dionita Ardos

🎓 Oxner-McGaha Scholarship
Harley Collins

🎓 Martin Goldstein Memorial Scholarship
Leah Stephens

🎓 Bob Parish Memorial Scholarship
Cody Silva

To all of our scholarship winners: your hard work, dedication, and character have opened doors to incredible next steps. We are cheering you on as you move into college, careers, and beyond. The future is bright because of you! 🌟

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who continues to support the McDonald County School Foundation. Because of your generosity, these opportunities are possible for our students year after year. Your investment is making a lasting impact on lives, families, and our community. 🙌

❤️🖤

03/10/2026

❤️🖤 A Wonderful Night for Education in McDonald County ❤️🖤

What a fantastic evening at the Annual Heart of Education Banquet this past Saturday at McDonald County High School. The room was filled with community members, educators, students, and supporters who all believe in the power of public education. 🙌📚

The highlight of the evening was recognizing Mary Poland and her family with the Heart of Education Award ❤️🖤 for their decades of dedication and support for McDonald County Schools and the entire community. Their commitment to education, students, and giving back is an inspiration to us all.

Guests enjoyed incredible performances from our MCHS Theater Department, Jazz Band, and Show Choir, showcasing the amazing talents of McDonald County students. 🎭🎷🎶 The food was outstanding 🍽️, the silent auction was a big hit 🛍️, and the energy in the room made it clear just how much this community cares about our schools.

Most importantly, every dollar raised through the banquet, sponsorships, and auction will go directly back to students and teachers through the McDonald County Schools Foundation, supporting scholarships and innovative classroom initiatives that strengthen learning across the district. 🎓✏️📖

❤️🖤 Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored a table, donated auction items, volunteered their time, and continues to support the Foundation’s mission. Your generosity helps ensure that McDonald County Schools can continue providing outstanding opportunities for students and educators.

Together, we are investing in the future of our community. 🌟

03/07/2026

More items to bid on! Thanks to local businesses donating!

03/06/2026

Here are few more items to bid on at the auction….. Saturday night at MCS Foundation Banquet!

03/06/2026

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Banquet! We will be having a silent auction thanks to the support of our local businesses, students, schools and the local community that has offered a variety donations! Here are just a few….

01/20/2026

❤️ Heart of Education Award | 2026 Recipient: The Poland Family 🖤

For 2026, the McDonald County Schools Foundation proudly honors the Poland family as this year’s Heart of Education Award recipients. This family’s roots, service, and commitment to education span generations.

The Poland family’s story in McDonald County began in 1970, when Jim and Mary Poland chose Pineville as the place to raise their family. Drawn by the close knit community and strong schools, they became deeply involved not just as parents, but as volunteers, educators, and lifelong supporters of McDonald County Schools. That commitment grew into a lasting legacy.

👩‍🎓 McDonald County High School Graduates
• Kim (1980)
• Dawn (1982)
• Chris (1983)
• Jill (1985)
• Brian (1986)
• Adam (1988)
• Amy (1987)
• Melody (1989)
• Addison (2017)
• Grace (2020)

Over the years, members of the Poland family have attended or worked in every school in the district, serving as teachers, aides, substitutes, volunteers, and supporters. Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom. From school carnivals, Project Graduation, Nature’s Classroom greenhouse projects, and tree plantings, to supporting families at Christmas and Thanksgiving, donating supplies, clothing, food, scholarships, and countless hours of time. Much of it done quietly and without recognition.

The Poland family is also well known for their continued support of the McDonald County Schools Foundation, including catering the annual Foundation Banquet as a family through Timbered In Catering. What began as service has become a tradition filled with teamwork, laughter, and purpose.

❤️🖤 Join us as we honor the Poland family at the 12th Annual Heart of Education Banquet on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at McDonald County High School. The Student Showcase opens at 5:00 pm, followed by the program at 5:45 pm, with dinner served at 6:00 pm.

🎟️ Tickets and sponsorships
• Individual tickets are $50
• Table sponsorships for eight are $500 and include dinner and recognition
• Tickets must be purchased by February 20, 2026
• Payment options include check payable to McDonald County Schools Foundation (mailed to PO Box 84, Anderson, MO 64831) or Venmo

All proceeds support scholarships and teacher initiatives through the McDonald County Schools Foundation.

At the heart of it all is a shared belief passed down from Jim and Mary. Education matters. Community matters. Giving back is simply what you do.

❤️🖤 Thank you, Poland family, for loving this community, supporting public education, and living out the true meaning of the Heart of Education.