Giving Opportunities

Your donation makes a big difference! We have a number of different funds to which you may contribute and make an impact on the education of children in our district. These include educational grants, emergency assistance funding, scholarships, and other funds that are supporting and creating educational opportunities for children at Topeka Public Schools.

Annual Campaign

The TPS Foundation kicks off each school year with a district-wide employee campaign. Corporate and community giving is also received throughout the year. If you are one of the staff, businesses, or individuals from the community who have contributed to the Foundation, we thank you for your support!

Scholarships

The Topeka Public Schools Foundation administers scholarships to encourage continued study in college, university or technical school. Each scholarship has its own qualifying requirements and awards committee. If you would like more information, or if you are interested in offering a scholarship, please contact the TPS Foundation office at (785) 295-3018. You may also target gifts to help bolster one or more scholarships. To donate to any of the below scholarships, please click here.

Major General Stephen Reeves Teaching Profession Scholarship

Five, $2,000 Major General Stephen Reeves Scholarships were established in 2022 to provide financial assistance to qualifying TPS teachers pursuing a master's degree at an accredited institution and willing to continue to teach in TPS post graduation.

Packet: Click Here

Online Application: Click Here

The McFarland TWHS Science Award

This annual student monetary award was created by Dr. Carl McFarland. The award is to recognize an outstanding TWHS science student.

Packet: Click Here

Online Application: Click Here

TWHS Class of '67 Teaching Award

This annual award was created by TWHS classmates Dr. Carl McFarland, Cynthia Schmidt Heath, Dr. Judy Joss, Dr. Neal Satten, and Dr. David Reibstein. The purpose of the award is to present an annual cash award in recognition and honor of an outstanding TWHS teacher.

Packet: Click Here

Online Application: Click Here

Student Survey Form: Click Here

Information for Donors: Click Here

BERNICE AND LARRY ROBBINS SCHOLARSHIPS

The Bernice and Larry Robbins Scholarships were established in 2012 by Larry “LR” Robbins, a 1967 graduate of Highland Park High School, as a Robbins family legacy initially honoring Highland Park High School. Three $1,000 scholarships are available annually to any TPS graduating minority senior.

Packet: Click Here

Online Application: Click Here

BRIAN MACDONALD SCHOLARSHIP FOR CULINARY ARTS

The Brian MacDonald Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to one qualified Topeka Public Schools junior student who is planning to attend the Washburn Institute of Technology, Culinary Arts program with intentions to receive a 48 credit hour technical Culinary Arts Certificate.

Scholarship Information:

1. One $1600.00 scholarship will be awarded.

2. The scholarship will be renewed during their senior year if the scholarship recipient continues to stay enrolled, makes progress toward earning the Culinary Arts Certificate at Washburn Institute of Technology and maintains a GPA of 2.0.

3. The scholarship will be paid to Washburn Institute of Technology in the name of the student.

Packet: Click Here

Online Application: Click Here

Christopher S. Edmonds Prize for Debate and Forensics Excellence

Scholarship for THS graduates displaying interest and proficiency in debate and forensics.

Packet: Click Here

A national television network, in concert with developing a televised documentary of Highland Park High School called "Undercover High", donated TPSF funds to provide scholarships and support to HPHS students. This fund is open-ended and any donor(s) may make additional contributions to the principal balance at any time.

Award(s) from this fund shall be made to:

Any qualified graduating student(s) from Highland Park High School (see application for specific qualifications).
Prior to post-secondary graduation, student(s) agrees to provide 30 hours of service to Topeka Public Schools.
Service type(s) & location(s) will be approved by the TPS Superintendent or Superintendent designee

Packet: Click Here

Online Application: Click Here

Nancy Epoch Topeka West High School Scholarship

In 2024, the graduates of Topeka West established a designated scholarship fund in honor of Nancy Epoch, a Topeka West graduate and vocal music teacher at her alma mater. Nancy was also musical director at Helen Hocker Theatre and was active in Topeka Civic Theatre. The Fund was created to establish a scholarship to award deserving students who plan to further their education majoring in vocal music or musical theatre.

Packet: Click Here

Online Application: Click Here

Anderson Trust Fund

In 1998, John and Marcella Anderson established a fund designed to provide emergency grants to students in Topeka Public Schools. The Anderson Trust Fund provides students with an annual emergency grant to address needs as determined by the educators working directly with him or her. Unfortunately, each year the need for emergency assistance is greater than the funds available.

Your gifts can help a student in need. If you are an educator and know of a student who needs to benefit from this fund, complete and submit the linked referral application.

Referral Application: Click Here

Partnerships and Initiatives

Clayton Wealth Partners

In 2021, Clayton Wealth Partners made contributions to the Topeka Public Schools Foundation's elementary school programs

Private Donor

In 2021 and 2024, a private donor provided the Topeka Public Schools Foundation with a $10,000 stock donation.

Topeka Community Foundation

In 2020, Topeka Public Schools began a prescription drug (Rx) partnership with the Topeka Community Foundation.

Cox Communications

In 2019, Cox Communications chose Topeka Public Schools to be the recipient of the "I See Me" grant. The grant replaced books at Williams Science & Fine Arts Magnet School with books reflecting the cultural diversity of our student population.

Target Distribution Center

In 2016, the Target Distribution Center chose Topeka Public Schools to be recipients of the annual Day of Service activities.

Advisors Excel

In 2015, Advisors Excel gifted Topeka Public Schools elementary schools with school supplies. They continue to be a generous Topeka Public Schools partner every year.

NOTO Arts Center

In April 2015, NOTO Arts Center in partnership with the Topeka Public Schools Foundation developed and supplied banners in the NOTO district.

The Kansas State Nurses Association

In 2015, The Kansas State Nurses Association provided school nurses with equipment to support student health needs.

AT&T

In 2013, AT&T gave the Topeka Public Schools Foundation a monetary award in support of the Topeka High School AVID program.

Lynn & Lew Mills Young Readers Book Fund

In 2004, Mr. and Mrs. Mills established a designated fund through the Topeka Public Schools Foundation. This fund provides additional resources for book purchases at McEachron Elementary School. If you would like to start a special designated fund, please contact the TPS Foundation office at (785) 295-3018.

Parents As Teachers (PAT) Pine Ridge Project

The Topeka Public Schools Foundation, in collaboration with Topeka Housing Authority and TPS Parents as Teachers, supported an outreach program designed to serve 40 families with children prenatal to age three living in the Pine Ridge Community Center. Programs available to families include personalized home visits, weekly play groups and a book and toy lending library. TPS Foundation dollars were used to develop the lending library, serving over 100 children.

TPS Summer Music Program

An annual Topeka Public Schools Foundation-sponsored Summer Music Program was initiated in 2010. It provides an opportunity for participation in band, strings and choir beyond the traditional school year. The Program is held at a TPS high school on a rotating basis June. It provides music instruction during the summer to retain and enhance skills of band and strings for third through eighth grade students. An additional component is an Honor Choir for fourth through eighth grade students, who are chosen to participate through auditions. Approximately 200 elementary and middle school students participate in the program annually. Additionally, ten high school students participate as mentors.

Enrollment includes students from every school in the district. The program affords an opportunity for full-scale participation of every interested student without imposing a registration fee. The TPS Summer Music Program helps strengthen the district's music program.

Leave a legacy

Honor the anniversary, birth, life and more of someone by making a Topeka Public Schools Foundation contribution in the name of a company or individual. If requested, certificates, when appropriate, can be sent to the individual or company to inform them of the honor.

Honor an Educator

Make a contribution in living memory or in tribute of a special occasion. Honor a friend, relative, colleague or a Topeka Public Schools teacher who has made a difference to you or your children. Send a memorial contribution in recognition of a death. Your recipient will receive a personalized certificate to keep and cherish the honor. The Topeka Public Schools Foundation will receive a gift that will continue educational opportunities for Topeka youth. The certificate can be delivered by us, or you can deliver it yourself and express your sentiment in person.

No finer tribute can be paid than to show sympathy for a loved one to encourage the values and perpetuate the principles you admire.

More Information and Form: Click Here

Walk of Honor

The Topeka Public Schools Foundation is the proud developer of the TPSF Walk of Honor project. The Walk of Honor serves two purposes: 1. to honor 2. as a fundraiser. Funds raised benefit the students of Topeka Public Schools.

The Walk of Honor, located at the main entrance to Burnett Administrative Center, affords all the opportunity to purchase a brick in honor of an individual, organization or school of their choice!

For more information and to purchase a brick - Click Here

Engage students in the highest quality of learning • Prepare students for responsible, productive citizenship • Inspire excellence for a lifetime

We Support Equal Opportunities

The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program, or activity provided by the school district. For students, the Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 compliance coordinator is the General Counsel for the district. For employment, the EEO/AA and Title VII compliance officer is the general director of human resources. Compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000. The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations, and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3059 or by writing to 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611-1294.