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.

Christopher S. Edmonds Prize for Debate and Forensics Excellence

Scholarship for students displaying interest and proficiency in debate and forensics. Click here to download an application packet.

Cade Blenden
Cade Blenden
2021 Christopher S. Edmonds Prize for Debate and Forensics Excellence Scholarship Recipient

Claire Elise Fisher Inspiration Award

For TWHS graduates.

Goheen-Callaway Scholarship

In 2009, upon the retirement of Doug Goheen, the graduates of Topeka West established a designated scholarship fund in honor of Doug Goheen and his long time collaborator and tech director at Topeka West, Mike Callaway. This scholarship coincided with the board of the Topeka Public Schools renaming the theater at Topeka West the Douglas P. Goheen Auditorium. The Fund was created to establish a scholarship to award deserving theater students who will go on to pursue a career in the arts. Click here to download the application.

Kaitlyn Bartlett
Kaitlyn Bartlett
2021 Goheen-Callaway Scholarship Recipient

Roger Dirks and Cindy Capellari Future Minority Teacher Scholarship

A scholarship for Topeka Public Schools graduates interested in majoring in elementary or secondary education. Click here for the application packet.

Cristian Munoz
Cristian Munoz
2021 Roger Dirks and Cindy Capellari Future Minority Teacher Scholarship Recipient

Susan K. Rogers Scholarship for Future Teachers

Retiring from Topeka Public Schools after a long and dedicated career, Dr. Susan Rogers established a scholarship for graduating TPS students to encourage greater numbers of quality educators. Your contributions to this scholarship will help grow the support these future teachers will receive. Click here for an application packet.

Zoie Kincade
Zoie Kincade
2021 Susan K. Rogers Scholarship Recipient

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. Today, three $1,000 scholarships are available annually to any TPS graduating minority senior. Click here to download an application packet.

Alexa Cabrera
Alexa Cabrera
2021 Bernice and Larry Robbins Scholarship Recipient

Drs. Stanley and Tiffany Anderson Scholarship

Stanley Anderson, M.D. and Tiffany Anderson Ed D., TPS Superintendent created the Stanley & Tiffany Anderson scholarship.This scholarship is to provide financial assistance to a Topeka Public Schools graduating senior(s) with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA enrolling in college or who will enroll in college within six months of graduation to further their education with an emphasis on degree completion. Click here to download an application packet.

Azarion Perkins

Azarion Perkins
2021 Drs. Stanley & Tiffany Anderson Scholarship Recipient

2018 Highlander HPHS Scholarship

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 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:

  1. Any qualified graduating student(s) from Highland Park High School (see application for specific qualifications).
  2. 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.

Click here to download the application.

Andrea Cassell
Andrea Cassell
2021 Highlander HPHS Scholarship Recipient

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.

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, 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. In 2009, a fund at Avondale East Elementary school was also established. 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 expended to develop the lending library serving in 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 in the month of 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, 10 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 an attractive 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. Click here for the flyer and form.

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.

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