As the VCS Foundation Employee Giving Campaign enters Week 3, one teacher shares what can happen when someone chooses to BelieVe in an idea.
For the first two weeks of the VCS Foundation's BelieVe. GiVe. NeVer Quit. Employee Giving Campaign, we've focused on telling the stories behind the giving. We've seen VCS Foundation support create hands-on learning experiences for elementary students. We've met a VCS graduate whose VCS Foundation scholarship became part of a journey to Morehouse College and a professional internship with Southern Company. As Week 3 begins, we're sharing another kind of story. This one started with an idea.
What If We Tried This?
Jessica Mauser, a teacher at J.L. Lomax Elementary School and a 2025–26 Top 3 Finalist for VCS Teacher of the Year, wanted to create a new experience for her students: the school's inaugural Color Run.
The VCS Foundation helped make it possible. Click here to view her video.
With support from the VCS Foundation, an idea became an opportunity for students to participate, have fun, be active and create memories together. And that's an important part of what your Foundation giving makes possible throughout Valdosta City Schools. Sometimes the impact is a scholarship. Sometimes it's a field trip that brings a science standard to life. Sometimes it's a resource that a teacher needs in the classroom. And sometimes it's simply helping an educator take a great idea and turn it into something real for students.
That's the story behind the giving.
Week 3: Now We're Asking More Wildcats to Join Us
For two weeks, we've shown what happens when someone chooses to BelieVe. Now we're asking more VCS employees to become part of what happens next.
As Week 3 begins, 166 VCS employees have committed to monthly payroll deduction, while another 19 employees have made one-time gifts. That's 185 Wildcats who have already chosen to BelieVe and GiVe. And the momentum is growing. Since our last update, 12 more employees have joined as monthly donors. The VCS Foundation's goal is to grow from 351 monthly employee donors last year to 400 monthly donors this year. With 166 monthly donors participating so far, we're looking for 234 more Wildcats to join us before September 30.
A monthly gift doesn't have to be large to matter. Even $5 a month joins the gifts of coworkers across Valdosta City Schools and helps strengthen the VCS Foundation's ability to support students, employees, classrooms, schools and opportunities throughout the district. Because somewhere in VCS, there's another teacher with an idea, another student who needs an opportunity, and another experience waiting to happen.
And sometimes all it needs is someone willing to BelieVe.
💛 Monthly Payroll Deduction: Join the campaign with a monthly gift
💛 One-Time Gift: Make a one-time gift
Employees who prefer a traditional paper donation form may request one through the VCS Foundation, and copies can be delivered to their school or department.
All campaign forms and one-time payments must be received by Wednesday, September 30. Employees who contribute at least $5 per month or make a one-time gift of at least $60 will also be entered into the VCS Foundation's employee gift card drawing.
Thank you to the 185 Wildcats who have already chosen to BelieVe and GiVe. For everyone else, there is still time to become part of the next story.
BelieVe. GiVe. NeVer Quit. Four weeks to make an impact that could last a lifetime.