Richfield Spartan Foundation Increases Number of 2013 Scholarships

Editor's Note: The following is a letter from the Richfield Spartan Foundation.

The Richfield Spartan Foundation, Inc. has announced that due to recent significant donations, it has increased the number of scholarships it will award in 2013. The increases will be an additional Top Scholar award and two additional Against All Odds scholarships. All awards are for $500.

The Richfield Spartan Foundation, Inc. is a tax-exempt, non-profit, 501(C) (3) corporation established in 1989 to provide financial assistance to the athletic and fine arts areas of Richfield High School for expenditures not covered in the traditional education budgets.

The Foundations belief is that the future of our school and community are best served when opportunities exist for extra-curricular activities for the youth of Richfield. Its Vision is “Kids who participate in co-curricular activities are much less likely to participate in high risk behavior.”

Over its 24 year history, the Foundation has raised over $250,000 and funded over $190,000 in requests. These requests have come from a full spectrum of activities and have included new equipment, uniforms, band instruments, team and individual achievement awards and four current scholarships - the Spooner and Athena award winners representing the outstanding male and female athlete in the senior class, and the Against All Odds and the Top Scholar awards. All requests are channeled through the RHS Athletic Directors office. The scholarship winners are determined by the Richfield High School staff and coaches.

The primary source of income for the Foundation comes from the proceeds of its annual Spartan Invitational Golf Tournament. This event was originally held at Rich Acres Golf Course until its closing in 1999 and is currently hosted at the Crystal Lakes Golf Club in Lakeville. The 2013 tournament will be held on June 17^th.

Over the years, the Foundation has received donations in the form of memorials, bequeaths and charitable gifts. These proceeds have allowed the Foundation to honor funding requests over and above that allowed by the golf tournament proceeds and led to the formation of The Richfield Spartan Legacy Fund. This is an endowment fund wherein the principal will remain intact with the earnings intended to fund additional scholarships and projects. It is hoped that future contributions will allow the Foundation’s participation in larger needed projects and the granting of additional scholarships.

Persons interested in contributing to the Foundation, its Legacy Fund or participating in the annual golf tournament can find information and appropriate contacts on our Foundation website: www.spartanfoundation.com.