David Blair, president of the Kingfisher Educational Foundation and Tanya Cameron, board member, presented the program for the Kingfisher Rotary Club last week.

Blair said that the volunteer board of the foundation has now raised over $750,000, with approximately $50,000 being given out in grants to Kingfi sher Public Schools classrooms each December.

He said the goal was to raise the grant level each year to $75,000 or above.

Cameron spoke of the KEF mentoring program - Students With A Role Model (SWARM) - in which adult volunteers from the community dedicate time each week to interact and help children in the school system as needed.

She said typically the children who are mentored have home lives that could benefit from a caring adult figure outside the home.

“Once the mentors get to know these kiddos, they really begin to open up to them and it’s a very rewarding experience for both,” she said.

Cameron encouraged anyone interested in donating an hour a week to the program to contact her, or any board member.

Other board members are: Zac Kannady, Joe Voth, Kristi Hyatt, Jeff Wilcox, Jennifer Farrar, Whitney Johnson, Sara Garrett, Alberto Sanchez and Heath Redwine.

Kingfisher Superintendent David Glover also sits on the board.

Blair said the main fundraiser is the annual duck race held each July 4 at Vernie Snow Aquatic Center and he said another fundraiser was year-end donations.

He said all monetary gifts are tax deductible and encouraged those with questions to contact him or any other board member.