Toledo Public Schools Superintendent Romules Durant has made “TPS Proud” the rallying cry for the city’s school district. Now, with an ambitious agenda from a new executive director, the nonprofit foundation created to support the district will aim to leverage that pride to bring TPS more tangible support from alumni, local businesses, and the rest of the community.
The foundation, which has been run with volunteer leadership in recent years, recently tapped United Way and ProMedica veteran Erica Halada to lead the organization.
Ms. Halada has big plans for the foundation. It can provide more than scholarships to a few dozen students each year. It can become the source of funding for many of TPS’ needs, including classroom grants, increased preschool opportunities, and capital projects.
Even more than that, Ms. Halada envisions using the foundation as a mechanism for connecting TPS with its alumni and with the Toledo area’s business community.
Ms. Halada wants to tap local businesses to provide volunteers, donate materials, or create programs at their companies that benefit TPS.