PPEF earns over $100K

It was a blockbuster night on Saturday for the annual Pilot Point Educational Foundation Gala, as community members, businesses, city officials and Pilot Point ISD staff showed up in support.

The theme was “Lights, Camera, Auction!” and community members placed bids in both the silent and live auctions at the UNT Gateway Center in Denton.

“We just have such a generous community and people that have big hearts, and I am so forever thankful that they wanted to choose us and our students, because we know that our students will shape the future,” PPISD Superintendent Dr. Shannon Fuller said. “And if we continue to invest in them, we will continue to make sure that Pilot Point will shine forever!” With items ranging from treats and baskets to outdoor activities, two dozen homemade cinnamon rolls by Monica David, Luck of the Irish Lottery Tickets by the first grade, Blackstone Burner Griddle with Accessories donated by Texas Republic Bank, and a service Call from Capital Plumbing, as listed in the Gala's pamphlet.

The money raised goes toward Pilot Point ISD seniors who demonstrate a strong ambition to pursue postgraduation education.

Pilot Point facility and staff can also apply for mini grants for classroom items.

The event raised the most money in the foundation's history, reaching over $100,000.

Although the official number has not been released, PPEF President Lee Ann Ray estimated the total is around $125,000.

“The town supports itself, and we appreciate that so much,” she said. “We want the people of the town to support the businesses in town, because that's what supports the foundation.”

Ray expressed her gratitude to the sponsors, donors and buyers for making the night a huge success.

The largest singular donation came from the Pilot Point Opera House Foundation, previously known as the Pilot Point Community Opera House.

President Bryan Sartain spoke at the podium, joined by Vice President Lane Pierce and Secretary-Treasurer Micky Nortman.

Sartain shared that after selling the location to “private hands,” it prompted the dissolution of the former organization, and under state law charities are required to give their remaining money to another charity.

“We couldn't think of anything that fulfilled the mission of the Community Opera House any better than to take our funds and provide them to the education of Pilot Point students,” Sartain said.

The donation of $60,000 will go into three scholarship funds of $20,000 each.

The scholarship plans to stay true to its roots, Pierce said later in the evening.

“What we didn't go into the detail on is that these will be scholarships for students in the arts,” Pierce said.

The rest of the proceeds donated will also be put to good use, Sartain said.

“The remaining money will go into another endowment for mini grants, and those mini grants will then go to teachers that are involved in arts and so forth,” he added.

The gala bridged Pilot Point's past and future for former scholarship recipients including Natalie Degraffenreid- Teague and board members such as Marilyn Weber, both of whom were attending with family.

Weber was one of the founding members of the education foundation and recalled its first gala in 1999.

“The first gala that we did was at a horse ranch, and we had to set up a tent and order everything in,” Weber said. “It was just worth every bit of it. I have no regrets.”

Being there Saturday brought tears to her eyes as she witnessed the foundation’s evolution.

For Degraffenreid-Teague, who grew up and graduated from Pilot Point, attending this event is special to her and her family.

'The scholarships helped me with my education,” she said. “I'm now a nurse practitioner.'

She added that being able to serve and give back to the community that has given so much to her has “just been such a blessing.”

“Now my husband's involved, and we love it,” Degraffenreid- Teague said. “We look forward to it every year. I'm just excited for the future of Pilot Point.”