Friends of OSD - FOSD

Enhancing the educational experience for OSD students.

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OSD Garden Program Greenhouse

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Christine Bartell‘s proposal was awarded $1,500 towards construction of a new greenhouse for the OSD Garden Program, which involves students on track to receive a modified diploma. OSD’s Helping Hands program has already raised nearly $1,200 in matching funds for this project.

The Garden Program is a hands-on, cross curricular business program that will grow produce year around. It will provide goods to the school cafeteria and for sale at local farmers’ markets. It will operate a modified CSA program and farm stand and sell to local businesses, as well as staff and ODE employees. Students will develop skills in the areas of business, food production, nurseries and nutrition.

Occupational Therapy

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Beth Fertig’s proposal was awarded $487.89 for the purchase of a suspension system and equipment designed to provide movement, tactile experience, and joint pressure for students with sensory processing challenges. This will assist students who have difficulty with self-regulation to improve their behavior and attention. This equipment will assist approximately 10% of the OSD student body.

Panther TV Studio

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Due to the availability of special private funding through FOSD, Bill Cruscial’s proposal was awarded $9,000 for his grant proposal to transform the old darkroom in the OSD high school building into a modern, functioning TV studio for a Career Technical Education certified media program. The grant will be spent on remodeling, materials, media equipment and the like. This will be a unique and valuable addition to OSD’s programs.

 

Equipment for Yearbook Program

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James Smith’s proposal was awarded $873.50 for a Nikon D3100 Camera Kit, including 5 lenses, memory card, bag, flash, lens cleaning kit, reader, strap and tripod, to be used by the OSD yearbook course. This kit will enhance the teaching of digital design and photography to those students who wish to become professional photographers, professional digital editors, digital developers or amateur artists.

Mattresses, Covers and Pillows

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Roshani Shay Curtis and Jerry Curtis were instrumental in bringing 80 new pillowtop mattresses, several covers and 80 new memory foam pillows to campus for the boys’ and girls’ dorms.

The grant which paid for these wonderful boons to OSD student sleep amounted to $13,500 and was funded by the Weston Foundation. City Liquidators of Portland helped with the purchase and delivery.

Our Mission

IMG_2702The FOSD mission and purpose is to support the enhancement of programs and services for students at OSD beyond the State’s funding responsibility*. The FOSD Board has identified four initiatives for which awards may be granted:  education, cultural activities, innovative programs and minor capital improvement projects.

Founded by a small group of dedicated people in 2006, FOSD was established to support the students at the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD).  From that beginning, Friends of OSD has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an all-volunteer Board of Directors. In 2014, FOSD created an Advisory Council of 15 members.

The Friends of OSD Strategic Plan provides direction as the nonprofit continues to expand. We are proud to say that 95% of all grants and donations go directly to programs that benefit students.

*The State of Oregon is responsible for operating programs and services for the students at the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD). Federal case law establishes the expectation that special education services provided by a school be reasonably designed to ensure students make progress. Friends of OSD will not replace or supplant the responsibilities of the state.

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