The Hardin Valley Academy Foundation will partner again this year with the national Giving Tuesday movement.  The Giving Tuesday movement was created to give people another option to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday consumer-focused days.  Giving Tuesday (the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving) is an opportunity to put your dollars into something substantial.  The HVA Foundation looks forward to sharing stories that show how Foundation Funds (donated by people just like you) translate into teacher and student growth at Hardin Valley Academy.

(January 2016) When shopping on Amazon, try using Amazon Smile instead!  Amazon Smile donates 0.5% of all sales to the charity of your choice.  Select Hardin Valley Academy Foundation as your charity and 0.5% of all your Amazon purchases goes to fund Foundation projects at HVA..Login at smile.amazon.com and select the "Hardin Valley Academy Foundation."  Thanks!

(October 2015) From Ms. Wash (Journalism teacher at HVA) - The HVA Foundation has done some wonderful things for the students and teachers at Hardin Valley. In 2013, my journalism students wanted to start a broadcasting component to our newspaper class. We did not have the equipment to be able to do this. The foundation approved our request for a DSLR camera that shoots film as well as high-quality photos. Since then, our students have started video announcements that air every day. They have also produced award-winning videos showing student life and events around HVA. Without the foundation's help, my students would not have been able to have an enriching learning experience that has given them skills they can use beyond their time here. The foundation has been a great resource to further professional development of our teachers. This past summer, I had the opportunity to go to a national journalism adviser's seminar, so that I could get a refresher on best practices in scholastic journalism. I was able to bring things that I learned back to my class immediately, so that I could teach and give my students more opportunities to practice good journalism..

(April 2015) The Hardin Valley Academy Foundation is proud to announce the funding summary for bequests and awards made to teachers and staff of Hardin Valley Academy (HVA).  These technology, educational and professional awards were made during the 2014 calendar year (Jan – Dec).  They represent the Foundation's mission to maintain, support and enhance the high standards of excellence for HVA.

The 2014 awards included $7236 in professional development awards, $2075 in technology awards and $3734 for school infrastructure needs.  Awards were distributed among 14 teachers and the library, guidance and administrative staff.  Gary Rowcliffe, Foundation President, noted “It is a joy to fund these worthy causes knowing that the money directly impacts the daily lives of the students and staff at HVA.”

A few highlights from the 2014 awards include:

• purchase of iPads for the guidance counselors to use in lunchroom counseling sessions, on-the-go conferences, and interactive student guidance meetings

• enlisting the services of the Knoxville Community Design Center to create a preliminary design for the multi-feature outdoor classroom and

• funding travel costs for over 10 staff members to attend professional training (e.g., English teacher to attend the Smithsonian Summer Institute to learn techniques for using art and historical artifacts to enrich classroom lessons, finance teacher to attend Jump$tart National Educator conference, science teacher to attend the STEM Leaders’ Academy, vice principals to attend the Science of Smarter Minds workshop, etc.).

Future funding efforts will focus on improving the audio system in our auditorium used by choral, band, orchestra and theater groups along with improvements to the entry areas including shade and weather protection.  Outdoor classroom funding is a priority with the initial goal of installing a teaching greenhouse.

HVAF was formed in October 2012, and is operating under the educational, literary, and scientific meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as an approved non-profit organization by the IRS.  The Foundation is one of the three support organizations for HVA, which include the Hardin Valley Academy Athletic Council (HVAAC) and the PTSA.

(November 2014) All pledges to the HVA Foundation help support the staff and enhance the classrooms that surround our kids as they develop the intellect and skills necessary for life beyond high school

Knoxville, TN, November 24, 2014 –  Hardin Valley Academy Foundation, Inc. has joined #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners—charities, families, businesses and individuals—to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. Coinciding with the Thanksgiving Holiday and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support and help create a better world. Taking place December 2, 2014 – the Tuesday after Thanksgiving – #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with holiday shopping.

The Foundation's mission statement is directly tied to improving technology resources, funding professional development opportunities, and improving the physical facilities at HVA.  To improve our funding sources and reach a wider donor base, we have engaged in a relationship with the #GivingTuesday campaign through our partner NetworkForGood.

"Our board was very impressed with the new DonateNow page we recently added to our Foundation website. The page is run by NetworkForGood who have tremendous resources for non-profit organizations," stated President Gary Rowcliffe. "We were pleasantly surprised by all the help they could provide our organization, especially help in launching a campaign for our Foundation, spearheaded by this day of annual giving campaign, #GivingTuesday," Rowcliffe elatedly said. "I was happy to see other local non-profits, like the United Way chapter here, and our American Cancer Society chapter, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bethany Christian Services, the local YMCA's, the Junior League, even our Zoo - all are partners in this campaign. This gives new meaning to think globally, act locally, as this campaign is in growing in 20+ other countries."

“#GivingTuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation. “The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world."

(July 2014) The Hardin Valley Academy Foundation is proud to announce the funding completion of the spring semester awards and bequests to various teachers and staff of Hardin Valley Academy (HVA).  These technology, educational and professional awards were made during the school academic year of 2013/2014 which recently ended in June, 2014.  They represent the Foundation's mission to maintain, support and enhance the high standards of excellence for HVA.   Funds and contributions to the Foundation are used specifically to further the education and professional development of the staff; improve and enhance the technology facilities at HVA; and to improve the physical plant and education needs at HVA.

The 2013/2014 school calendar year award totals were approximately $11,219 in professional development awards, $2,440 in technology awards and $1,771 for educational needs, distributed  amongst 12 teachers and the library staff.  Several important requests remain to be fulfilled, including the acute need for a language lab and its related facilities. This is one of the priority funding needs for the school, others being school wide technology upgrades, an outdoor class room (currently in the design phase) and a set of teaching greenhouses. 

The Foundation leadership is comprised of President Gary Rowcliffe, Treasurer Rene' Graves, Secretary Kristie Gaulton, Principal Sallee Reynolds and board members Tom Feiten, Doug Shover, Norm Templeton, David Combs, Donna Offutt, Susan Perry (PTSA  representative), and Maureen Cianciolo (HVAAC representative).  Chris Martin, an attorney with Ayres & Parkey in West Knoxville, has voluntarily served as legal counsel for the Foundation.  Donna Offutt is chair for the Grant Committee, Tom Feiten serves as chair for the Corporate Development committee, Doug Shover serves as chair for the Capital Campaign (2014) committee, and HVA Principal Sallee Reynolds serves as chair for the Bequests & Awards committee.

Gary Rowcliffe stated that "the Foundation board is very happy to be able to present these awards to our teachers and staff. Our talented board is grateful to be able to work on this wonderful opportunity for the Hardin Valley Academy community and to be involved creating positive experiences at our school.  We are working hard to establish funding channels to supplement our teacher’s requests, which are very important to them given the budget constraints our schools operate under.”

HVAF was formed October 2012,  and is operating under the educational, literary, and scientific meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as an approved non-profit organization by the IRS. The Foundation is the newest of the three support   organizations for HVA, which include the Hardin Valley Academy Athletic Council (HVAAC) and the PTSA. Knoxville's newest high school opened its doors in August, 2008.