Many of us that call Jamestown home were educated by our public school system. Jamestown has a long and prominent tradition of public education dating back to 1800s. As public education continues to evolve in the 21st century there are new challenges to the delivery of public education in order to keep it competitive and relevant. The Jamestown Public Schools (JPS) PROMISE Fund was formed to find new ways to promote our schools over a diverse range of support areas including music, reading fundamentals, foreign language, STEAM, and athletics — to name a few.

Currently the JPS PROMISE Fund Advisory Board is conducting a new and used athletic equipment collection drive. The drive will collect a wide-range of equipment and footwear. A comprehensive list can be found at the JPS web site at www.jpsny.org.

The drive’s opening date coincided with the 2019 Battle of the Classes on Wednesday April 17, 2019. The opening day was very successful as we collected a tremendous assortment of gear and footwear. Thank you to all who donated. The drive will close on May 10, 2019, with the Joe Paterniti Invitational Track & Field Meet at Strider Field. In between these dates collection points are set-up at all nine JPS locations as well as Jamestown Pediatrics at 816 Fairmount Ave.

Please consider a donation to this drive.

Once the collection drive is completed the equipment will be distributed by JPS athletic department staff to students who have expressed interest in a particular sport, team development, and need. The focus for distribution will be elementary and middle school students. With this collection the PROMISE Fund is aiming to encourage playtime with the equipment and free play during the summer months in the outstanding parks and green spaces throughout Jamestown.

Academic pursuits and achievements are important for our JPS students. But the balance with physical fitness and activity are just as important.

When we place all the gear and footwear collected into students’ hands this will encourage participation at all levels in both organized and spontaneous ways.

As well as tax-deductible equipment donations, monetary donations are also welcomed.

JPS PROMISE Fund was founded in 2016 as a charitable, non-endowment fund via the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. Its mission is to expand the financial capacity of JPS through private, tax-deductible fund-raising activities. The purpose is to enhance the educational programs, projects, and opportunities for the JPS District.

John Zabrodsky is a Jamestown resident and proud alumnus of Jamestown High School. He serves as the PROMISE Fund Board Chair.