Local Campaign for WS/FCS Reaches $5.8 Million

Local fundraising efforts to support Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, students and teachers now stand at $5.8 million from 330 donors. The announcement will be made by The Winston-Salem Foundation president LaTida Smith and Education Foundation executive director Marni Eisner during tonight’s WS/FCS Board of Education meeting.

The two organizations are leading a community campaign, All In For Our Schools, to raise private dollars to help reduce the district’s debt and address immediate needs for the current school year.

Smith and Eisner will share the current dollars raised as of November 10.

WS/FCS Futures Fund:                                                               $4 million

Focused on debt reduction to the state, county, vendors and Child Nutrition Fund. This Fund has already been applied to fully repay the district’s $3.4 million debt to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

Funds Supporting Immediate School Needs:                            $1.8 million

• Education Foundation Classroom Supplies Fund            

Focused on addressing the school supplies shortfall for current 2025-26 school year.

• WS/FCS Student Success Fund                                                

Focused on specific school needs such as funding for student health assessments, volunteer background checks, ESL translation services, and other resources that help students succeed.

• Every Shelf, Every Student Book Drive                                        

Led by the nonprofit Bookmarks and supports a curated list of urgently needed books available for purchase at bookmarksnc.org

At the Monday meeting, the Board of Education also will vote to accept the first installment of funds from the WS/FCS Student Success Fund totaling $663,500. These monies will be used for custodial supplies, Pre-K classroom essentials, job training and classroom materials for students served through the Exceptional Children Department, music programs and student activity transportation costs.  

The Education Foundation plans to deliver checks from the Classroom Supplies Fund directly to the district’s more than 80 schools right after the Thanksgiving break.

“Every donation made by year-end will have a major impact on the district, our schools and our students,” said Eisner. “We want to maximize giving for the Classroom Supplies Fund so that schools have those resources in place by the start of the second semester. For the WS/FCS Futures Fund, all monies raised by December 31 also will be applied toward loan forgiveness of the $5 million owed to the county by WS/FCS.”

Smith and Eisner are working with local foundations, businesses and other donors to secure the bulk of the private funding by year-end. An example of supporting community initiatives was the special free showing of Wicked at the Truist stadium on November 7 with the Winston-Salem Dash, Candor Home Services, LLC and Candor Roofing, LLC donating $1 to All In For Our Schools for every person who registered for a free ticket. That event resulted in a $4,451 donation to All In For Our Schools.

To learn more or to make a contribution, visit www.allinforourschools.org.