The Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation plans to induct a local family into a new class of donors for the "Hall of Leaders" program at the foundation's annual gala set for Sept. 25 at Capitol Plaza Hotel.
The family of the late John A. Morris will be recognized as the first of a new class of "Legacy Donor" to the JCPS Foundation.
Morris served two terms on the JCPS Board of Education and was twice elected as president. He was also the senior vice president of Central Bank, where worked for 37 years. He died at age 90 in February 2017.
His family decided to honor him by giving $90,000 a year for an undisclosed number of years to support a preschool classroom at JCPS' Southwest Early Childhood Center. That classroom opened last August.
The JCPS Foundation will also induct five other people into its Hall of Leaders program at the gala:
Two Outstanding Retired Educators: Joyce Kaiser (posthumously) and Jerry Hoover
Two Outstanding Volunteers: Brenda Hatfield and Uma Natarajan
Distinguished Alumni honoree: Stephanie Johnson.
The gala will celebrate the foundation's 20 years of supporting excellence in the school district. There will be recognition of many grants provided by the foundation, words from JCPS Superintendent Larry Linthacum and entertainment provided by Jefferson City High School's Tonal Uproar a capella group.
The gala's reception starts at 5:30 p.m., and dinner and the program are planned to begin at 6:15 p.m.
Tickets cost $40 per person and can be purchased through the JCPS Foundation's office by contacting Karen Enloe at 573-659-3549 or [email protected], or Morgan Werdehausen at 573-659-2769 or [email protected].
RSVP is due Sept. 17.