BAPS FOUNDATION PROMOTES SAMANTHA KNAPPEN

Broken Arrow Public School Foundation hires their first full-time employee

 

(Broken Arrow, OK, July, 2024) Broken Arrow Public Schools Foundation announced the promotion of  Samantha Knappen to Foundation Manager, as a full-time employee. This is the first time the BAPS  Foundation has had an employee in a full-time capacity. Knappen’s duties will incorporate even more of the development work we have seen from her in the past year.

 

At the final meeting of the 23-24 fiscal year, the BAPS Foundation voted unanimously to promote  Knappen. She began her work in April of 2023 as Foundation Coordinator, the second employee to fill that role for BAPS Foundation. Since that time, the Foundation has seen an increase in fundraising and awareness.

 

“Samantha has been an invaluable employee to our organization. We are thrilled to extend her part-time position into full-time employment. I, personally, am looking forward to seeing how she helps grow the foundation,” said Charla Lane, BAPSF Vice President.

 

Knappen came to the BAPS Foundation from her position as Events Manager at The Salvation Army Tulsa.  Before that, she worked for Volunteers of America, as Development Coordinator. She also served as  Foundation Coordinator at the former Friends of the Fairgrounds in Tulsa, OK.

 

In the past year, all three major BAPS Foundation events experienced increases. The 22nd annual golf tournament saw a $10,000 increase. Tiger Tailgate registered twice as many vendors, and the 4^th annual  BBQ & Bingo event grossed over $81,000, almost $20,000 over the previous year’s total. This is a record high for BAPS Foundation’s BBQ & Bingo event, and the most raised at a single event since 1992.

 

Another first this year is that WRA Architects increased their support to be a Friends of the Foundation sponsor. WRA’s $10,000 sponsorship ensures that they will receive VIP treatment at all three BAPS  Foundation fundraisers this school year.

 

 

 

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Since 1992, the Broken Arrow Public Schools Foundation has been dedicated to the teachers and students of Broken Arrow by positively impacting education. From providing teacher grants to funding district-wide programs, the Foundation connects the community with the educational process and is dependent upon the financial endorsement of Broken Arrow school supporters. BAPS Foundation is led by 30 volunteer board of directors who are community members with a combined mission to enhance the educational experience of our students for success in life. www.BAPSFoundation.org