TCF Board Meeting Minutes: 5/5/2025

Members present:
Charity Karwowski (secretary)
Evie Berry (treasurer)
Beth Philips
Lori Keller
Shelley Dean
Becca Dillard

Members absent:
None

1. Recruitment update - Charity
Adrienne has resigned from her position as TCF Board VP.
Charity spoke to Payton Landy this morning. Payton is very interested in board participation.
She works for Walgreens, recently graduated from business school, has experience on other
boards in the past, and has tech skills.
Charity has contacted Figu, who is also interested in board membership. He is a faculty
member with the Queens University MBA program. He and Charity have not spoken yet.
Charity sent resumes for Payton and Figu to the group to review.
Shelley and Lori may try to arrange a visit to Crossway Academy/ Pediatric Therapy for board
members and potential board members who have not yet seen the school.

2. Scholarship discussion
We did not receive any new scholarship applications last week, when we extended the
deadline by another week.
We discussed clarifying questions to ask the scholarship applicants to help make our final
decision. Becca will send these questions to the applicants via Google Form, to be completed
by this Thursday 5/8/25 at 3 pm, so the board can make a final decision on scholarship
recipients on Friday 5/9/25.

Clarifying questions include:
1. How much money are you requesting, up to a maximum of $2500?
2. Is the money a scholarship, or a loan to be repaid once you receive grant funding in the
fall?
3. Do you receive full or partial grant funding?
4. Is your account with Crossway in good standing?
5. Can you share your family’s current financial situation and how this scholarship would
impact your ability to access the program? (This allows the family to discuss any special
circumstances we should consider regarding their application.)
6. Have you explored other educational options? What challenges have you faced in finding
the right support for your child?

Previously we had discussed doing phone interviews, but Evie suggested collecting this
information via email, and Becca offered to create a Google Form to send to families.
Evie suggested that the group could handle loans separately from scholarships, and the group
agreed. We could potentially provide loan money over the $10,000 budgeted for scholarships
since it will be repaid to the Foundation in the fall.
Shelley has information from Kenzie regarding full versus partial grant funding to send to the
group.
Evie asked if any other families have an outstanding balance and should be encouraged to
apply. Lori mentioned one family (Alessandro), but the family did not submit their application
last week.

3. Finance update - Evie
Evie and TCF former treasurer Brian met to discuss the TCF finances and transition the TCF
finances to her. Brian was very helpful. He will continue to write checks for TCF when needed
for now until Evie has access to the TCF bank account and PayPal. Brian shared how to track
donations as well as tax information for the foundation.
Evie is using some of her business contacts to try to get assistance transitioning the account to
her.
Lori shared that she and Becca are tracking smaller donations such as donations from the Art
Walk. Donations via Square are deposited directly into the foundation account.
Lori said we currently have a cash and check donation to deposit. Ceci had the deposit slips
for the TCF account. Charity will try to contact Ceci to get the deposit slips.
Becca is sending a donation letter to anyone who makes a donation to TCF.
Evie suggested that we encourage donors to use their employer’s match program when
available. We can provide donors with TCF’s EIN # to give their employer.

4. Fundraiser/ social event
We have cancelled our Edge City Brewery event initially scheduled on 5/10/25.
We discussed other possible dates, and Charity will contact John with suggested date of
Sunday 6/8/25, 1-4 pm.
We discussed playing bingo at the event and getting raffle prizes, such as gift cards,
Carowinds admission, tickets to local events/ performances. Lori will contact Soccer Shots,
who donated a gift basket in the past.
Evie shared that companies that provide raffle gifts can use their donation as a tax deduction.
Donating raffle gifts will also provide brand recognition for companies that participate.
We discussed possibly making T shirts with logos of sponsors/ raffle gift donors. The group
decided there is not enough time to do this prior to the 6/8 event, and we may consider this for
a future event. Evie suggested possibly making a cap, which would not require sizing like a t-
shirt.

Lori will network with some local construction companies as possible sponsors.
Becca will invite businesses from the Greylyn office park where Crossway is located.
We can make flyers/ boards with names of sponsors/ raffle gift donors to thank them.
Any funds raised will be general funds for the foundation (not restricted to scholarships).
We could consider specific information about what a donation covers. For example,

• $150 covers a social skills group
• $300 covers a week of summer camp
• $2000 (approx) covers a month of tuition, etc.

We may include pictures and quotes about some Crossway students at the event, with parental
consent. We may need a new consent specific for TCF.
We have an article in the Giving Guide for the Charlotte Business Journal and could consider
printing some copies of this to have at the event.
We have a promotional video for Crossway, and Lori speaks about the Foundation at the end of
the video.
We have a QR code for donations to the TCF that can be used at events.
Lori and Shelley will help obtain raffle prizes. Becca will help with bingo game.
This will be an end of year celebration event in addition to a fundraiser - Crossway teachers,
therapists, and families will be invited, as well as TCF board members and other community
members/potential donors.

5. Next meetings:
Friday 5/9/25, 9-10 am (vote on scholarship/ loan recipients; may also vote on inviting
Payton Landy and Figu to join board for next meeting in June)
Monday 6/2/25, 12-1 pm (will need to discuss Edge City Brewery event details)

Respectfully submitted,
Charity Karwowski
Secretary, The Crossway Foundation