HCS Launches Nonprofit Foundation Aimed at Elevating Public Education in Henry County

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Henry County Schools inaugurated the Henry County Public Schools Foundation (HCPSF) during a daylong workshop for its newly appointed Board of Trustees on Feb. 7 at Heritage Park in McDonough.

The Foundation will provide philanthropic support for the district’s students and staff to optimize the learning experience and enhance educational outcomes.

“Launching this Foundation is a significant milestone in our current, five-year Community-Inspired Strategic Plan that further enables HCS to deliver on its promise to provide a high-quality, world-class education for every student,” said Board of Education Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4), who serves as an ex officio member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “The Foundation will build on board initiatives designed to enrich the academic experience and deepen our community allegiance by cultivating partnerships and strengthening family and stakeholder engagement.”

HCS Superintendent Dr. John Pace III, Board of Education Vice Chair Annette Edwards (Dist. 2), Board of Education member Dr. Pam Nutt (Dist. 1), Foundation Director Dr. Maria A. Lumpkin, and other district leaders participated in several of the Foundation’s first official activities.

The HCPSF Board of Trustees is a diverse group that includes retired educators, parents, counselors, and local business and community leaders.

The day’s activities included work sessions, a luncheon, a pinning ceremony, and the board’s first business meeting. By the end of the workshop, Trustees adopted a mission “to inspire and empower our community to support exceptional opportunities for all students, parents, and staff” and a vision to “engage the community and invest resources that ensure access to an exceptional education for all students and staff.”

“We are thrilled to establish the Henry County Public Schools Foundation,” said Dr. Lumpkin. “With a rich history of providing public education since the mid-1800s, Henry County continues to demonstrate its commitment to excellence and innovation in education. The Foundation will play a crucial role in supporting our students and employees, ensuring our county remains a leader in public education for many years to come.”

The Foundation will support the district’s “Pursuit of Exceptional” by empowering schools, students, teachers, leaders, and HCS staff through funding priorities that support scholarships, community engagement initiatives, the arts, STEM, athletics, teacher support, and teacher innovation.

“By leveraging the generosity of our community, we can expand opportunities and access to prepare our students for college, career, and life,” said Dr. Pace, also an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees. “This transformative initiative seeks to advance educational excellence through a sustainable model of contributions to create a legacy of exceptional outcomes for generations of HCS students.”

The Feb. 7 board workshop also included the election of officers. Holly Cobb, who previously served on the Henry County Board of Education for eight years, and Marla Reddick, director of business data governance at the Coca-Cola Company, were elected president and secretary of the Board of Trustees, respectively.

“I am excited and honored to be part of the inaugural Board of Trustees for the Henry County Public Schools Foundation,” Cobb said. “I invite our community members to join us as we invest in our children’s future. Through their support, we will empower every Henry County Schools student by enhancing available resources and enriching educational experiences. I look forward to this impactful work and ensuring our students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Cobb and Reddick are accompanied on the Board of Trustees by Natasha Branch, Octavia F. Bryan, Cindy Crawford, James Xavier Johnson, Kimberly Redd, Debra O’Quinn, Alpa Panchal, Shashee Patel, Sheryl Riggins, Laura Whittaker Shortt, and Chimiya Turner-Smith.

These Trustees, supported by members of the Henry County Board of Education, are joined on the Foundation board by ex officio, nonvoting members Dr. Pace, Pope, HCS Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay, HCS Chief of Staff Summer Cox, and HCS Chief Operating Officer Barry Miles.

Though based at HCS administrative offices located at 33 N. Zack Hinton Parkway in McDonough, HCPSF will operate independently and as a separate entity from the school district.

Visit the Foundation’s newly launched website to learn more about its funding priorities and upcoming initiatives, as well as how to support public education in Henry County through volunteering, mentoring, and sponsorship. Follow HCPSF on Facebook, Instagram, and X for all the latest Foundation news and highlights.

About Henry County Schools

 Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 53 schools and located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past two decades, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000.

HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.

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