Sparta Education Foundation wlcomes new members

SPARTA — Andy Garger recently became a trustee of the Sparta Education Foundation, and Sparta High School senior Erin Scott was named a student liaison.
Scott will work with current Student Liaison Bayleigh Takacs, who is also a senior. The Student Liaison program keeps students informed about the Sparta Education Foundation (SEF), upcoming grants, and the availability of grant funding; increases awareness about past and present grants the foundation has funded; engages students to give their input about future grants and encourages student participation in SEF fundraising projects and volunteer efforts.
“We are so happy to welcome Andy as our newest Board member and Erin as our Student Liaison,” said Sparta Education Foundation President Danielle Dykstra. “I know they will both have a positive impact on the Foundation, and we are looking forward to their new ideas and future contributions.”
Garger is a longtime Sparta resident who has been involved with numerous non-profit organizations including Amp The Vibe, a group that promotes helping and uniting people through music. Amp the Vibe hosted the Spring Spin-Off DJ Battle at Sparta High School in May, an event that raised funds for the Isak Anderson Foundation. Garger is also involved in the non-profit group Play For Your Cause which promotes FireFan, a fundraising sports app. He has been an active volunteer with SEF and is looking forward to serving now as a board member. Garger is a sales representative of South Shore Outdoor and a real estate agent with Realty Executives. He and his wife, Betty, are the proud parents of Amanda and Drew, both graduates of Sparta High School.
Erin Scott is the Senior Class President, a member of the Sparta High School Student Council, and was named to the Principal’s Scholar Honor Roll. Scott is on the high school’s varsity volleyball, basketball and softball teams, is in honors band and the Chinese National Honor Society, and is interested in video production. An outstanding student athlete, she was named to the New Jersey Herald’s 2017 All-Herald Softball First Team. Her plans after graduation in 2018 include attending Lafayette College where she plans to major in International Affairs and will play Division 1 Softball.
Since 2006, the Sparta Education Foundation has funded over $879,144 in grants to all five of Sparta’s public schools. The Foundation is an independent, non-profit, all-volunteer organization whose mission is to engage the entire community in philanthropic giving. Visit spartaeducationfoundation.org for more information about joining or volunteering.