EFN Spotlight: John Hovie
1. Do good for youth. In turn, they keep you young.
John is a retired principal and classroom teacher from the Neenah Joint School District . He started as a rural school teacher in Reedsville in 1950, teaching all eight grades. After he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1953, he went on to become the principal of the brand new Sunset School in Sturgeon Bay. (He would later return in 2003 for the school’s closing ceremony, where he was able to reminisce about the early years.) In 1963, Hovie moved to Neenah and was principal of Taft, McKinley and Lincoln Schools. Under his leadership, Taft Elementary was the first school in the state to offer early childhood education for young children with speech delays.
The EFN was founded in 1986. Hovie retired from the classroom in 1990, joined the EFN in 1991 and assumed the presidency of the foundation in 1992. Hovie's vision is to reach the $1 million mark for EFN's endowment. "The future of our youth, and community, depend on it," he insists.
2. Never waste resources.
“The only thing wasted was the squeak.” That’s how he remembers helping butcher hogs during the Great Depression!
Hovie is serious and pensive about the precious donations that have been made to the foundation over the years. This is the reason why he and the board of directors contracted with the Community Foundation to make the Educational Foundation of Neenah a charitable fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. “Building the endowment creates a permanent base of support for the work we do. It provides more stability to weather difficult times. It assures that the funds will be invested safely and wisely by local money managers and that donors’ charitable intent will be followed even if our organization changes,” Hovie explained.
Hovie is convinced EFN will reach its $1 million mark. Communities much smaller than Neenah have already reached this goal, and he believes the association with the Community Foundation, its wise investment strategies and experience in working with donors will be key to reaching this goal. “It’s a focus on the future,” he explained, “and what is our future without well-educated young people?”
3. Innovate to reach your goals
The mission of the Educational Fund of Neenah is to improve the well-being of children, teachers and families by enhancing the quality, accessibility and diversity of learning opportunities within the school community. Hovie sees one role of the EFN as a way to attract and retain talented teachers who come up with creative teaching techniques for the students they come to know so well. “So often, teachers come to know the personality of their class only as the school year progresses and after the budgets have been completed. If they have a new idea about how to engage their students, they can apply for foundation funds to make it a reality. That’s so energizing as an educator, to feel supported and respected for your extra efforts and to see your students respond with enthusiasm.”
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