logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinions
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Oklahoma children will benefit from Family Foundation investment
commentary
April 9, 2025
Oklahoma children will benefit from Family Foundation investment
By JOE DORMAN OICA CEO

OKLAHOMA CITY – Beyond the positive legislation that survived the Legislature’s deadline last week, many with overwhelming support, there was a tremendous financial gift given to Oklahoma. This support will undoubtedly provide a positive impact for children in need of hope.

I had the pleasure of being invited to the announcement of a $10 million matching initiative provided by Arnold Ventures over the next four years for Oklahoma youth programs. The partnership will initially focus on communitydriven programs that have a demonstrated record of unlocking students’ potential.

“This partnership highlights our commitment to world-class education, workforce readiness, and ensuring every young Oklahoman has the tools they need to achieve their full potential and thrive,” proclaimed Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Laura and John Arnold, the founders and co-chairs of Arnold Ventures, were present at the announcement where more than 100 Oklahomans gathered to hear the news.

“With policymakers facing increasingly complex problems and the need to balance budgets, it’s crucial to support strategies with the greatest potential to drive real, measurable outcomes for children, families, and communities,” said Laura Arnold. “We look forward to working with Governor Stitt and his team in Oklahoma on this significant partnership.”

I had the opportunity to personally visit with the Arnolds following the announcement. Their excitement about the opportunity to do good in our state was obvious, and I certainly appreciate what their donation will do for many areas of the work that the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) supports through our collaborative partners.

Potential initiatives which would bolster areas of need that were included in the release, though certainly not limited to these, are:

• Saga Tutoring – This proven educational intervention provides intensive math tutoring services to 9th and 10th graders in lowincome high schools. Large, well-conducted randomized controlled trials found that Saga produced a sustained increase in students’ math achievement.

• Wendy’s Wonderful Kids – This program recruits adoptive families for children in foster care or other out-of-home placements. A large, well-conducted randomized controlled trial found Wendy’s Wonderful Kids increased adoption rates by more than one-third over a period of several years.

Both of these policy areas are points where Oklahoma has been struggling. There is legislation going through this session which could also provide improvements. House Bill 2030, authored by Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City and Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Oklahoma City, would increase foster care rates to help care for those youth.

There is also Senate Bill 215 by Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, and Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, RClinton, which would create the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act, a directive to screen students in grade school and provide interventions to help those who are struggling.

Thank you again to the Arnolds for this generous support for Oklahoma’s youth.

If you have a program you feel might qualify and benefit from financial assistance through these matching funds, which includes public school districts, contact Brian Bobek of DHS at Brian.Bobek@gov. ok.gov for more information.

Such investments with private dollars are increasingly vital for providing services to assist in areas of need. I also want to thank all those many Oklahoma family foundations and philanthropists that provide generous support for improving the quality of life for Oklahomans. OICA certainly benefits from those foundations who support our mission.

If you are in a position in life where you would like to see a mission supported beyond your own time of life, consider reaching out to one of the several foundation management organizations in Oklahoma to establish your own private family foundation with an endowment. This will ensure the work of charitable organizations that you cherish may continue to do good well into the future.

Seminole survives Checotah 34-27
B:, sports
Seminole survives Checotah 34-27
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
The Seminole Chieftains were lucky to go home with a 34-27 win over the Checotah Wildcats Friday night. Checotah’s penalties that accumulated to over 100 yards. The Wildcats moved the football up and ...
Council votes to dismiss former Mayor Warren
A: Main, news
Council votes to dismiss former Mayor Warren
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
The Eufaula City Council removed former Mayor Todd Warren from the Council Monday night citing excessive absences. City minutes of past meetings presented to the Council showed that Warren missed the ...
Church celebrates 160th anniversary
A: Main, news
Church celebrates 160th anniversary
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
Decades before Oklahoma became a state in 1907; years before the first railroad track was laid in Indian Territory in 1870 and the year the Civil War ended, folks in a remote area of what is now McInt...
Mild weather, just what the festival ordered
A: Main, news
Mild weather, just what the festival ordered
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
Mayor James Hickman perhaps summarized best when he sent a letter of appreciation to Karen Weldin and the Vision Eufaula Board of Directors for one of the best Wine & Art Festivals held in the city. “...
9/11 – Never Forget
A: Main, news
9/11 – Never Forget
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
At about 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, I strolled into the Las Vegas Sun newsroom where I worked as an entertainment reporter. The room was quiet, a palpable feeling of dread filled the air as the f...
Margaret Floyd Homecoming Parade Marshal
A: Main, news
Margaret Floyd Homecoming Parade Marshal
September 10, 2025
Margaret Marie Vickery Floyd has been named the 2025 Eufaula High School Homecoming Parade Marshall. Born in 1927 in Ramona, she is the fourth greatgranddaughter of Chief McIntosh, and the mother of f...
ePaper
google_play
app_store
Editor Picks
A: Main, news
Ironhead Homecoming Friday
September 10, 2025
The Homecoming Weekend kicks off Friday, Sept.12, with a Pep Assembly at the Eufaula High School Auditorium at 9:30 a.m. followed by a parade at 1 p.m. The coronation of Homecoming Royalty takes place...
New library coordinator challenges Checotah
A: Main, news
New library coordinator challenges Checotah
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and so the new coordinator of Eufaula Memorial Library is taking that opportunity to challenge the Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library to a competition to see wh...
Braddock Dobbs joins School Board
A: Main, news
Braddock Dobbs joins School Board
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
Braddock Dobbs, 31, son of the late Margaret Dobbs, who was on the Eufaula School Board for 15 years, is following in his mother’s footsteps. Monday night, Aug. 8, at its monthly meeting, the Board ap...
Drillers honor Eufaula veteran
news
Drillers honor Eufaula veteran
September 10, 2025
Former Army Sp4 Timothy Pickering of Eufaula was honored recently at the Driller Stadium in Tulsa as a “Hometown Hero,” a program that honors people who have had a lasting impact on the community. Pic...
news
Flea Pop-Up Market
September 10, 2025
Friday – Sunday, Sept.12-14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 210 N. Main St. Booth rental available. Call Mr. Printer at 918-689-5998, Jani at 918-839-8494 or Ricky at 918-424-9961. Prices for all three days: ...
Facebook

THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL
100 N. 2nd Street
Eufaula, OK 74432

(918) 689-2191

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy