Lincoln Public Schools

Harley and Shirley Bair recently donated commercial real estate appraised at $700,000 to the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools. The Bairs’ gift is the second largest individual gift in the history of the Foundation, following the recent $1 million gift from Ed and Mary Copple.

The Foundation will sell the land and use the proceeds to establish the Harley and Shirley Bair Playground Endowment to renovate LPS playgrounds. It will supplement taxpayer dollars, not supplant what LPS normally allocates, according to Ruth Gerber, Gift Planning Officer for the Foundation. Although it depends on the sale of the land, Foundation officials anticipate the playground endowment will provide $30,000 annually for playground renovation.

A ceremony to recognize the Bairs was held May 28th on the Kindergarten playground at Campbell Elementary School. One of the Bair daughters, Cindy Lloyd, teaches at Campbell.

According to Gerber, “The Foundation helps build equity among schools.” So, the endowment will be especially helpful for schools in high need neighborhoods. School district officials will determine the order of the renovations. School playgrounds are increasingly becoming the community playgrounds of choice, helping build strong and safe neighborhoods.

“We love seeing how the fruits of our work can now bring pleasure and opportunities to others,” Shirley Bair said.

Foundation President, Barbara Bartle said she hopes the Bair gift encourages other community members to get more involved with our schools. “It’s important to build opportunities for our youth who are our next great doctors, scientists and community leaders.”

With these gifts, the Foundation has cash and pledges of $6.4 million towards a five-year, $10 million campaign. The campaign purpose is to enhance reading, math and science skills of LPS students, expand opportunities for low-income students and families; and provide opportunities to schools and teachers that would otherwise be beyond their reach.