About

In August of  1991, Cocke County Board of Education voted to participate in the sale of Coupon Books , a popular fundraiser for many school systems.  A percentage of these profits went for prizes for students selling the most books and another percentage went to form an Education Foundation, which was the start of today’s Cocke County Education Foundation. 

 

Members of the original board included:  Larry Blazer, David Bible (School Principal), Peggy Hammonds (Teacher), Ben W. Hooper, III (Board Attorney).  

 

Other board members during 1991-2000 were Keith Ketterman, Annette Berney, Gilbert Soesbee, Wayne Buckner and  Doug Shoemaker.

 

In September of 1991, Ben Hooper, III submitted articles of incorporation and notice was received from Tennessee Secretary of State that the Cocke County Education Foundation had become a non-profit corporation.  Attorney Hooper advised the board that application for tax-exempt status should begin. 

 

October 1991-SPring 1992:  Payments were made to schools for prizes in the sale of Coupon Books  Fall of 1992, monies from coupon book sales provided for some material at the adult high school and sponsorship of needy students for the Talented and Gifted Program at Walter’s State.

 

Fall of 1995:  Ben Hooper applies for reinstatement of NonProfit Corporation status which has been revoked for failure to get tax exempt application filed and all back taxes are paid.  In February of 1996, reinstatement was approved and Truitt Ottinger and Phyllis Blazer are now named to the board.

 

March 1996, Ben Hooper obtains 501 ©(3) application.  After realizing the amount of work involved in completing the application and realizing the CCEF’s limited funds did not warrant this kind of effort, the idea of securing tax-exempt status fell by the wayside. 

 

In the fall of 1998 the Economic Development Commission got involved because Cocke County needed the Foundation in order to keep its 3 star rating.  In the spring of 1999, application was filed agin and in September of 1999, the application for incorporation finally met criteria for tax-exempt status and National Bank of Newport paid all remaining taxes to allow the Board to move forward. 

 

 In October  2000, the Cocke County Education Foundation Board met and reorganized.

 

New members included Nancy Brawley, Courtney Woods, Dean Williams, Sherry Butler, Tommy Bible, Anthony Smith, David Popiel, Betty Jo Miller, Lonnie Jones Jackie Garbarino, Peggy Holston and Jane Myers.  

 

The following expressed their desire to rotate off the board:  Ben Hooper, III, Phyllis Blazer, Keith Ketterman and Annette Berney

 

The new officers were

President:  Peggy Hammonds

Secretary:  Jackie Garbarino

Treasurer:  Tommy Bible

Corresponding Secretary:  Betty Jo Miller

Historian:  Nancy Brawley

 

In July 2002, Doug Shoemaker became Chair of the Board and Nancy Brawley moved into the office of secretary.

 

In October 2000, Cocke County Education Foundation had a balance of $32, 459.68. The bulk of this money came from Don Boley of the Bass Club.  They were the first to establish a scholarship that would run through the foundation, the Alex Fancher Scholarship.  Their initial deposit was $21, 722.00