Summer Sips: Toasting Order of Fuse’s Impact
Order of Fuse (OOF) recently gathered for our year-end event, "Summer Sips," at Grace on Dauphin in downtown Mobile. This vibrant event, dedicated to celebrating the profound impact Order of Fuse has had on the local community, was an evening filled with camaraderie, gratitude, and enthusiasm for the future.
Celebrating Academic Support
The evening began with a happy hour to mix and mingle and recap the remarkable contributions made to the 2023-2024 ABC Academic Support Program. It was a perfect evening, full of reflection and celebration. Guests enjoyed a hosted bar and delectable bites from Grace, including skirt steak tacos, truffle fries, fried green tomatoes, wontons, West Indies bruschetta, cheesecake bites, and small chocolate pot de crème cups.
The highlight of the evening was a short presentation given by our Development Director, Mary Frances Clarke. She provided an update on the incredible strides made possible by last year’s $25,000 grant from Order of Fuse to The Historic Avenue Foundation’s ABC Academic Support Program. The presentation revealed how the program has expanded from supporting one school in the Avenue to three— Florence Howard Elementary School, Calloway-Smith Middle School, and Pathway K-5. This expansion facilitated a range of initiatives, from incentive programs and extracurricular clubs to comprehensive teacher appreciation efforts.
Mary Frances also shared some feedback from a couple of the students participating in clubs this year. When asked what their favorite thing was, one third grader from Art Club shared, "The creativity. We got to draw what we felt,” while a fifth grader from Cooking Club expressed, "All the recipes. I feel like I’m being myself when I’m cooking food.” These testimonials underscored the personal growth and joy students experienced through these extracurricular activities funded by the OOF grant.
Impact and Growth
The number of students in our incentive programs increased quarter to quarter, and we even saw a remarkable rise in middle school GPAs to 98.3! Additionally, we opened a school store that will further enrich the students' educational environment with plans to expand in the coming year. Throughout the year, we also made a point of celebrating the dedication of all 140 teachers involved.
For more details about the impact of last year’s grant, view the presentation here.
Toasting the Future: The 2024 Order of Fuse Grant
As we sipped and mingled, our guests anxiously awaited the announcement of the 2024 Order of Fuse Grant allocation. Members had the opportunity to cast votes on how to further enhance the ABC Academic Support Program, choosing from four options - Academic Incentives, Extracurricular Clubs, Teacher Appreciation, and Behavior Incentives.
On the rooftop of Grace, we enjoyed a surprise champagne toast that magically changed color to reveal the winning choice, Behavior Incentives. Designed to sustain and expand the impact of the ABC Academic Support Program, this grant promises to bring even greater benefits in the coming school year.
Staying Connected
Throughout the summer, we encourage OOF members to stay engaged with Fuse Project and continue their involvement in ongoing initiatives. Members’ commitment and generosity ensure that the spirit of giving back to the community remains strong and vibrant.
We had a blast at Summer Sips, a celebration of not just past achievements but also a powerful reminder of the potential for future impact. Our goal is to create transformational change and break the cycle of generational poverty. Until children in our poorest zip codes are afforded the same opportunities as those in our wealthiest zip codes, we cannot rest. We are committed to closing the opportunity gap.