At Frontier Trail Middle School, students in the autism program run a coffee and snack cart. At Olathe Northwest High School, business and computer students operate a school spirit wear store with help from a $5,000 grant. Both projects got their start with support from the Olathe Public Schools Foundation, which marked its 30th anniversary Friday at its annual Autumn Breakfast.
The Nov. 13 fundraiser at Embassy Suites Olathe was the foundation’s 29th annual breakfast. The program included a scheduled State of the District address from Superintendent Brent Yeager. The University of Kansas Health System was the presenting sponsor, and this year’s theme was “Grounded in Gratitude.”
The foundation uses the breakfast to raise money for classroom grants and programs that help students and families with expenses they may struggle to cover. In the 2025–26 school year, the foundation reported funding $172,164 in classroom grants, awarding 110 scholarships and filling 2,500 backpacks with school supplies. It also reported that 293 DonorsChoose projects were funded, reaching 174 teachers across 46 buildings.
Some of that work is easy to see, like the coffee cart at Frontier Trail, where students get practice serving customers. Other help happens more quietly. The foundation has funds that can help cover eyeglasses, dental care and athletic physicals. One program helps pay for school meals when a family is struggling financially but does not qualify for meal benefits.
The breakfast came as Olathe Public Schools prepares to redraw attendance boundaries following the school board’s Oct. 1 vote to close six schools at the end of this school year. District administrators are expected to bring a boundary proposal to the board in December, with a vote anticipated in January.
The foundation’s published program listed Yeager’s address. A recording of his remarks and a fundraising total for this year’s breakfast were not available at publication.
Something Different Media Group
