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Goal100™LEARNING
Families · Community groups

🎺 Boosters, arts councils and foundations

Groups that raise money and people power for music, art, theater, sports and classroom extras.

General information only. Goal100 is not connected to these groups. Names, dates, dues and officers change every school year. Always check the group's or district's official page. Everything here was checked on Nov 9, 2026.

Booster clubs and arts councils

A booster club supports one program: band, chorus, drama, art or a sport. An arts council supports all the arts in a district. They usually raise money (for example scholarships, trips, costumes, instruments), help at concerts and games, and thank students and teachers.

Example from Deer Park: the district reported on Sept 17, 2026 that members of the Deer Park Arts Council and the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts (BACCA), with a high school art teacher, alumni and a current student, created murals under the Deer Park Avenue LIRR overpass with the themes "Deer Park Loves the Arts" and "Deer Park Proud."

Some PTAs have their own sports or arts groups too. Commack's athletics page says a PTA Athletic Advisory Board meets monthly with the Athletic Director. Lindenhurst's PTA council has an Arts in Education committee.

How to help a booster club

  1. Find it through the program teacher, coach or the school office.
  2. Ask for the meeting date and the volunteer sign-up.
  3. Offer one skill: set-up, ticket table, photos of the stage (not of children's faces if the group asks), a flyer, a spreadsheet.

Education foundations

An education foundation is a separate nonprofit run by community members. It raises money for things the school budget does not usually pay for, such as teacher mini-grants, special programs or equipment.

Example: Half Hollow Hills' district booklet (2021-22) describes The Hills Foundation as "a nonprofit organization of community members whose goal is to provide additional financial support to the Half Hollow Hills Schools" and says it "needs people power as well."

Not every district has a foundation. If yours does not, the PTA council or a booster club may give the scholarships or grants instead (Commack's PTA council gives scholarships to seniors and STEAM camp scholarships for grades K-8).

More groups in the community

📚 Public library and library friends

Libraries run family programs and talks. Many have a "Friends of the Library" group that holds book sales. The Deer Park Public Library posts programs, a newsletter and teen community service ideas.

🎓 Alumni associations

Graduates who give scholarships, mentor students or return for career days. Ask the high school main office if one exists.

🤲 Community coalitions

Groups of parents, schools, police and health workers who work on prevention. Example: the Deer Park Drug Prevention Coalition Inc. held a rally and vigil listed by the Suffolk County District Attorney (Aug 31, 2025).

🧾 Is a group a real nonprofit?

Ask for its name exactly as registered and its bylaws. Ask how money is counted and reported. Good groups are happy to answer.

Sources