THE BACHMAN FOUNDATION THE EVOLUTION OF TRUE PHILANTHROPY
BY MARK A. FRIZZELL, M.ED.
The Bachman Foundation has a rich local history. Originally, Bachman Memorial Home was named after its founder, Reverend John Lynn Bachman, and was founded n 1912 in Farner, Tennessee as a mission school to serve the local children of the Appalachian Mountains.
The Bachman Foundation is set up to provide students with financial assistance to obtain an individualized education through public, private, and vocational schools. Student applicants must have a diagnosed learning difference which is specified in an IEP, Psychological that is no more than three years old, or an ISP (Individual Support Plan). All applicants must submit a letter outlining why they wish to receive financial assistance from the Bachman Foundation.
Established to make a positive and enduring change in the lives of children, youth, and families, the Bachman Memorial Home has continued to evolve to serve the needs of its constituents, transforming into an orphanage and school in 1930 to service minors who became wards of the state. In 1950, Bachman Memorial Home moved to a 206-acre campus in McDonald, TN where it continued to provide services for children with special needs.
Bachman Memorial Home received its 501(c) 3 nonprofit status in 1969 as a special education boarding facility. In 1999, in response to the increasing numbers of at-risk youth struggling with school failure and difficulties living at home without continuous supervision, Bachman Memorial Home became Bachman Academy and began to offer a comprehensive long-term boarding program for students diagnosed with various learning differences.
Most recently, in response to the many stellar offerings for students with special needs in our area, Bachman has created a foundation to continue its legacy of providing boys and girls with learning differences learning differences with financial assistance to institutions with like-minded goals.
As someone who is an advocate for learning differences, I would like to introduce you to the newly formed Bachman Foundation and outline our goals to help local students. We have pro- jects where the support of partners, sponsors or donations can make the difference for the children and families we will serve through the Bachman Foundation.
First, the Bachman Foundation provides scholarships for students who need financial help to attend specialized programs.
Bradley County is our priority, although we recognize that students in surrounding counties were also served by us when we operated as a school.
- We've already awarded over $92,000.00 for the following students and individuals in 2018 – 2019:
- • Orange Grove Center
- • Family Cornerstones, Inc.
- • Beacon Academy
- • Black fox Equestrian Center
- • Cleveland 1st Nazarene Church
- • Ola Akanle (former student at Bachman Academy)
- • Skyuka Hall
- • Cleveland Christian School
- • Mending Arrow Ranch
Second, we provide grant money to help local organizations provide services or equipment that will also aid these students. We welcome applications from all local schools, both public and private, to fund programs that will help students with learning differences succeed educationally.
Please join us to provide opportunities for our students with learning differences. Together let's help them enter the world with enhanced educational skills so they can make a positive con- tribution in their communities.
Visit bachmanfoundation.org for more information. •
MEET THE DIRECTOR
Mark Frizzell is the Director of Bachman Foundation. Mark was the CEO/Headmaster at Bachman Academy, and has been with Bachman since 2006. Prior to Bachman, Mark started his professional career with Orange Grove Center in 1991, as the Adaptive Physical Education teacher. He has over 27 years' experience in non- profit organizations. Mark graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education and a minor degree in Psychology. He graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2006 with a Master's degree in Educational Leadership. Mark resides in Cleveland Tennessee with his wife Gale. They have been married for over 34 years. They have one daughter, Bailey, who is a senior at The University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.