For many public schools, including DHS, taxpayer money is not enough to get them to the next level of scholastic achievement.

That’s where the newly founded Hatters Foundation Inc., a 501 (c) (3) charity, comes in. The non-profit organization’s mission is to raise money to be used to enhance DHS academic, club and athletic programs and activities.

“The intent is the school budget pays for the basics, and the foundation fills additional needs,” said Albert Schneider, who serves on the foundation’s volunteer Board of Directors. “We want to go above and beyond those basic needs to really propel the school on to that prestigious level.”

Schneider, whose two children are DHS grads, said the money raised will complement the annual school budget that is funded by Danbury taxpayers.

“As a foundation, we want to go above those basic needs met by the school board budget,” he said. For example  the foundation could help fund the purchase of Chromebooks, Smartboards, supplies for a team or club, or even filtered water fountains.

“If a room has 15 computers but needs 20, the foundation will step in and provide the additional funding,” Schneider explained.

The foundation has an invested interest in focusing on the physical needs of the school and its students, Schneider said. It is looking to serve as a supplement to those needs in order to support any additional priorities.

The foundation was born from the School Governance Council and notices were mailed to Danbury residents, alumni  and businesses over the summer seeking  tax-deductible donations of $50, $100 or other amounts.

Consisting of parents and teachers, the foundation encourages local community members to join and share this interest of bettering DHS.

“We want people who have an invested interest in the school community to participate,” he said.

Richard Holmes, a foundation member and DHS social studies teacher, said “community involvement is the base to this foundation.”

“We are really looking for those big-ticket items,” he continued, “the larger donations that will help us give the science department those extra lab supplies or the art department more art supplies.”

At this time, the foundation has raised about $2,000 in donations, mainly from its own members. Funds will be distributed once a plan is finalized as to where that money will go.

Holmes said, “We want to eventually be getting those six-figures, either from multiple donations or fundraisers.”

In addition to Schneider and Holmes, Devang Patel, Richard Matzinger, Daryl Dennis and Eileen Kline serve on the Board of Directors.

“All of us have a vested interest in bettering the community and DHS, and making it into a premiere school,” Schneider said.