JACKSONVILLE —

Two celebrities have lent their name to the Jacksonville Education Foundation’s membership drive.

Pete Lammons, a former tight end for the New York Jets, was with the team when they won the Super Bowl in 1968.

Margo Martindale was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday in the category of outstanding supporting actress for her role as Mags Bennett, in the FX show “Justified.”

“We asked them because they are outstanding graduates of Jacksonville High School,” said board member Julie Duran. “Both of them have gone on to accomplish great things in their lives and, also because (they come from) two varying ends of education, one through sports and the other is fine arts, and we think that represents Jacksonville very well.”

The foundation raises money for scholarships and supplies for the Jacksonville Independent School District.

“The education foundation can accept money that the school is not allowed to accept or is very difficult to accept because of to red tape issues and rules and regulations, but we can accept donations from anyone,” said Julianna Peacock, Jacksonville Education Foundation board member.

Duran said the foundation is using both Martindale and Lammons names to give the foundation recognition.

Barry Hughes, chair of the Jacksonville Education Foundation, said the foundation was formed in July 1992.

He said board members served three-year-terms, and after the first few years, the organization withered away from lack of participation. He said the foundation was brought back in 2008. He said this is the first year for the foundation to have a membership drive.

Sean McRight, the foundation’s treasurer, said membership is set up similar to an alumni association. There are different levels of memberships, depending on how much an individual donates to the foundation.

He said the foundation has a general fund and a scholarship fund. The general fund can be used to fund events and to purchase various other things the school may need. The scholarship fund is only for scholarships. He said members could designate which fund their money goes into.

Peacock said members could even set up guidelines for who receives the money.

“You can be as specific as you want in broad terms, as long as no interested person is the beneficiary  — in other words you can’t, say, give a scholarship to my family or something like that,” Hughes said. “(You could) give the money to a deserving engineering student, that certainly opens a very broad field of people.”

The foundation has given out a scholarship to the salutatorian for the past two years. The scholarship grants $500 per semester for one year. After the year, the student must reapply to continue the scholarship. A 3.0 GPA is required to qualify.

In May 2010, a scholarship was awarded to Mikaela Villavisencio, and in May 2011, to Alivia Coronilla.

The education foundation also has an Influential Indian award. Sponsors, who donate $1,000, can nominate someone who has been a positive influence on education.

Hughes said the nominee receives a plaque and is an honorary member of the foundation for life. He said people may be nominated anytime of year, and they will be recognized at events where a large number of students and teachers are present.

“They will be mentioned at anything we do publicly. We put these people at our forefront,” Hughes said.

The foundation has traditionally only raised money through memberships and donations. This year, they will host fundraisers, Grace Traylor, board member for the Jacksonville Education Foundation and member of the fundraising board, said.

On Sept. 13, the foundation will host an invitation only Wine and Cheese event in the home of Cindy and Ricky Richards. The event in intended to honor the six people honored as Influential Indians.

Traylor said they are in the process of organizing a luncheon in November. The event will be open to the public and will have speeches from distinguished alumni. It is intended to coincide with the end of football season.