Public records obtained by The Dallas Express show Carroll ISD sought payment from Kush Rao and his Southlake Foundation in 2025 from a fundraiser promoted to raise funds for a district-hosted Special Olympics event.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, questions have arisen in Southlake regarding the Southlake Foundation and its president, Kush Rao, after two sources with direct knowledge told DX that proceeds from a February 2025 fundraiser intended for Carroll ISD’s Special Olympics program were not distributed until after Rao became aware of The Dallas Express investigation into the matter more than a year after the fundraiser was held and months after the Special Olympics event.
Emails provided by Carroll ISD show Superintendent Jeremy Glenn contacted Rao on April 28, 2025, after Special Olympics coach Ashley Poteet was informed that the foundation would not provide funding for the event.
“Earlier this year, you invited me, along with a group of principals, teachers, and students to a wonderful event hosted by the Southlake Foundation to raise funds for families with special needs in our school district,” Glenn wrote.
“One of our sponsors, Coach Ashley Poteet, was under the impression some of the proceeds from that event would be available to help support the Special Olympics hosted in Southlake. However, when she recently reached out to request those funds, she was informed that the Foundation would not be able to assist.”
Glenn asked Rao to provide clarification regarding the use of the funds…