(Chelsea Update would like to thank the Chelsea Education Foundation for the information in this story.)
Chelsea Education Foundation provided support to Chelsea teachers for projects and new initiatives for their classrooms throughout the year.
The foundation supported many Chelsea students with scholarships, helping them achieve their dreams through continuing education.
Below are some of the highlights:
2018 Gala. This year’s gala was the most successful in recent memory thanks to generous sponsors who helped CEF raise more than $42,000.
$30,000 Grants awarded. This year CEF distributed grants to educators in all four school buildings. One standout project funded was #WHYYOUMATTER undertaken by the art department at the high school. It encourages positivity at school and has been adopted nationally.
CEF also funded field trips, including overnights to national history sites and a musical cultural exchange project with Detroit schools. In November, CEF awarded over $21,000 toward 2018/2019 grants. To see the 27 programs supported by CEF, please click here.
$26,000 Scholarships Awarded. In 2018, the foundation funded 28 scholarships, assisting students with awards, generally of about $1,000 each, which are a significant part of a student’s college financing.
North Creek Media Center Maker Space. Last year, CEF celebrated a renewed focus on the school district by funding the first large grants intended to benefit an entire building. Thanks to the generosity of those attending the Gala, CEF was able to give the district $8,000 to renovate North Creek’s media center as a place for children to practice innovation and working together in groups.
Large Project Grant at South Meadows Elementary. In October, CEF reached out to the community to inform them of the foundation’s impact and to inspire action through a new “Fall Fundraiser Breakfast“. The foundation chose to support a large project at South Meadows School that aligns with the strategic framework and CEF’s graduate learner profile.
South Meadows Principal Stacie Battaglia, who was accompanied by a group of students from the school, talked about the goal to make the school’s “library” into a comfortable and inviting media center for students. Thanks to a matching donation of $9,000 by Howdy Holmes of Chelsea Milling Company, the breakfast raised $24,848 toward new furniture for the new media center.
Stewardship of CEF’s Endowment Income. The Foundation has been fortunate to receive a number of very generous donations to its endowment funds from members of the Chelsea community. CEF’s excellent track record over the last 25 years puts the foundation in a good position to renew its efforts to encourage planned giving and other gifts for its endowment.
