Press Release - East Longmeadow Monopoly Fundraiser for schools becomes Monopoly in East Longmeadow   EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass - The famous Hasbro board game Monopoly has been entertaining millions of people for decades. And while players around the world have cashed-in on game spaces like Boardwalk, Park Place - and have gone straight to jail without passing Go - the game is now taking on a much more local flair in East Longmeadow. The East Longmeadow Educational Endowment Fund (ELEEF) is producing a limited edition version of the game featuring businesses, schools, and landmarks in East Longmeadow.  ELEEF is producing 800 games and selling them for $30 apiece in an effort to raise some $40,000. A portion of the proceeds will be raised by selling spaces on the board to local businesses. ELEEF distributes its funds in the form of grants to public education teachers in East Longmeadow. We re producing our own version of Monopoly just in time for the holidays. The game is a terrific gift idea and will quickly become a collector s item. We re anticipating strong sales as soon as the game hits local retail shelves in early December, said Dean Dulchinos, ELEEF Board Member and game committee chairman. ELEEF members spent the summer and fall planning, designing the game and selling spots on the board to local merchants and businesses. The organization sold some 40 spots on the board and will also raise revenue by selling the game on the group s website www.eleef.com and through local retailers Rocky s Ace Hardware and A.W. Brown s. We d like to express our sincere appreciation to all of the local businesses who have supported us through their donations of time and money. They have helped us make this project a reality and provided a tremendous boost to our mission of supporting education and our children, said Dulchinos. To reserve a copy of the East Longmeadow version of Monopoly contact Maria D Amico at 526-0859 or Jennifer Merrigan at 525-9056 or email ELEEF at eleefmonopoly@charter.net. Over the past 14 years, ELEEF has awarded $213,000 to the five public schools in East Longmeadow. In 2008, the organization funded $23,000 in grants for items such as math and reading materials, a weather station, video microscopes, robotics programs, and materials for a multi media music computer lab.  ELEEF is a non-profit foundation made up of citizens, parents and business people from East Longmeadow. The foundation was formed in 1995 to provide a source of funding to the public schools. Grants are awarded to teachers for items not supplied by the school budget.  There is an important need for the public schools to have a source of funds over and above what is provided for through taxes. This source of funds can make the difference between an average experience for students, and an opportunity to excel and enjoy something special in education.