Press Releases - Teachers requests funding from ELEEFNEWS RELEASE
East Longmeadow teachers request $46,000 in grants from Educational Endowment Fund
East Longmeadow January 5, 2009 - The East Longmeadow Educational Endowment Fund (ELEEF) has begun considering 19 grant applications from teachers who need funding for classroom activities, equipment, software, and programs. Teachers have requested a total of $46,080.75 from ELEEF - now committee members have to make tough decisions about which grant applications to approve.
"We wish we had more money available to fund all the projects that come our way each year but the reality is that we do not," said Allocations Committee Chairwoman Nancy Cokotis.
ELEEF has set aside $20,000 this year to help teachers fund programs and activities that were not included in the overall school system budget. The deadline for submitting grants was December 12, 2008.
The Allocations Committee will spend much of January reading applications and deciding whether to fund requests for a video editing system, software programs, computers, a weather station, books along with many other items and projects.
"We're loking for exciting, new concepts - anything that will enrich the students' experience in the classroom," said Cokotis.
The committee tries to award grants for projects that will be long-lasting and impact the largest number of students possible. ELEEF also requires the school administration to get behind and support the projects that do receive funding.
A group of concerned parents formed ELEEF in 1995 to raise money that would benefit teachers and students in the town's four public schools. Since then ELEEF has granted up to $20,000 each year to teachers who submit plans for programs that go above and beyond the normal academic experience.
"We want to support programs that help cultivate students so they can compete in a very tough marketplace. As a group and as a town, we need to get behind our children so they can get a great education, land top jobs, and make a decent life for themselves" said Al Kasper, ELEEF President.
Each year, ELEEF has more requests than it can fund - so the group is forced to deny some applications for worthwhile programs.
"In time we'll have moremoney for the teachers, which will be very exciting. Right now it's tough and sometimes we have to say no. We really want to help the town's children and teachers, especially when they ahve great projects and ideas," said Kasper.
ELEEF's full Board of Directors will vote on grant applications in February and announce the 2009 grant recipients at the organization's annual dinner dance on March 21st at Elmcrest Country Club. The dance is one of several fundraisers ELEEF holds throughout the year to fund to fund its educational grants.
For more information visit ELEEF at www.eleef.org or call Al Kasper at 413-568-7001 or 413-525-1892.
Media Contact:
Staasi Heropoulos
413-744-8455 (office)
413-214-4842 (cell)
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