6 November, 2013
The Hopkinton Education Foundation today announced key dates in its 2013-2014 calendar of grant-making and fundraising events, and named the winner of its 'Back-to-School' iPad drawing.
The Education Foundation, which provides grants to Hopkinton educators for innovative projects not typically funded by the school budget, will this year begin accepting grant applications from teachers in early January, with an application deadline of March 17, 2014. Grants for the 2014-2015 school year will be announced in May of 2014.
In May of this year the Education Foundation awarded six grants, totaling $77,168, to educators across the district. Those grants included two of the largest ever funded: a $37,440 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) grant at the Middle School and a $26,500 grant for a state-of-the-art language lab at the High School. With those grants, the Foundation surpassed $1 million in grant funding since its inception. This 2013-2014 school year will therefore mark the launch of the Foundation's 'Next Million' initiative.
To build awareness of its mission and engagement in its work, the Foundation recently conducted its annual 'Back-to-School' drive, introducing the organization to parents and educators at the school curriculum nights. New subscribers to the Foundation's mailing list became eligible to enter a drawing for a new iPad, which was won this year by Amy Schwartz of Hopkinton.
The Foundation also announced today the scheduling of its 'Casino Cocktail Party,' its largest annual fundraising event. The party and online auction will be held on Saturday, March 8th, 2014, at the Warren Conference Center in Ashland. Foundation board member Stephanie Szewczyk will serve as event chair.
Further details about the Foundation's other annual events and programs, including 'Thank-a-Teacher', the Annual Appeal and the Golf Ball Drop, will be forthcoming.
Since its founding in 1992 with seed funding from residents and EMC, the Education Foundation has sought to award grants to teachers that will advance innovation, by approaching the curriculum in a new way or by introducing an entirely new curricular area. A successful grant is considered one that often starts small and expands to achieve a broad impact within the school district. For example, in 2005 the Education Foundation funded a pilot grant for interactive white boards. SMARTBoards are now a standard teaching tool in nearly every classroom.
Interested parents and businesses wishing to engage with the Foundation, donate to it and/or serve on its board are encouraged to contact Foundation president Clelland Johnson, at clelland.johnson@earthlink.net.
