Lee County teachers who applied for a classroom grant will be recognized at a reception next week hosted by the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
Overall, the foundation is doling out $25,000 in grants to cover the costs of 59 projects across the school district.
The Matching Grant Program, through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, matches dollar-for-dollar the monetary donations from local businesses. These funds are matched with allocated funds from the Florida Legislature.
According to the consortium, some $12.5 million has been allocated by the Legislature since 2001 toward grants for teachers and classroom activities.
“We encourage all donations, no matter how small because every dollar donated is matched dollar-for-dollar. These donations are used to assist teachers in making their dream projects comes true,” said Beverly Burke, program manager for the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
On Monday from 5:15-7 p.m. the foundation will hold a reception at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre where the grants will be officially handed over to teachers. Foundation officials, business leaders, school employees and members of the Lee County School Board will also attend.
“Our sponsors know how important it is to support our public school teachers who are responsible for educating our future work force and community leaders,” said Marshall Bower, executive director of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. “Because of their generosity many of our teachers will be able to offer their students exciting and innovative learning opportunities.”
The 2008 to 2009 sponsors of the Classroom Grants Program include McBLT Family Ventures, Publix Super Market Charities, Suncoast for Kids Foundation, Wachovia Bank, Citigroup, First Community Bank of Southwest Florida and the Lee Memorial Health System.
In the grant program a teacher can request up to $500 for a classroom project and a school can request up to $2,000. The grants need to be for a project that enhances student learning through hands-on experiences.
Some past projects include planting a butterfly garden, hiking in the Everglades and creating classroom manipulatives to teach mathematics and reading.
Officials from the foundation said they are excited to hand over the grants Monday.
“There is nothing more gratifying than seeing the excitement on the teachers’ faces when they receive their congratulations at the awards ceremony,” said Burke.