You're reading the first edition of the Needham Education Foundation's e-mail newsletter, NEF News. You've received this message because at some point in the past, you provided us with your e-mail address.

Our first article brings some great news - the largest block of grants ever awarded by the NEF in its 17 years.

NEF is proud to announce that we have issued 25 new grant awards for our autumn cycle totaling more than $65,000, both records for the NEF. That brings the total grants funded since 1990 to more than $1 million!

These grants will benefit all seven schools in our public school system, and affect a broad spectrum of school life - from the performing arts to the sciences, from innovative writing instruction, to a therapeutic program for students with social/emotional issues.

Each grant highlights the mission of the NEF, which is to foster innovation and excellence through its grant-making and collaboration.

We're proud to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our town's children.

Read a detailed list of the grants.

Read about the grants in the Needham Times.

A new era for NEF launched this fall when the High School launched the Global Competence Program, which certifies students as proficient in the skills needed in a global culture and economy.

The program was born of NEF's new endeavor, the Collaborative Initiative. Under this program, we work closely with the school administrators to develop large, possibly multi-year initiatives that will have major, strategic impact on education, yet would not be possible within the confines of the current school operating budget.