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NEF Funds 11 New Grants for the Fall
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We're proud to announce that the NEF has funded 11 new projects in our annual Autumn Grant cycle, totaling slightly more than $40,000. These innovative grants benefit every school in town, and span the sciences, humanities, the arts, community service learning programs, and more. For a complete list of the grants, visit www.nefneedham.org/08fallgrants.html.
Meanwhile, two other grant application cycles are underway. We are currently reviewing final applications for our Large Grant cycle, and we'll announce those recipients in January.
Also, we're already accepting applications for our Spring Grant cycle. The deadline for those applications is March 6. Applications are available on the NEF's website, www.nefneedham.org/grants.html. |
Our Annual Appeal, and a Note on the Economy
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Some supporters have asked how the NEF has been faring during this economy. In fact, our sustaining fund has experienced losses, roughly on par with the rest of the financial markets.
We manage these funds as carefully and conservatively as you would your own investments, with nearly half in fixed-income vehicles. We'll continue to watch it very closely, making changes as needed, to preserve and grow what the people of Needham have been building since 1990.
We're in this for the long haul. We will continue to support the schools' growing needs, while ensuring that the NEF is around for many more years.
In spite of this economy, Needham residents are continuing to support the NEF, and for that we are very grateful. In good economic times and bad, children never stop needing our help.
If you haven't yet responded to our annual appeal, we ask that you consider making a donation to the NEF. We welcome donations of any size. A $500 donation places you in our Leaders Circle, with access to special events throughout the year. Our website now accepts online donations, via a secure e-commerce mechanism provided by PayPal. Large or small, every donation matters. |
Grant Highlights from the Last Year
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We're proud that we can support our public schools in such difficult times. But
without your donations, we aren't able to do very much. Here are some of the grants we funded in the past year:
- Meet Abigail Adams: Fifth-grade students throughout the town met Linda Myer, who dressed in period costume as Abigail Adams, the wife of the second US president whose huge influence on our nation early years is only now being appreciated. PTCs at the five schools wrote the Needham Times and said, "Thank you Needham Education Foundation for making the fifth-grade Revolutionary War unit come to life!"
- Pollard Advisory Program: NEF's Large Grant program last year funded Pollard's new "advisory program." This innovative program reinvents the traditional daily homeroom by extending their length, and reducing the number of students by half, to create more meaningful adult-student interactions during each school day.
- Reading Assessment Program for Grades 4 and 5: The reading skills of very young students are assessed regularly, but currently, there is no formal system-wide reading assessment program for fourth and fifth graders. This grant introduces such a program to 200 fourth and fifth grade students throughout the town, so that teachers can tailor books and instructional methods to individual students. If successful, it can be expanded to all fourth and fifth graders in future years.
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Teacher Recognition Cards Are Back
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Our popular Teacher Recognition Card program returns this year. For a $15 donation, you can honor that special teacher or staff person for the holidays. For donation forms, visit www.nefneedham.org/recognition.html. The deadline is December 19.
On behalf of the board of the NEF, we wish you have a happy and healthy holiday season. See you next year!
Carolyn Perelmuter and Frank Fortin
Co-Presidents
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