WESTFIELD – The Westfield Foundation for Education (WFE) completed its 2015 grant cycle by awarding more than $17,000 to sixteen projects in schools across the city. Projects were funded at the elementary, middle school and high school levels with grant awards ranging from $450 to $1,500.
“Teachers have embraced our mission of fostering excellence in the classroom through creative learning,” said WFE President Amber Danahey. “We received double the number of grant applications this year, and we tripled the amount of funding to Westfield classrooms. The kids are the real winners here.”
WFE is an all-volunteer organization, established in 2013 with the goal of providing Westfield schoolchildren with robust, challenging educational experiences in mathematics, sciences, athletics and the humanities that extend beyond the resources of the city budget.
The $17,000 available for grants, up from $5,000 last year, was raised through private donations and fundraisers, according to WFE Vice President Janine Queenin.
Two of the fundraisers this past year included Pocketbook Bingo in October, which raised $6,000, tripled from the previous year’s proceeds, and a trivia night in March, which raised the same amount. Many local businesses sponsored the events, and the prizes were all donated. The next trivia night, “Shamrock Showdown,” will be held on March 11 at the East Mountain Country Club.
“We’ve had really great community support,” Queenin said. “This is a great way for people in the community to get involved in our schools.”
Queenin urged anyone interested to go to the website at www.westfieldfoundation.org and “come on board.”
2015 Grants
Munger Hill Elementary School: WFE will fund a school-wide program recreating 17th and 18th century Colonial Westfield through classwork in social studies, ELA, math, art, music, technology, physical education, and health. Amount: $1,500
Abner Gibbs Elementary School: The grant will fund a school-wide program using science, literacy, mathematics, and technology to teach the students about the ocean and marine life. Amount; $1,500
Papermill Elementary School: WFE will fund “Panther Pride” a school-wide project to teach students about conservationism and global activism through literacy, science, and social studies. Amount: $1,225
South Middle School: WFE will help fund a new robotics team at the school. The program will generate student interest in science, math, and technology. Amount: Amount: $544
South Middle School: The grant will fund a drama workshop and school-wide performance of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Amount: $1,500
South Middle School: The WFE grant will fund a new African & World Drumming Program at the school. Amount: $1,448
North Middle School: Grants funds will be used for an afterschool library program that encourages student extracurricular involvement and helps instill a love of literature. Amount; $460
Westfield High School: The grant will fund a cross-curriculum Civil War experience incorporating U.S. History, ready, writing, biology, and algebra. Amount: $1,368
Westfield High School: WFE will fund the “Empty Bowls Project.” This project is a collaboration between the arts department and food department to educate students about issues of hunger in the community and raise funds for local families in need. Amount: $1,242
Westfield High School: WFE’s grant will support a health and fitness initiative for students. Amount: $1,470
Westfield Technical Academy: WFE will provide the seed money needed to start a new instrumental program at the school. Amount: $750
Westfield Technical Academy: The grant will help fund a collaborative project between the Horticulture and Culinary Arts students. The Horticulture students will plant fruit crops in an unused, poorly maintained area outside of the school, with the resulting crops used in the Tigers Pride restaurant. Amount: $600
Westfield Technical Academy: The grant will support students in the Allied Health Shop through a hands-on program involving people with visual disabilities. Amount: $550
Westfield High School Transition Program: The grant will fund a community partnership between the school and Westfield Creative Arts. Students will receive vocational training in sewing and business experience selling the finished products. Amount: $1,500
The Russell Road Program: WFE’s grant will support students through painting and art programs. Amount: $600
District-Wide: Band students in grades 5 -12 will participate in workshops and mentoring programs that culminate in a citywide “It’s Band-Tastic” performance at the 2016 Into the Art Festival. Amount: $750
