Marking its first anniversary in July, the Waltham Education and Beyond Foundation has raised thousands of dollars for Waltham public schools.
The nonprofit foundation helps Waltham students and teachers by raising cash to develop programs not funded through tax dollars. Small grants for up to $1,000 are available and major grants that can reach $5,000 also can be applied for.
Deb Marcou, foundation vice president, said she has already received a number of applications for two new grants: The Sally Elizabeth Peters Enrichment Program and Excellence in Education Grant Program. The total money available for the 2008 school year is $22,000, she said.
"Really, this is our first year and it's not a bad amount of money to start off with," Marcou said. "Our hope is that each year we'll be able to raise more and more money. Whatever we raise is going right back into the schools."
Marcou said the applications are still being reviewed by two grant committees. She said they will award funds by middle to late September.
"The way the grant process works is teachers or staff can apply for grant money, and it's for all students," she said. "If a director of English wanted to bring a program or add a piece of curriculum, they can do that."
She said the applications are for programs not normally in the school budget.
"(Or) If they lost a program because the state took it away, they could apply for grant money to get it back," she said.
Grant basics
The Excellence in Education Grant Program will help provide supplies, more curriculum and other educational opportunities.
Marcou said for this grant the foundation raised $17,000 to be distributed for the 2008 school year.
"We held a wine tasting event last March at the Paine Estate and that's where we received the bulk of our money, and then we got a lot of sponsors," she said.
The Sally Elizabeth Peters Enrichment Program grant is from a former Waltham couple, Dr. Alan and Verona Peters, who now live in Lexington. The grant, which funds arts education, is in memory of their daughter Sally. The Peters have allotted $5,000 a year for the grant program for the next several years.
"We decided that it was much better to do an enrichment grant program whereby teachers could bring in outside people," Verona said. "Probably a group of actors and actresses or singers, something that's not covered by the regular curriculum and would enrich the students' lives, or trips to the museums or theaters."
Sally was a student at MacArthur and Kennedy elementary schools and Waltham High School. She was also a member of the Waltham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Reagle Players and had an interest in photography. She died in November 2006.
"She was born in Scotland. She came here when she was 6 years old," Verona, her mother, said. "She had a beautiful singing voice."
Sally's family said they wanted to honor the memory of their daughter through education.
"We just hoped we could do something enriching for pupils in the schools," Verona said. "I remember years ago these sorts of things used to happen in schools and now they can't do it with the budget limitations."
Tom Dusel, president of the foundation, said in a press release that the two programs benefit the community.
"We're so fortunate to be able to implement a program that looks at education outside of the standard curriculum," Dusel said. "We are providing our community the opportunity to creatively enhance their own learning potential across the school system. It's an amazing feeling to know how much hope and excitement this is generating throughout our schools."
For more information on the Waltham Education and Beyond Foundation, please visit www.waltham-ebf.org.
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com
