A few days before the 2014-2015 school year began for Niles Community Schools, the Niles Education Foundation kicked off their giving year with a sold-out, standing room only “Legendary Evening” at Orchard Hills Country Club. The Niles community came together in a big way to honor two Niles High School legends: the late Coach Ed Weede and long-time physical education teacher and girls’ coach Peg Parrott.

While the salute to Ed Weede and Peg Parrott was a success on many levels, the Niles Education Foundation will soon be making decisions on a wide range of Innovation Grants and special projects for the Niles Community Schools and will need additional funds to reach their financial goals.

The Niles Education Foundation (NEF) is a 501 (c) (3) charitable non-profit organization and contributions to the NEF are tax deductible. Because of the NEF tax status, it operates independently of the Niles Community Schools, the Niles School Board, state and federal education agencies and departments, and teachers’ unions.

The funds that are raised by the Niles Education Foundation (NEF) do not include tax dollars. The NEF raises money only from individuals in the Niles community, alumni who have moved away but stay in touch, former and current teachers and administrators, several local family foundations, and businesses and corporations throughout Southwestern Michigan.

Compared to other education foundations in Cass and Berrien counties, the NEF is relatively young. Founded in 2009 by a group of concerned local citizens, the foundation has raised and spent more than $100,000 on grants and projects that are recommended by faculty and administrators of Niles Community Schools and selected for funding by the 12 trustees of the NEF.

These innovation grants and Special Projects represent classroom learning activities and technological tools that are on the “wish list” of the school board and the curriculum department of Niles Community Schools, or are innovative new programs that have proven effective in other public school systems, but are not included in the Niles Community School budget.

Most recently, the NEF contributed $5,000 to the very successful community collaboration for the YMCA Summer My Way Camp conducted at Ballard Elementary School this past summer. Other projects funded by the NEF during the previous school year include the Niles Culinary Arts CTE program at Niles High School, music technology for Howard-Ellis Elementary School, a fine arts grant for Ring Lardner Junior High and a portable microscope lab for the Oak Manor Sixth Grade Center.

The success of the Niles Education Foundation can be measured by the enthusiasm and renewed interest in learning that the students of Niles Community Schools are showing to their teachers, their parents and the Niles community.

Thanks to the Niles Education Foundation, Niles’ students are receiving extra learning benefits that are badly needed to ensure bright futures and the skills necessary to succeed in the 21st Century.

 

Jack Strayer is a regular monthly columnist for the Niles Daily Star and is a trustee of the Niles Education Foundation.