EFC Awards $35,000 in Teacher Grants
Education for the Children (EFC) had a successful start to its 21st year, raising funds through two initiatives, the Friends of EFC campaign and using a direct funding program for the second year. Through these initiatives and proceeds from the Fiesta, EFC successfully awarded just over $35,000 in teacher grants throughout the Tesoro Family of schools, including Tesoro High School, Arroyo Vista K-8, Las Flores Middle School, Las Flores Elementary School, Esencia School, Tijeras Creek Elementary School, and Wagon Wheel Elementary School.
The Grant Committee once again scheduled an early deadline for grant submissions this year, which allowed for teachers to receive the granted items for use in their classrooms this academic year. Of the numerous grants submitted from each school, those awarded include the following:
Arroyo Vista K-8: baby care infant simulators and technology for music
Las Flores Elementary: LCD projectors
Las Flores Middle: flexible seating items, marimba for percussion expansion, iPad Pro
Esencia School: P.E. equipment, Ozobots, art easels
Tijeras Creek Elementary: flexible seating items, Chromebooks, Redcat sound system, Novocast system
Wagon Wheel Eelementary: Barobo Linkbot kits for students to compete in a Roboplay Competition
Tesoro High: 3D printer stations, digital photography cameras, theater scripts, coastal sage scrub plants, HD TV display for music and theater, recording software
The board started the school year with Friends of EFC, giving families in the Tesoro family of schools the opportunity to support teacher grants in their children’s schools early in the school year. More than 80 families contributed to be a Friend of EFC. Continued support from the Boukai Family and Wendy’s, increased the amount EFC was able to distribute to teacher grants.
For the second year, EFC also offered community members the opportunity to directly donate to teacher grant requests through online collection website CheddarUp.com. Each school had a list of grant requests on the site and donors were able to fund the grants that they were most passionate about, either partially or in full. This platform raised more than $3,200 for grants at all school sites.
Looking forward, EFC will host The Black and White Bash, its annual dinner and auction, on Saturday, April 27 at the Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club. The event will include live music by Vinyl Underground, a wine wall, and silent and live auctions. All proceeds raised will fund teacher projects in the Tesoro Family of schools.
EFC is a non-profit foundation comprised of volunteer parents and community members who raise money to enhance the educational experiences of our children in the Tesoro family of schools. EFC’s fundraising efforts have provided over $1.9 million dollars in school grants in the past 20 years.