Woburn Community Education Foundation Hands Out Over $20K In Grants

WOBURN, MA — The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) announced earlier this month that it has awarded 25 grants to Woburn educators for a total of $20,676.

The Educator Grants will be used to support new programs, educational initiatives and learning enhancements across multiple disciplines at every grade level, according to the foundation.

The WCEF is a private, nonprofit foundation that works to bring new resources to the WPS. Throughout the year, the organization holds a number of fundraising activities, and the private dollars are then gifted back to the schools through grants, educational initiatives and school enhancement projects that are not covered by the district's publicly funded budget.

"This year we were pleased to receive grant proposals from almost every school in the district, representing the diverse interests and needs of the students at each grade level," said Maureen Willis, the executive director of the WCEF.

Willis continued: "These educator grants directly support school and classroom based programs and represent our shared commitment to the educational experience and academic achievement of today's students."

According to WCEF leadership, since the grant program opened in 2015, WCEF has awarded almost $200,000 directly to schools through Educator Grants. The organization also has secured a total of more than $600,ooo in new funding to support instructional enhancements and new projects."

The latest round of educator grants will be used to purchase hands-on learning tools, deliver interactive classroom technology, increase access to music instruction and performing arts, connect students with local history and celebrate the diversity in the community, according to the WCEF.

A list of teachers who received the recent Educator Grants, how much they received and what the money will be used for, is on the WCEF website.

In a release announcing the latest grants, the WCEF gave special thanks to the Cummings Foundation "for its leadership support," and to the Winning Home Foundation, which recently provided a 3-year grant to bring the Caring School Community program to the WPS middle schools.