Great Valley Education Foundation Offers Chance To Gift Teachers $100

MALVERN, PA — Families in Great Valley School District have until Oct. 15 to sign up for a drawing that will give away five prizes and students get to pick the teacher they'll gift with a $100 prize for their classroom.

Great Valley School District Education Foundation (GVSDEF) explained every GVSD family that signs up to receive GVSDEF emails will be put in a drawing.

After Oct. 15, five names will be drawn, and those families will get to choose a GVSD teacher.

The five teachers chosen will each receive $100 to be used in their classrooms. Signing up for GVSDEF emails will automatically enter a family into the drawing. A quick way to opt-in for emails and enter the contest is by texting: GVSDEF to 844-783-0028. Sign-up information can also be found here.

The contest is part of the Great Valley School District Education Foundation mission to enrich the total student experience in the Great Valley School District, working as a community partner by funding programs and special projects in the District. The Foundation acts as a bridge between the community, the students, and GVSD schools.

Great Valley School District Education Foundation President Stephen Skoufalos said, "GVSDEF is always happy to show appreciation for our teachers. Thank you to all that participate in this contest!"

Backing up teachers when they have a project idea is part of what GVSDEF does. "Our goal is to help maintain Great Valley's high-quality education, ensure a breadth and depth of educational opportunities that connect with our students and promote innovative possibilities that inspire them."

The Education Foundation explained student enrollment is increasing in GVSD.

GVSDEF states it exists because Pennsylvania's public schools are not adequately funded and local districts are forced to make up the difference. Especially pressing are costs of special education, pensions, and charter payments, which the Foundation reports increased over the last decade by a total of $311 million in Chester County's school districts.

About 4,600 students are impacted by GVSDEF projects each school year, the Foundation reports. In the last 10 years it has raised $1.2 million. The Foundation estimates nearly 500 meals have been provided to families in GVSD through gift cards purchased by community donations. The pandemic increased need in the District and the Foundation responded by focusing funds on food in 2020. Read that Patch story here.

Some recent projects include CPR training for 1,300 students, providing flexible seating for group and special needs projects, and supporting hands-on projects that drive students to connect with each other in creative work.

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