INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (CFEF,) in conjunction with the State of Florida Department of Education, recently awarded the Education Foundation of Indian River County (EF-IRC) $33,228.35 in matching funds through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program.
Grant funds will be used to support the EF-IRC’s Great Ideas! Grants program. Selected classroom, school, and district-wide projects directly enhance learning opportunities for students in Indian River County. These grants are highly competitive and have a built in component which requires measurable outcomes and evaluations.
“I am extremely grateful for the additional funds from the Great Ideas! Grants program for our teachers to use on innovative learning projects for their students. Many of our teachers have benefited from this program and appreciate the grants,” explained Dr. Fran Adams, Superintendent of Schools.
The EF-IRC secured a match to these funds from the John’s Island Foundation, the John’s Island Community Service League, the Center for the Advancement of Science and Space, and private donations.
Through the collaborative effort of its members, CFEF successfully advocated for the creation of legislative matching funds in 2000, which has provided a dollar for dollar incentive for local education foundations to raise private contributions for eligible projects.
“I’ve seen the impact of the Matching Grant Program first hand in Manatee County where I live, and I am happy to help expand this program statewide to benefit other local education foundations and the students they serve,” said Senator Bill Galvano.
Florida is a national leader in this Matching Grant Program for K-12 education with $25.3 million in matching funds provided to date. The program encourages further engagement by local education foundation board members as they work with school system leaders to develop innovative programs that are responsive to local student achievement needs.
CFEF is the membership organization for Florida’s school district-wide local education foundations. Established in 1987, CFEF seeks to advance student achievement in Florida by increasing private sector investment and involvement in public education.
CFEF now has 59 member foundations with 1,100 business and community leaders serving as volunteer board members. Collectively, they raise more than $50 million annually to support students, teachers, and schools through a variety of programs.
CFEF has provided more than $20 million to local education foundations since 2002 through various private and public sector partnerships, including the State of Florida School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program.
To learn more about the CFEF, please visit the website at www.CFEF.net or contact Mary Chance, executive director, at (352) 338-0250 or by email at MaryChance@CFEF.net.