Grant Deadline Extended for Teachers

More Than $60,000 Remains for Qualified Classroom or Field Trip Projects

Los Angeles — The California Community Foundation recently announced a deadline extension for the FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund teacher grant applications. The deadline has been moved to Friday, March 5, 2004 from February 9, 2004. Teachers can complete the simple application online.

With more than $60,000 remaining for qualified classroom or field trip projects, the FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund provides grants of up to $500 per teacher — or up to $2,000 for four teachers partnering together — to teachers serving students in grades Kindergarten through 12 in the Cerritos, Culver City, Norwalk La Mirada, Pasadena and Los Angeles Unified School Districts.

The grants support the efforts of full-time public school teachers motivated to increase student understanding and academic achievement by "bringing learning to life" in one of the subject areas of language arts, mathematics, science or social studies.

"I can't tell you how many children will benefit from these backpacks," said Mary Gilchrist, a second grade teacher at Loyola Village Elementary, who received a grant to create 16 book-filled take-home backpacks that will help her students learn to enjoy reading. "The kids really delight in being able to involve their parents and families."

Grants were also awarded to organizations in San Bernardino, San Diego, and Orange Counties to facilitate similar grant programs. Teachers can apply through the San Diego Foundation in San Diego County, the Orange County Community Foundation in Orange County and Cal-Poly Pomona in San Bernardino County.

The FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund is a grant initiative of the FEDCO Charitable Foundation. Founded in 1999 as a supporting organization of the California Community Foundation, the FEDCO Charitable Foundation was created to benefit the children and families in the communities where FEDCO stores were located.

Established in 1915, the California Community Foundation is one of the largest and most active philanthropic organizations in Southern California, with assets of more than $600 million. In partnership with its donors, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations and public institutions with funds for health and human services, affordable housing, early childhood education, community arts and culture and other areas of need.