Trenton Educational Foundation Hosts Its First Annual Signature Event

Sept. 28, 2011 - PRLog -- “The TEF Signature Event will be a fun-filled evening with people from all different backgrounds coming together for one purpose —to support education in Trenton,” said David French, the TEF’s chairman.

“Our goal is to raise some funds to help raise the bar of educational excellence here in Trenton,” said Event Chair Mike McCullough.“Bottom line: we’re establishing a coalition of caring citizens, who want to make a difference and have some fun at the same time. This is one of the finest groups of people I have been privileged to work with.” McCullough and his team of dedicated committee members are preparing to take this event over the top.”Tickets are $30 a person and can be obtained at Trenton City Hall, the Board of Education office, M&M Printing Inc. and Fratello’s, or by contacting Sue Yee at yees100@hotmail.com. Sponsorships for the event are also available.

There are several “surprises” being promised by the committee planning the evening. One of the biggest is expected to be the announcement of the first people to be honored on a new education “Wall of Fame” that will be created at Trenton High School. At the recent Board of Education meeting, the TEF received approval to establish a committee to initiate the Wall of Fame. “Candidates can be an educator, administrator or Trenton graduate,” said Mike McCullough, a member of the TEF and the committee. “Other criteria and number of inductees will be determined later.”The TEF was founded three years ago by a group of residents who wanted to help raise money to fund special projects and programs not covered by traditional school funding. The Signature Event is seen as a way to enhance those efforts, perhaps on an annual basis. Other surprises such as A Signature Drink, A Signature Dessert and Signature Art will also be revealed.

Established in 2008 by a coalition of community leaders from various organizations, the TEF is now known as a source of “mini-grants” that teachers can seek to help fund special projects and activities not within the budget. All levels of Trenton public education are helped by the TEF. For instance, one mini-grant last year was used for the creation of take-home bags that can be used to improve reading and writing skills. Similar to the concept of checking out materials from the library, these bags offered lower-elementary students a chance to do some extra learning. Some elementary students were also provided cameras to borrow for class projects. At Boyd Arthurs Middle School, a method of using blocks to help create a learning tool for algebra received TEF funds. And at Trenton High School, the annual Challenge Day which gives students and adults a chance to assess how they accept others) is a moving experience that isn’t funded from the general budget, but with help from the TEF. To be eligible for a grant (of up to $750), applicants must be able to provide a well-stated case for why their request is unique and will be affective. The Foundation funds six integral areas of education— cultural enrichment, scholastic enrichment, arts and education, technology and learning, continuing education and professional development.

“The Trenton Educational Foundation is committed to support innovative and fresh ideas in education,” French said. “Our primary focus is to support that area of teaching that the traditional funding methods do not support. This can bring a broader experience of learning to the students in Trenton schools.”

For more information visit the web site http://trentonedfoundation.org .

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The TEF focus is on encouraging excellence through creative teaching, facilitating student development, and fostering community/school partnerships. The Foundation will fund major projects, but it also will enable faculty members to undertake a number of innovative classroom projects at all grade levels by awarding numerous “mini” and “collaborative” grants. Funds from the Foundation will be used to support six core areas of education.