Classroom Grants
The Foundation administers its own grants program for Lee County District public school teachers called Classroom Grants. One teacher can request up to $500 or a group of teachers or a school can request up to $1,000 to purchase needed materials to carry out a learning project. Classroom Grants is an opportunity for educators to purchase the tools necessary to create unique learning experiences. Each project must enhance student learning. The grant-funded projects offer students "hands on" activities and a unique perspective on traditional subject areas.
Funded projects have included utilizing manipulatives to teach math, hiking in the Everglades, planting a vegetable garden to learn the life cycle of plants and creating multi-media presentations to teach students new forms of technology.
In 2008-2009 The Foundation awarded $25,000 for 59 projects. Classroom Grants reached over 600 students in the Lee County public school district. Since its inception, this program has awarded over $1,000,000 to fund these innovative projects.
Classroom Grant categories are:
Career/Technical (Sponsored by Premier Commercial Realty, Inc.)
Fine Arts (Sponsored by ArtFest of Fort Myers)
Literacy (Sponsored by McBLT Ventures, Inc.)
Nutrition (Sponsored by Sweetbay Supermarket)
Science/Environmental Education (Sponsored by Convanta Energy)
Cement Industries
Eva Freeman
Elite Flooring of Naples
Southwest Florida Building Group, Inc.
Utilities Structures
Elinore C. Scricca, Ph.D.