Group doles out $64K for school programs

BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

MONROE — Students in township schools will have enhanced learning opportunities as a result of nearly $64,000 in grants from the Monroe Education Foundation (MEF).

During the Dec. 13 Board of Education meeting, trustees presented the 35 grants to teachers and administrators for various curricular programs.

“I feel a little like Santa Claus, even though I’m Jewish,” trustee Ira Tessler said.

The total grant funds exceeded those of last year when over $37,000 was doled out.

The foundation normally holds two fundraisers annually. The car raffle, held in May, raised about $32,000, and the golf outing in August took in about $33,000, according to Richard Salvadore, president of the foundation.

“It’s been increasing every year, and we certainly want to extend our gratitude to the Monroe Education Foundation,” said Monroe Superintendent of Schools Ralph Ferrie, who is an advisory member of the foundation. “It provides outstanding educational opportunities for students throughout the district.”

The foundation received over $110,000 worth of requests for grants, and its grant review committee used criteria such as the number of students impacted to decide which were most worthy of funding. The foundation attempts to spread the funding to all academic areas, Salvadore said.

“The basic philosophy is, we try to fund these programs that create lifelong learning,” Salvadore said.

Salvadore cited Doug Glassmacher’s “Salute to Veterans” program, which ran last year, and was again awarded with grant funds. It involves the recognizing and honoring of American veterans by students at the Applegarth Middle School.

In the coming year, the foundation will introduce a new fundraising event — a casino night March 16 at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe. Tickets will be $50 each.

The foundation was formed in 1995 by James Ungerleider, who now serves as secretary and treasurer. Its original purpose was to get funding to improve available technology in schools, and it was not until 2003 that it began giving out the educational grants.

Funding comes from a combination of donations from the business and public sectors. The foundation consists of three officers, three advisory members and 19 trustees.