Franklin Education Foundation Supports FPS with Educational Grants

By J.D. O’Gara

With Covid putting the kibosh on its biggest fundraiser in 2020, the annual Harlem Wizards show, the Franklin Education Foundation, which supports Franklin Public Schools with educational grants, had to come up with a new fundraising strategy this year. 

“A day of giving on Tuesday, May 4th, to celebrate Horace Mann’s birthday and our wonderful educators in Franklin, will be our major fundraising effort,” says FEF’s Joni Magee. “We’re really hoping to reach out to community and alumni, and to sponsors.”

Franklin is the birthplace of Horace Mann, considered the father of public school education. 

“In the past, we’ve done the Wizards, and we’ve tapped into our broader support from the corporate point of view. That’s how we got a lot of our fundraising,” says Mary Kroon, FEF volunteer, adding that a few paint night fundraisers brought in a bit more as well. “We’re hoping the Day of Giving will compensate for (the loss of those fundraisers in 2020) without the community being taxed. If you’re able to give, you can.”

Since 1997, FEF has funded hundreds of educational grants totaling well over $300,000, to inspire innovative and sustainable programs, and to further support excellence in education within Franklin Public Schools. The educational grants support engaging, diverse and sustainable preK-12 learning opportunities and resources. During the pandemic, the FEF has stepped up its efforts to support Franklin Public Schools by extending its 2019-2020 grants (a total of 17, for a total of $20,000) to the end of June 2021, as well as providing the schools with a lump sum donation so that students could be provided with outreach materials they needed.

“Educators and school districts have had to pivot like no other time,” says Magee, pointing out that, moving forward, grants will allow students to have access to education in different ways than they did before and “teachers to have more tools in the toolbox.”

Kroon explains that the FEF enhances the public-school experience. “It’s a fabulous charity to donate to. We help (teachers) be innovative and creative, so kids can maximize their experience at Franklin Public Schools,” says Kroon.

Over the decades, the FEF has funded such projects as the Franklin Family Resource Guide, Box City, Family Astronomy Night, and Franklin High School Empty Bowls Project. 

According to Mary Kroon, examples of what the Franklin Education Foundation supported this year include:

• A garden for first graders and the first-grade life science curriculum

• A grant for a flexible seating option encouraging student self-regulatory skills and ability to attend academic tasks

• A updated, leveled Spanish reading program for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students

• Digital and hands on resources to enhance science curriculum

• Author visits

• A science author visit

• Moxie strings, for 6th and 7th grade students

• Arduino processors, for a high school AP computer science principles course

• Funds for training, team-building, guest speakers, and outreach to strengthen the Franklin High School gay/straight alliance group

• A 10-worlds language library of comprehensive readers in Spanish, Latin and French for high schoolers

• A grant for a new NIKON camera for Panther yearbook staff

• A mosaic tile stepping stone art installation adjacent to the specialized high needs program

• A Passion program initiative for K-5 students, which allows studens and staff to engage in learning related to a passion of theirs, with an opportunity to give back to the community

None of these innovative programs and resources would be possible without the financial support of area businesses, organizations, families and individuals. The Franklin Education Foundation is entirely dependent on the generosity of sponsorships, financial donations, and in-kind donations. 

Contributions can be made directly to the Franklin Education Foundation website under the donate tab https://www.franklined.org/get-involved/donate, or by mailing a check to Franklin Education Foundation at P.O. Box 531, Franklin, MA 02038. You can learn more about the Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) on their website at https://www.franklined.org/. 

For more information about FEF please contact FEF co-chair, Pandora Carlucci at [email protected].