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End of year update - thank you!


Dear GUFS friends and family,

We are thrilled to announce that the Garrison Children's Education Fund (GCEF) raised $52,500 during its 2015-2016 school year fundraising efforts, which included a successful Golf Marathon Fundraiser, Fall Appeal, Winter Garden Ladies’ Night, and the 17th Annual Spring Thaw. Money raised supports a variety of academic, artistic and athletic curriculum-enhancing activities.

These incredible fundraising results are a continuation of the growth trajectory of giving seen over the past few years. One hundred and fifty families donated to GCEF this school year. Since the 2012-2013 school year, fundraising has more than doubled, thanks to year-over-year increased participation from parents and community members. This strong support from the community allows GCEF to fund new and exciting programs and partner with the school to foster a unique learning environment at GUFS.

During this school year, GCEF committed nearly $38,000 to support 20 programs. GCEF funded the following new programs:

  • Imagination Playground: This one time grant allowed GUFS to purchase an Imagination Playground 105 piece big block set designed for play in large indoor or outdoor spaces and includes bricks, cylinders and parts that suggest motion or connectivity.

  • Society of Educational Arts: This grant partially covered the cost of bringing the Society of Educational Arts' production of "Dia de los Muertos" to GUFS to explore the important Mexican tradition of honoring the memory of past family members and ancestors.

  • Much Ado About Anything - Swing Dance Instruction for 8th Grade Production: This grant covered the cost of a dance instructor, Belle Ritter to teach the 8th graders swing dance as part of their production of Much Ado About Anything.

  • 100th Anniversary Museum Display: This one time grant allowed for GUFS to purchase three display cases for a student-created school museum that provides students with an opportunity to research and connect with the school history.

  • SAT Prep Course – Kaplan: This grant helped offer the Kaplan SAT Prep course to high school students at a reduced cost in partnership with the Friends of the Desmond-Fish Library.

  • PTA After School Enrichment: GCEF partnered with the PTA to bring high caliber teachers and exciting new after school programs such as Beacon Music Factory ukulele, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival theatre classes, and a variety of K-2 art classes.

In addition to these new programs, GCEF also funded highly regarded returning programs such as Hudson Valley Seed’s educational school gardens, a multi-disciplinary art program with the Garrison Art Center, a Revolutionary War/Colonial Day Living History Reenactment, the all-year Jazz and Percussion Ensembles, a Clearwater Sloop Sail, and visits to the Philadelphia Constitution Convention Center, the Challenger Space Center and Constitution Marsh.

A sincere thank you to all the families and individuals who have contributed to our children's education and continued the long legacy of GCEF in our community. Established in 1998, GCEF has distributed $650,000 in grants to benefit children of the Garrison School district.

Please take a moment to visit our website and learn more about the programs we fund, see pictures from Spring Thaw, find out how you can get involved, and fill out a quick survey to give us your feedback!

Have a wonderful summer and we look forward to another great year ahead for our kids.

Sincerely,

2015-16 GCEF Board

Courtney Schacht, President

Kyoko Gelber, Vice President of Grants

Karen Nelson, Secretary

Lisa Hunter Rasic, Treasurer

Courtney McCarthy, Communications Chair

Trustees: Stacy Morrison, Kristin Sorenson, Claudine Struck, Liz Westphal


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