For Immediate Release

Needham Education Foundation Awards Over $33,000 In Autumn Grants Program

NEEDHAM, Mass., November 30, 2004 - The Needham Education Foundation (NEF) announced it has awarded 13 Autumn Grants, totaling $33,477, to support innovative education programs for Needham public schools in the 2004-05 school year. The grants support the NEF mission of enriching the education experience for Needham public school children.

"These grants will touch Needham students of every age," said Mimi Segel, NEF co-president. "They complement many of the goals outlined by the Needham public schools, such as improving literacy and language skills, enhancing math and science proficiency, diversity awareness, physical wellness, and many important aspects of social-emotional learning."

Among the grants awarded are an innovative science and social studies curriculum at the Broadmeadow Elementary School taught through educational creative drama; a writing workshop with author Brian Lies at the Eliot Elementary School; a readers and writers workshop at the Pollard Middle School; and a four-year project at Needham High School in which students will use digital photography to document the renovation and construction project at the high school. (See full list of grants.)

The Needham Education Foundation is an independent, community-based, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to raise and then distribute monies for the enrichment of public school children in Needham, Mass. Its fundraising programs include the annual Spelling Bee Fundraiser, teacher recognition cards, and a year-end appeal. NEF's purpose is to stimulate innovation and excellence by supporting educational programs that are outside normal public funding and to maintain a permanent fund to implement such programs and activities.

NEF is celebrating its 15 anniversary by launching "Vision 20/20," a multi-year fundraising campaign to double its endowment to $2 million by the year 2020. NEF began in 1990 when a handful of Needham High alumni celebrating their 50th class reunion started a seed fund to pass on their love of learning by underwriting education programs. To date, the NEF has awarded more than $700,000 in grants to support Needham schools.

Contact:
Judy Safian, NEF Co-President
(781) 444-0024
jsafian@comcast.net