GAR Foundation

AKRON, Ohio (June 10, 2011) – At its second quarter meeting, the Distribution Committee of the GAR Foundation approved 33 grants totaling $294,970 through the Foundation’s Educator Initiative Grants (EIG) program.  In its eighth year, the EIG program awards small grants of $1,000-$15,000 to teams of local educators who propose creative and collaborative instructional techniques designed to create forward-thinking teaching and learning environments to ensure student success. 

In announcing the 2011 grants, Foundation President Robert Briggs noted, “The EIG program is a tangible way for GAR to raise student achievement and support talented teachers in our community.  It provides teachers with the resources to test new ideas in a classroom setting and share lessons with fellow educators.”  He added, “We continue to be impressed with the quality and imagination of the proposals submitted from a wide range of school districts in Summit County.”

This year, GAR received 55 grant requests and awarded 33 grants for projects proposed by educators from 13 public school districts, as well as several parochial and private schools, all in Summit County. The projects will be implemented in the 2011-12 school year. Winning proposals include: a collaborative project to provide a living history day that brings both high school and multiple area elementary schools together for experiential learning and mentoring of younger students; new curriculum to introduce earth science studies to fourth graders through in-depth explorations, hands-on lab experiences and computer-based resources; and a professional development program focused on individual teacher needs through an online Learning Management System.

The funded projects will be showcased in a fall conference to be held October 12, 2011 at the Akron-Summit County Main Library; watch for registration details at http://www.garfoundation.org/educator-initiative-grants.  How-to-Apply workshops will be held, EIG winners will be on hand to discuss their winning projects, and a keynote speaker will address the conference, which is free and open to all.

To promote awareness about the EIG program and solicit high quality applications, workshops can be held at any time during the school year for any teaching team, school or district wishing to learn more about the program and how to apply. Applications for the 2012-13 school year proposals will be available online beginning in September 2011, and due February 24, 2012. For more information about EIG, contact EIG program directors Connie Leonard at 330-699-5382 or conniekayleonard@yahoo.com, or Katie Wells-Goodwin at 330-670-6252 or katy7ed@frontier.com

The following districts and schools were awarded grants through the 2011 EIG program:

About GAR Foundation

GAR Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 1967 as a charitable trust by Galen J. Roush, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roadway Express, and his wife Ruth.  GAR Foundation is among the largest private foundations in Northeast Ohio.  Since its inception, GAR has distributed approximately $196 million to support charitable organizations within the Foundation’s areas of interest.  Funding priorities include education, health and social services, arts and arts education, civic enhancement, and nonprofit enhancement, with a preference for organizations serving Summit County, Ohio. 

On the Web:  www.garfoundation.org

For more information about the Educator Initiative Grants program, contact Kirstin Toth, Senior Program Officer, 330-576-2917, or ktoth@garfdn.org.