CHATHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO FUND PROJECTS

PRESS RELEASE
March 1, 2010

CHATHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO FUND PROJECTS

The Chatham Education Foundation is looking forward to its eighth year of grant giving for projects that benefit the Chatham Central Schools. As our schools struggle with state budget cuts, we believe the potential impact of the Chatham Education Fund to be more important than ever. Although this year's grants will be diminished somewhat by current economic circumstances, more than $15,000 will be available through the two funds it oversees: the Arts and Humanities Fund, intended to enhance Chatham students’ experience in the cultural and liberal arts, and the Alexander M. White Fund, for projects of any educational discipline, especially to include science and technology. In the past individual grant amounts have ranged from $100 to $5000.

Over the past seven years, more than $120,000 has been awarded to worthy projects. The 2009-2010 Arts and Humanities projects included among others,The Homespun Residency that taught country dance to students in the Mary E Dardess Elementary School, Jim Kraft’s class on Edna St. Vincent Millay for high school students, A Columbia Festival Orchestra workshop, and Puppet Mania. The Alexander M. White Fund helps finance a Model Congress competition, the middle school’s Mentor Program and Service Learning Project. The projects involve students at all levels from elementary through high school. Community organizations such as the Spencertown Academy, the Columbia County Land Conservancy and the Columbia Festival Orchestra have contributed their expertise to project partnerships.

Applicants may be personnel and students from the Chatham schools and the broader community as well. The Chatham Education Foundation is an endowed fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Applications

will be available from the District Office of the Chatham Central Schools, 50 Woodbridge Ave, Chatham, NY 12037,

518-392-2400; and from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 271 Main ST, suite 3, Great Barrington, MA  01230, 413-528-8039, or visit their website http://www.berkshiretaconic.org.

The deadline for applications is March 31st.

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Questions:

Gail Day
74 George RD
Old Chatham, NY 12136
518-392-9256
518-366-3856 cell