It was one year ago the Cardington-Lincoln Education Foundation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit tax exempt organization, was launched.
Its purpose is to support the academic excellence of Cardington-Lincoln students. It was founded by Vicki Kerman, Angela Curren and Jennifer Salyers and is comprised of volunteer parents and community members who believe that a foundation of lifelong learning and personal growth is established by helping students identify and achieve their full potential.
During the June meeting of the C-L Board of Education, Kerman reviewed the projects which the Foundation had undertaken.
“We conducted the 2016 school supplies project through which we bought school supplies in bulk and made them available for purchase to elementary and intermediate students at a substantial discount,” she said, noting that 1,300 students participated. “They are doing it again this year.”
“In addition,” Kerman said, “The Foundation coordinated and managed the Holiday Bazaar, provided the funding for distributing a flyer to all families for an Internet Safety presentation, hosted by Mount Gilead Schools, sponsored craft table at the Cardington Health and Community Fair and organized and ran the carnival events at the Elementary School Field Day.”
The latest initiative of the foundation, is to fund mini-grants for Cardington staff and students for educational projects they wish to undertake. The first grant has been awarded to purchase Scoop Rockers for first grade readers.
These rockers help students to focus when they are reading or doing schoolwork. “We are looking forward to reviewing the applications which prospective grantees submit so we can continue to build educational excellence at Cardington,” Kerman said.
She thanked all of the individuals, community groups and corporations which have contributed to The Foundation.
“We are grateful for the support we have received, most recently from St. John Lutheran Church, (Windfall), The Cardington Rotary Club, Auxiliary Unit 97 of the American Legion, Kohls, Family Dollar and the Cardington Market.”
“We are excited,” said Kerman, “to announce that last week, Cosco very generously donated to the Foundation 230 backpacks for local students. These will be available at First United Methodist Church’s free School Supply Giveaway in August.”
