A Special Preview Reveal for our Social Media Followers …Show Your Woburn Pride with this Great Bag by Michael Kors!

Presenting the Bedford Legacy Leather Flap Shoulder Bag in Burnt Orange. 

Modern details highlight this Michael Michael Kors shoulder bag cut in a sleek silhouette for maximum portability and style.

Features 10-1/2″ goldtone and leather handles with a 23″ long adjustable removable strap.  Zip closure, Gold-tone exterior hardware, with 2 zip pockets & 1 snap pocket on the outside, 1 zip pocket & 2 slip pockets on this inside.  
This bag is perfectly sized for everyday in very stylish “Woburn Tanner” orange!

This bag is sponsored by Michael Martini. 

Show your Woburn Pride!  Get your tickets today for the WCEF Women’s Forum Event!  Your $50 ticket gets you entered in our Purse Raffle, as well as a wonderful brunch buffet and inspiring words from this year’s keynote Loren Raye! 

Visit our event page for tickets and event details.  

A New Name in our Raffle – A Must-Have Purse You Can Only Win at our Event!

This is one of the most versatile bags ever! You will fall in love with this Floral Debossed Leather Allier Crossbody by Patricia Nash.

This mini sized bag features an adjustable, removable strap, push-lock closure and gold-tone exterior hardware. Inside, find an attached mirror, 2 interior slip pockets & 3 credit card slots.

Made from 100% Full grain vegetable tanned leather from a LWG GOLD Certified tannery. This certified leather is traceable, does not come from deforested areas, and all raw material is a by-product of the beef industry.

This fun and very functional bag can only be yours if you attend the Women’s Forum event! Get your tickets today and take a chance on this and many other great handbags on the Purse Raffle Table!

This purse was sponsored by Winchester Savings Bank.

Patricia Nash Allier Crossbody

We are Kicking Off this Year’s Purse Preview with TWO Stunning Bags that are Sure to be Raffle Favorites!

Here are just 2 of the many fabulous bags we will have up for grabs on the raffle table at this year’s Women’s Forum event.  Get your tickets here

First may we present the Kate Spade Lucie Street crossbody.  This adorable purse is a scaled-down version of the popular cameron street lucie, complete with a matching luggage tag.   Made of crosshatched leather with contrasting black leather trim, with a bookstripe printed on poly twill lining.  This bag is just the right size for day or evening! 

This purse is sponsored by Winchester Co-operative Bank

What would our Purse Raffle be without Michael Kors?

Presenting the gorgeous Stanton Medium East West Barrel Messenger.  Jungle chic with designer edge, this barrel bag walks on the wild side in a variety of animal prints, whipstitched detailing and polished gold-tone hardware.

This bag is a wonderful addition to our raffle table through the generous support of Robert E. & Karen Maguire. 

Join us on Sunday, October 20th as we welcome Loren Raye to Woburn!

Purse raffle tickets are available at the event only, so be sure to 
get your tickets today! 

The Inaugural Woburn Hall of Fame is a Tremendous Success!

“It’s hard to believe a city with such civic pride and high achievement has gone without a formal Hall of Fame for this long.” So opened the first-ever Woburn Hall of Fame Induction event, held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Hilton Boston/Woburn.  A collaborative effort by the Woburn Community Educational Foundation and Woburn Memorial High School set out to change that, and establish an institution to honor and recognize those individuals whose integrity, achievements, sportsmanship and character have enhanced the overall educational experience of our youth and inspired pride in our schools and community.

The inaugural induction event attracted almost 300 Woburn alumni and community members for this reunion and celebration of Tanner Pride.  Emceed by Alex Thomas, the event, through video interviews, captured the spirit of teamwork, talent, hard work, and community and that is the at the heart of Woburn High. 

In her opening comments, Woburn Memorial High School Principal Jessica Callanan commended her fellow committee members who worked to bring the program to fruition: WMHS Vice Principals Ed Maguire and Meg Patrissi, Athletic Director Jim Duran, WCEF Board Members Mike Martini, Don Queenin, Brian Teague, Maureen Willis, Maria Zeqo, and community members Paul Andrews and Bob Norton. 

A highlight of the evening was a video of interviews, during which each inductee, their families and team mates reflected on their fondest memories and the meaning of Tanner Pride.  Produced by Brian Ouellette and Woburn Public Media, the presentation was timed to each inductee announcement and in its entirety showcases the talent, integrity and sportsmanship of this year’s inductees. 

Special thanks to the event sponsors, whose investment set a foundation upon which to build on for the future Woburn Hall of Fame:  North Suburban Transportation, Rick Metters & Maura Embler, J. Mulkerin Realty, Northern Bank & Trust and Winchester Cooperative Bank.  Sales of ad space in the commemorative program also contributed much to this founding effort.    

In closing the Woburn Hall of Fame event, the committee announced that there will be an induction event in 2020.  Nominations are now being accepted for the 2nd class of inductees through December 1, 2019.  Community members are also being sought to join the committee to support the success of the 20202 Event.  Those interested should call Maureen at 781-281-9589.

The induction event was filmed by Woburn Public Media.  For a link to the video, to view the Woburn Hall of Fame Event Program, order copies of the inductee interview video or to download nomination forms for the 2020 Woburn Hall of Fame event, please visit the Woburn Hall of Fame website at https://bit.ly/2CYX1S8.

Woburn Community Honors Awesome Teachers!

We are pleased to present the impressive list of Woburn Educators honored this year with a Woburn’s Awesome Teacher Tribute.  In total, 211 tributes were received for 141 educators, raising $4318 to support the Educator Grants Program.        

Big thanks to our Woburn community for generously supporting this program, which not only raises important funds for the Woburn Public Schools, but also reminds our awesome teachers that their efforts are noticed and appreciated by their colleagues, community, students and families, both past and present. 

See the full gallery of presentations here:

Lexia Case Study: A Success Story in the Woburn Public Schools

Woburn students and teachers love the Lexia Program!  In 2016, after receiving multiple requests for Lexia through the Educator Grants Program, the Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) applied for and was awarded funding through Cummings Foundation’s “100k for 100” program.  The grant supports a 5-year pilot project to provide the Lexia Core 5 Reading Program as a district-wide initiative to improve reading skills for the lowest performing students in kindergarten through grade 3 in the Woburn Public Schools. 

The success of the pilot to date has been impressive, and has caught the attention of Lexia, which published a case study to highlight the impact the program has had in the schools.  The report notes that of the 1,166 students using Core5 during the 2017-2018 school year, 53% met their usage targets and 70% of these students met their end of year reading benchmark.  As a result of Woburn students high use of Lexia, the percentage of students working below their grade level reduced from 47 percent to only 4 percent.  Studies have shown that students who read at grade level by grade 4 enjoy greater success throughout their academic careers.

As use of the program expands in each elementary school, Core5 is also helping the district move towards a more student-centered educational environment—where learners can move up the learning scale based on their individual capabilities. 

Wendy Sprague, assistant superintendent explains: “Following our district’s new strategic plan, Lexia is a tool that is creating equity amongst our schools while providing students with opportunities and support we have not previously been able to provide.”

“Thanks to the support of the Cummings Foundation, this project has the potential to ensure the future achievement of an entire class of Woburn High School graduates,” states WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis.  Read the Lexia Core5 Report here.    

Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester.  With assets exceeding $1 billion, it is one of the largest foundations in New England.  Additional information is available at www.cummingsfoundation.org.

Photo:  Ms. Connolly’s students at the Goodyear Elementary School Love Lexia!

Presenting the 2019 Educator Grant Awards

The Woburn Community Educational Foundation is pleased to announce our 2019 grant awards to support exciting new projects and educational initiatives in the Woburn Public Schools.  Through the generosity of our community, $18,786 was granted to support 25 diverse classroom-based, whole-school and district-wide programs designed to engage students in interactive learning.  These funds will purchase innovative learning tools, provide professional development opportunities for teachers, deliver classroom technology enhancements and new educational enrichment programs, all to support the academic success of today’s students.     

Special thanks to the Winning Home Foundation for its continued investment in the potential of Woburn students; this partnership support will fund six of the grants awarded this year.

WCEF is a nonprofit organization formed to increase private investment and community involvement in the Woburn Public Schools.  Grant funds support new projects that cannot be funded by the regular school budget. WCEF raises funds in the community through our Awesome Teacher Tribute Program and the Woburn Hall of Fame and Women’s Forum events.  To help make a difference in our schools, contact WCEF at 781-281-9589 or email us at contactus@woburnedfoundation.org.   

Our 2018-2019 Educator Grant Program is Now Open!

WCEF is pleased to announce that this year’s Educator Grants Program is now open.  Educational Professionals from the Woburn Public Schools are invited to apply for funds to support their creative ideas for programs or projects that are not funded by the regular school budget.  Grants of up to $1,000 will be made to support new initiatives at any grade level and in any subject, to include the arts, sciences, literacy, math, social studies, physical education and 21st Century skills.

The deadline for grant applications is Monday, January 22, 2019.  Grant awards will be announced in early March 2019.  Please visit our Educator Grants Page for the complete Grant Application and Guidelines.

For the full list of projects funded by WCEF since our founding in 2015, visit our Educator Grant Awards page.

Thank You Winning Home, Inc. for Investing in the Potential of Woburn Students!

The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) is proud to announce the receipt of a $5,000 charitable grant from Winning Home, Inc., to fund Educator Grants which address the special educational needs of high-risk students in the Woburn Public Schools.  This year’s award brings the total investment from Winning Home, Inc., to $20,000; past grants have supported 16 innovative new projects that continue to benefit Woburn students at every elementary school and both middle schools.

“Winning Home grants are making an immediate and lasting impact on the learning experiences of our most challenged students”, comments WCEF’s Maureen Willis.  “We are so grateful for the continued support of Winning Home, as part of its mission to serve the needs of Woburn’s children and their families.”

This funding from Winning Home, Inc. will be made available to Woburn Educators as part of this year’s round of grant awards.  Woburn Educators are invited to submit proposals for grants now through January 22, 2019.

Woburn Educators can access applications on the Educator Grants Page.

 

Pictured at the check presentation:

WCEF Board Member Robert E. Maguire, Winning Home Board Chair Thomas Martin, WCEF Board Chair Joe Crowley, WCEF Board Member Sue Ellen Holland, Winning Home Treasurer/Director Albert “Chip” Curran, Woburn Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Crowley

WCEF 2018 Annual Report is Now Available

The Woburn Community Educational Foundation is pleased to make available to the public a report on the Foundation’s operations for fiscal year 2018. This report can be found online at www.woburnedfoundation.org/about.

WCEF officially incorporated as a nonprofit on January 2, 2014 and granted tax-exempt status as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.  This Annual Report provides a comprehensive narrative on all activities, a Donor Honor Roll, an update on this year’s Educator Grants and a complete account of all finances for the fiscal year.

The WCEF board wishes to thank the Greater Woburn Community for its growing support of our mission to bring new resources to the Woburn Public Schools.  Hard copies of this Annual Report will be mailed upon request.  Please call 781-281-9589 or email contactus@woburnedfoundation.org.