Winning Home Supports Caring Schools

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Winning Home Foundation, Inc. recently awarded the Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) a $20,000 grant, which represents year 2 of a multi-year investment in a new initiative in the district’s middle schools: Caring School Community. This generous gift will help educators address the social emotional needs of today’s students, to support their academic achievement and overall success in school and in life.   

Caring School Community is a comprehensive, research-based social and emotional learning (SEL) program that builds assets in young people. This program will be implemented at both the Joyce and Kennedy Middle Schools to help foster a positive learning environment at each school, one in which students feel heard, known and cared for; a Caring School Community.

“WCEF is proud to partner with the Winning Home Foundation to offer this important program in Woburn’s Middle Schools” comments WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis. “By helping our middle schools build Caring School Communities, Winning Home is supporting the overall health, wellness and success of a generation of Woburn students.”  

About Winning Home: The Winning Home Foundation was formed through the sale of land assets of what was locally known as “Winning Farm for Children”.  The sale process produced cash assets for long-term investment, and preserved approximately 50 acres of the farmland as permanent open space.  Winning Home, Inc. remains true to the spirit and intent of its benefactor by working “for the benefit of children who are economically, socially, physically, emotionally or mentally handicapped or disadvantaged and their families.” Since its conversion from a landowner to a charitable trust, Winning Home has made grants over $5 million to area charitable organizations.  Learn more at www.winninghome.org

Photos:   

Photo 1: Members of the Winning Home and WCEF Boards at the recent check presentation. Pictured are (l-r):  WCEF Board and School Committee Member Colleen Cormier, WCEF Board Chair Brian Teague, Winning Home Treasurer Chip Curran, WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis, Winning Home Board and WCEF Emeritus Board Member Robert E. Maguire.

Photo 2: Members of the WCEF Board celebrate Winning Home Grant. Pictured are (l to r):
WCEF Board Vice-Chair Eric Skeffington, Superintendent of Schools Matt Crowley, WCEF Board Members Ernie Wells, Bill Johnson, Robert E. Maguire, WCEF Board Chair Brian Teague, Member Nancy Whalen, WCEF Treasurer Maria Zeqo, Board Member Joe Crowley.  

WCEF Announces 2023 Educator Grant Awards

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The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) recently awarded 24 grants to Woburn Educators that support a diverse portfolio of exciting new programs, educational initiatives and proven learning enhancements across multiple disciplines at every grade level. This year’s program gifted a total of $20,676 to the Woburn Public Schools.  

These Educator Grants will purchase hands-on learning tools, deliver interactive classroom technology, increase access to music instruction and the performing arts, connect students with local history and celebrate the diversity of our community. We are proud to invest in these projects that create excitement in learning and support the academic success of all students.

“This year we were pleased to receive grant proposals from almost every school in the district, representing the diverse interests and needs of the students at each grade level. These Educator Grants directly support school and classroom based programs and represent our shared commitment to the educational experience and academic achievement of today’s students,” noted WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis. “Since our founding in 2014 and the opening of our Grant Program in 2015, WCEF has awarded almost $200,000 directly to our schools as Educator Grants and has secured a total of more than $600,000 in new funding to support instructional enhancements and new projects. Working together we have brought some very exciting programs to our schools.”

Special thanks to the Cummings Foundation for its leadership support of WCEF and to the Winning Home Foundation for its continued partnership support and commitment to Woburn’s children as demonstrated by a 3-year grant to bring the Caring School Community program to the district’s middle schools.

WCEF is a nonprofit organization formed to increase private investment and community involvement in the Woburn Public Schools.  We invest in new programs and projects that cannot be funded by the regular school budget. To learn more about WCEF and to get involved, visit us online at www.woburnedfoundation.org.    

WCEF Announces 2022 Educator Grant Awards

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The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) is pleased to announce our 2022 grant awards to support exciting new projects and educational initiatives across multiple grades and disciplines in the Woburn Public Schools.  Through the generosity of our community, $19,441 was granted to support 27 innovative classroom-based, whole-school and district-wide programs designed to introduce students to new concepts and technology, increase their understanding of our shared history and the world, and to support their social-emotional well-being and development. These funds will purchase hands-on learning tools, deliver interactive classroom technology, support the arts and expand the use of diversified texts, all to create excitement in learning and support the academic success of today’s students.     

“These grants represent an important milestone in the history of this educational foundation,” noted WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis during the recent Grant Awards Presentation. “Since our founding in 2014 and the opening of our Grant Program in 2015, WCEF has awarded $170,000 directly as Educator Grants and has secured a total of $530,000 in new funding to support our schools.”

She told the assembled group of educators, “It is so wonderful to see you here, and to have the opportunity to thank you in-person for all you have done to support your students and our community during the past 2 years.”

Special thanks to the Cummings Foundation for its leadership support of WCEF and to the Winning Home Foundation for its continued partnership support that will fund a new out-of-school time program for the district’s ELL students, as well as five of the Educator Grants awarded this year.

WCEF is a nonprofit organization formed to increase private investment and community involvement in the Woburn Public Schools.  We invest in new programs and projects that cannot be funded by the regular school budget. To learn more about WCEF and to get involved, visit us online at www.woburnedfoundation.org.    

Our 2018-2019 Educator Grant Program is Now Open!

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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.

WCEF Announces 2018 Educator Grant Awards

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The Woburn Community Educational Foundation is pleased to announce our 2018 grant awards to support exciting new projects in the Woburn Public Schools.  Through the generosity of our community, $19,012 was granted to support 22 diverse classroom-based, whole-school and district-wide initiatives 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.

“We were truly impressed by the quality of the proposals we received this year,” comments WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis, “These requests reflect the real needs of our schools and the commitment of our educators to provide high-quality and meaningful learning experiences for all our students.  We are proud to support their great ideas.”

Special thanks to Reading Cooperative Bank for providing sponsorship support for the Educator Grants Program for the second consecutive year.  We are also grateful for the increased investment by Winning Home Foundation in the potential of Woburn students; this partnership support will fund eight 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 spring Awesome Teacher Tribute and fall Women’s Forum event.  To help make a difference in our schools, contact WCEF at 781-281-9589 or email us at contactus@woburnedfoundation.org.

View more pictures from the grant awards at on our Facebook page!

WCEF Announces 2017 Educator Grant Awards!

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WCEF is pleased to announce the list of projects awarded funding as part of the 2017 Educator Grants Awards Program.  These projects were selected through a competitive review process, and reflect outstanding efforts by Woburn Public School teachers to develop innovative and interactive programs designed to engage their students in meaningful learning to support their academic success.

Congratulations to the 2017 Educator Grant Award Recipients

2016-2017 Grants Program is Now Open!

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Our 2016-2017 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.

“We have been so impressed with the creative, high-impact projects submitted for grant awards during the last two years”, comments Executive Director Maureen Willis.  “The Educators in our public schools have exceeded our expectations, and we look forward with excitement to this year’s grant program.”

The deadline for grant applications is Monday, January 23, 2017.  Grant awards will be announced in early March 2017.

Grant guidelines and applications can be found here: APPLY HERE

Winning Home, Inc. Funds Educator Grants

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The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) is proud to announce the receipt of a $5,000 charitable grant from Winning Home, Inc., to support new programs that address the needs of high-risk students in the Woburn Public Schools.  These funds will be distributed as part of this year’s Educator Grant Program, now open for proposals from Woburn Educators.    

This is the second year that Winning Home, Inc. has partnered with WCEF to provide new educational opportunities for Woburn children.  “This generous gift is an important investment in the potential 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 disadvantaged children and their families.” 

Woburn Educators are invited to submit proposals for grants now through January 23, 2017.  To learn more about WCEF and our Educator Grants Program at www.woburnedfoundation.org.        

 

Pictured at the check presentation:

WCEF Board Members Brian Teague, Sue Ellen Holland, Executive Director Maureen Willis; Winning Home Treasurer/Director Albert “Chip” Curran, WCEF Board Member Robert E. Maguire, Winning Home Board Chair Thomas Martin, WCEF Board Members Nancy Whalen and Maria Zeqo.

Cummings Foundation Grant Makes a Difference for Woburn Students

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In the spring of 2016, WCEF was awarded a “100k for 100” grant from the Cummings Foundation to support the Lexia Program as a pilot initiative in the Woburn Public Schools.  Today, more than 500 children in kindergarten through grade 5, at every elementary school in the district  are using the program to improve their reading skills.  

Over the next five years, the generous support of the Cummings Foundation will help ensure that every child reads at grade level and can achieve their full academic potential as students in the Woburn Public Schools. 

Thank you, Cummings Foundation, for this important investment in our children!

Visit the Cummings Foundation website for more information on their great work to support local nonprofits!

Visit our Educator Grants page to learn more about how WCEF, with the support of our community, is making a difference for students and teachers in the Woburn Public Schools. 

Presenting our 2016 Educator Grant Awards!

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The Woburn Community Educational Foundation is pleased to announce our 2016 grant awards to support educator-inspired projects and programs in the Woburn Public Schools.  The continued success of our fundraising activities and the generous investment of local organizations has resulted in a 60% increase in funds available to Woburn Educators this year.  We are grateful for the interest and support of the Greater Woburn Community in our efforts to bring new resources to our Public Schools.   

Our 2015-2016 Educator Grants Program received proposals that totaled more than $46,000 to support projects designed to provide enhanced learning experiences and individualized educational support for students at every school in the district.   We want to thank these educators for the time and effort they put into these proposals and for sharing their creative ideas to support student achievement. 

A Grants Committee, made up made up of members of the WCEF Board, was given the difficult task to review these proposals, and based on the constraints of our budget, recommend for funding projects which most closely met our goals to support innovative instruction, enriched curricula, and the creative use of learning tools and approaches in the classroom.  Through this process, we are proud to announce grant awards totaling almost $16,500 to fund 18 projects that we feel have tremendous potential to engage, excite and advance academic success in Woburn students.  In just two years, WCEF Educator Grants have invested almost $27,000 in the Woburn Public Schools. 

Congratulations to the 2016 WCEF Educator Grant
Award Recipients

 

Woburn Memorial High School:

Rosemary Donovan, Guidance:  $800.00 for EmWave Mindfulness System

Abby Gillis, English:  $1,000.00 for Travis Roy Motivational Speaker

Miller & M. Walsh, History:  $946.00 for Google Viewer Virtual Field Trips

Susan Thifault, Fine Arts:  $1,000.00, GoPro Video Production Program   


Joyce Middle School:

Joanne Young, Grade 8:  $850.00 for Connecting All Students with Technology


Altavesta Elementary School:

Judi O’Neil, Resource Room:  $1,000.00 for Customized Learning with IPads


Goodyear Elementary School:

Bethany Newman, Music Education:  $595.00 for Moving on the Musical Staff

Kathleen Sawyer, School Adjustment:  $1,000.00 for Wonder Books Anti-Bullying Program

Kerri Vasquezi, Life Science/English:  $500.00 for Life Cycle of Raptors Enrichment Program


Hurld Elementary School:

Marlene Faulkingham, Math:  $996.00 for IXL Technology Based Math Program


Linscott – Rumford Elementary School:

Susan Plamondon, 2nd Grade:  $890.00 for Lego Build to Express Program

Cheryl Dabrieo, 3rd Grade:  $890.00 for Lego Build to Express Program

Linda Riley, STEM:  $1,000.00 for AIM Project for Advanced Learners


Reeves Elementary School:

Marie LaCour, Art:  $1,000.00 for Historical Woburn Art Installation

Erin Murphy Dean, Resource Room:  $929.00 for Learning Literacy Technology Center

Bethany Newman, Music Education:  $982.00 for Making Ukulele Music


Shamrock Elementary School:

Pamela Barry, Resource Room:  $501.00 for Social Thinking Curriculums

Alicia McAnulty, Speech & Language:  $800.00 for Visualizing & Verbalizing Program

Thomas O’Halloran, Social Studies:  $800.00 for Virtual Multi-Cultural Classroom