Winning Home Steps Up to Support Woburn Schools During COVID-19

The Winning Home Foundation remains committed to Woburn’s children at this most critical time in their educational experience.  WCEF is proud to announce receipt of a $10,000 charitable grant from Winning Home, Inc., to fund special projects and new initiatives to address the educational needs of Woburn’s high-risk students in a hybrid learning environment during COVID-19.  This year’s award brings the total investment from Winning Home, Inc., to $40,000 in just 5 years; past grants have supported 35 innovative new projects that continue to benefit every student in the Woburn Public Schools. 

This generous grant from Winning Home will be gifted to the schools to improve the learning experience of children struggling to learn remotely, and also fund innovative programs to support enhanced livestream and in-person instruction.  “This year, the district’s English language learners and those from low-income households are more at-risk than ever,” explains WCEF’s Maureen Willis.  “The realities of COVID-19 place limits on their ability to interact directly with educators, and to form supportive bonds with their peers.  This affects not only their academic progress but their emotional health and well-being.”  She continues, “This grant from Winning Home will not only support their educational experience this year, but also will impact their learning success for years to come.  We are grateful to the board of Winning Home for its continued commitment to Woburn’s most at-risk children.”

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 $4.8 million to area charitable organizations.  Learn more at www.winninghome.org

Photo Caption:  Due to COVID-19, the board of Winning Home did not make in-person check presentations this year.  Members of the WCEF gathered after a recent meeting to thank the Foundation.  Pictured are (l-r):  WCEF Board Member Michael Martini, WCEF Board Chair Joe Crowley, WCEF Board Member Robert E. Maguire, WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis, WCEF Board Member Joanne Mulkerin.  Learn more about WCEF at www.woburnedfoundation.org          

The 2019-2020 Educator Grants Program is now OPEN!

The Woburn Community Educational Foundation 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 21, 2020.  Grant awards will be announced in early March 2020. 

Educators, we have updated the Guidelines for this year’s program! Please visit the Educator Grants Page for the complete Grant Application and Guidelines.        

WCEF Awarded “100k for 100” Grant!

Hurld School Says "Thank you Cummings Foundation!  We love Lexia!"

Hurld School Says “Thank you Cummings Foundation! We love Lexia!”

The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) is excited to announce of the award a $100,000 grant through Cummings Foundation’s “100k for 100” program.  WCEF was chosen from a total of 479 applicants, as part of a competitive review process.

“We are beyond excited to be the recipient of a “100k for 100” grant from the Cummings Foundation”, expressed WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis, “This award not only supports an important new project in the Woburn Public Schools, but also is a tremendous boost in status for our relatively young organization.  We could not be more honored and grateful to the Cummings Foundation for this wonderful investment in our work.”

The “100k for 100” grant will fund 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.

“WCEF funded the Lexia Program at the Hurld School as part of our 2015 round of Educator Grants”, explains Willis.  “The success of this program, based on teacher excitement and student advancement, inspired us develop this project as a district-wide initiative.”

“In 2016 we received requests for 7 different Lexia projects from Woburn educators,” she continues. “Our teachers see the value of Lexia as an educational tool that can improve their students’ literacy and reading comprehension.  Over the 5-year term of this project, we estimate that up to 1000 children will benefit from the Lexia Reading Program.  Students in kindergarten through grade 3 “learn to read” and by grade 4, must “read to learn”.  Our goal is to make substantial progress towards an outcome that has all students reading at grade level by grade 3, and on the road to academic success in grade 4.  This project has the potential to ensure the future achievement of an entire class of Woburn High School graduates.”

The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) is a private nonprofit organization formed in 2014 with a mission to increase private investment and community involvement in the Woburn Public Schools. Our goal is to support educational programs and initiatives that empower teacher creativity and drive innovation in the classroom beyond that which is possible with public dollars. We work to bring new resources to our schools to provide grants directly to teachers, fund opportunities for professional development and make investments in curriculum and technology as tools in learning.  Learn more about WCEF at www.woburnedfoundation.org.

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.

Hurld School Educators Secure $3,000 for Innovative Programs

WCEF was proud to award Hurld School Educators Maureen Kozachuk and Maura Hooper $1,000.00 each to fund the Lexia Reading Program for their third grade and first grade students.

Marlene Faulkingham’s second grade class will have access to cutting-edge educational applications on their new Ipads.  WCEF was proud to support this grant proposal with $1,000.00 in funds.

Congratulations to these innovative Hurld School Educators!

WCEF 2014-2015 Grant Program Now Open!

The Woburn Community Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of its 2014-2015 Grant Program.  Educational Professionals from the Woburn Public Schools are invited to apply for funds to support their creative ideas for educational 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.  Project/Program grants will support:

  • Innovative instruction, to include the use of technology and creative teaching tools
  • Enriched curricula, guest speakers, artists and performers
  • Training and teaching materials, books, films and other media

The deadline for grant applications is February 2, 2015.  Grant awards will be announced on March 16, 2015.  Please visit our Grants page for the complete Grant Application and Guidelines, to include more information on what WCEF Grants can and cannot fund, at woburnedfoundation.org/grants