Fund the Future with MCEF

The Madison County Education Foundation (MCEF) is funding the future of public education in the county.

The longstanding organization is experiencing a rebirth, with a new board and a reinvigorated focus on supporting students and teachers in the county. President Anne Gore, who took the helm earlier this year, said the goal is to maximize the impact of positive experiences for as many children as possible. 

One of the biggest impacts is Camp Unakite. The 100% volunteer, nonprofit organization hosts the STEM based day camp each summer for students in third through eighth grade. The camp is a collaborative effort with Madison County Public Schools and is held at Graves Mountain Lodge. Campers enjoy a range of topics through a hands-on approach to learning. Gore, who grew up in Madison County as the daughter of a public school educator, said it was her son’s experience at Unakite that caused her to get involved with MCEF. 

“I saw what an amazing program that was and would go and talk to teachers I graduated high school with [to see] what things we could do [to support them],” she said. “I became a board member and took over as president in May.”

Gore said the camp has grown in size, but she hopes to also create a bridge between the most resilient students and the most vulnerable.

“We’re trying to reinforce through the institution of public schools the building of community resilience,” she said. 

Making teachers feel supported is also a goal of MCEF. Each year, teachers are able to apply for grants to support special projects not funded through traditional school budgets. The goal with the grants is to impact as many students as possible.

This year, grants were awarded to Angie Lamb for her hands-on program for kindergarten students, Learning Through Taste. Kristina Dickens received funding for Responsive Classroom, a focused program supporting social emotional learning in every classroom at Waverly Yowell Elementary School. Math teachers Melvin Herndon and Samantha Caruso received funding for VersaTiles, a hands-on math skills practice kit with a self-checking answer system to build math skills at Wetsel Middle School. At the high school, Dr. Aspen Clements Miller received a grant for an analytic balance scale allowing students to measure to a 100th of a microgram. Dr. Blake Clements Miller received a grant to support a meaningful watershed educational experience with lab and field equipment to support the brook trout in the classroom project.

“It’s the duty of us as members of the community to support our teachers who are finding they are faced with more limited funds to create an exceptional learning environment,” Gore said. 

Gore said the foundation can also help link teachers with other grant opportunities they may not be aware of.

In addition, the foundation awards students who are high-achieving, celebrating their hard work, academic excellence and personal growth.

The work of the foundation will be shared at the upcoming Fund the Future event, Nov. 13, 6-9 p.m. at Blue Quartz Winery. The evening will raise awareness for MCEF, advocate for past and future award recipients and highlight the impact Camp Unakite has had on youth in the community. 

“I feel driven to breathe some air into what we’re doing and gain some awareness from individuals and businesses who could support those efforts,” Gore said.

Fund the Future will also feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a silent auction and music by Scuffletown. Gore said local businesses have donated a variety of items for the silent auction including a queen sized quilt from the Madison County Quilt Guild, Unakite stone treasures from Weaver Street Shops and a footstool from Clore Furniture. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fund-the-future-with-the-madison-county-education-foundation-tickets-1997146099746. Tickets are $60 each with an additional $5.87 processing fee.

For more information about the Madison County Education Foundation, visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586100660883 or madisoncoeducationfoundation.org.