Seeking out grants to fund programs in local schools is one of the many ways the Bradford County Education Foundation supports teachers and students. Without the foundation and the generosity of its partners, these are programs the schools might have to do without. Foundation members delivered some big checks courtesy of two of those partners just in time for Christmas. Clay Electric Cooperative wrote the district a check for $15,000, which will be split equally between the middle school and Starke and Southside elementary schools. BMS will use the grant to support math education, while the elementary schools will spend those funds on their STEM and STEAM programs.
According to Clay Electric, the charitable support comes from its members, more than 80% of whom round up their bill and provide an average of $75,000 each month for Operation Round Up. That support allowed the cooperative’s Board of Trustees to award 99 grants in 2021. $4.4 million has been donated to various programs through Operation Round Up since 2017.
BCEF’s Cheryl Canova also announced a $5,000 grant from AT&T that will be used to send third- and fourth-graders to the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville.
Pictured are (front with check) are Dimple Overstreet, Education Foundation President Cheryl Canova, BMS Principal Danielle Rosson, (middle) Brenda Thornton, Lila Sellers, Eugenia Whitehead, Sarah Long, Vorease Jones, Southside Assistant Principal Lauren Morgan, teacher Lily Chappell, (back) Superintendent Will Hartley and Clay Electric’s Pat Mundorff.
