Dover Education Enrichment Program Launched for Dover Union Free School District
Sheffield, Mass.— Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation today announced the launch of the Dover Education Enrichment Program (DEEP), which supports projects that inspire creative thinking, encourage student initiative and help create a culture of high academic achievement for the students and teachers of the Dover Union Free School District in Dover Plains, NY. DEEP will provide grants to support the development of exciting and challenging projects in the district, including residency programs, visiting speakers, field trips and other activities.
DEEP is the 33rd such education enrichment fund housed at Berkshire Taconic, which works with generous donors in local communities to support extracurricular activities in every school district of the tri-state region it serves: Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; Berkshire County, Mass.; and northwest Litchfield County, Conn.
“Berkshire Taconic is thrilled to be a catalyst for this start-up effort,” said Jennifer Dowley, president of BTCF. “Our mission is to build stronger communities by inspiring charitable giving, and DEEP is all about building Dover’s next generation of leadership. It’s an invitation for everyone to join in to build a permanent educational legacy for our public school children.”
A community-based effort, DEEP will initially award several grants ranging from $250 to $1,500 for the first several years as the fund builds its endowment. The fund will support projects in the arts and humanities, sciences and technology, athletics, agriculture and the environment.
“The goal of this fund is to intensify the multiple educational opportunities in Dover that are offered within our schools,” said fund chair Katie Palmer-House. “Through the years, school-community partnerships including the Board of Education, the PTSA and Dollars for Scholars have all demonstrated Dover’s steadfast commitment to actively participate in the education our children as future leaders. DEEP is a twenty-first century re-commitment to the vision that our children, at all grade levels, become leaders through learning opportunities that enrich personal character and academic success.”
Teachers, administrators, staff and students—as well as independent community members—of the Dover Union Free School District are eligible to apply for grants. Applications are available now online and are due on May 15. DEEP’s board of advisors, comprised of community members, parents and teachers, will review the applications and make recommendations to Berkshire Taconic’s board of directors. To apply to the Dover Education Enrichment Program, visit www.berkshiretaconic.org/DEEP.
DEEP board members will be available to answer questions about the fund and Berkshire Taconic staff will walk potential applicants through the application process at a meeting in the computer lab at Dover High School on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 2:15 p.m. On Tuesday, April 14, 2015, the same workshop will be presented at 3:45 pm in the library of Wingdale Elementary School. The workshop is open to interested teachers, students, parents or community groups.
DEEP is committed to building a substantial endowment so that it will be able to make grants for interesting projects on an annual basis. To date, DEEP has received over $41,000 in pledges toward an endowment goal of $200,000. Several donors have generously begun the process of building the endowment: an anonymous donor through Berkshire Taconic, the Town of Dover Lions Club, J.H. Ketcham Hose Company and the Town of Dover Historical Society.
To donate to DEEP, visit www.berkshiretaconic.org/Donate, www.doverschools.org, or contact Berkshire Taconic at 413.229.0370.
About Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
For over 27 years, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has built stronger communities and helped donors make a difference through charitable giving in northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY. Each year, the foundation distributes over $8 million through grants and scholarships to nonprofits and individuals in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. You can make a difference. We can help.
