Greene Education Foundation to Award 11 Grants to
Greene County Schoolteachers

 Ruckersville, Virginia – The Greene Education Foundation (GEF), an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3, will award creative instructional grants to 11 Greene County schoolteachers at an informal ceremony on Monday, January 14, at 4 p.m., in the Ruckersville Elementary School library.  Tom Evans, a member of the GEF Board of Directors, will present the 11 teachers with checks of $500 each for specific programs or technological enhancements to classroom instruction that will benefit students well into the future.  The grant recipients are Natalie Kozel, Jennifer Murphy, Tina Arritt, Bridget Lambert, Sharon Morris, and Martha Taylor from Greene County Primary School; Scott Wills and Linda Haselton Cox from Nathanael Greene Elementary; Lori Tawney from William Monroe High School; and Judy Holder and Donna Shifflett from Ruckersville Elementary School.

            “I find it remarkable that in less than two years since this foundation was established, we have raised enough money to be able to award teacher grants during two school years.  And to give as many as 11 grants of $500 each this year is beyond our expectations.  We are extremely grateful to the businesses and individuals of this community who have made this happen, most particularly the Spring Hill Baptist Church,” said Pauline Hovey, president of GEF and a member of the Board of Directors. 

          The foundation received $5,025 from the Spring Hill Baptist 5K Fun Run fundraiser held in September.  All money raised at the event was donated to the GEF Creative Instructional Grant fund.  Pastor Dan Carlton, Julie Jackson, and Marianne Shepard were instrumental in organizing and supporting the success of this fundraiser.

          In December, volunteers serving on the Creative Instructional Grants Committee met to review and evaluate grant applications and selected the grant recipients from numerous submissions.

            GEF is the first organization of its kind in Greene County established for the sole purpose of further enriching the educational experience of the children and educators of Greene County schools.  This is the second award ceremony the foundation has held during its less than two-year existence.

            The public is invited to attend the award ceremony at Ruckersville Elementary School on Monday, January 14, at 4 p.m.  For more information, contact Pauline Hovey at 985-9259.