What is the Ewing Public Education Foundation? The Ewing Public Education Foundation (EPEF, or the Foundation), established in 1994, is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit civic organization, whose mission is to mobilize community support, concern, commitment and resources to help improve the quality of education in Ewing Township.
How does EPEF do this? EPEF provides grants to The Ewing Public Schools for innovative educational programs through fund-raising and corporate and institutional sponsorship. It also recently began providing student scholarships to graduating Ewing High School students.
Who are the Board Members of EPEF? The board is comprised of private citizens interested in supporting innovative programs developed by individual teachers to complement and supplement existing educational efforts. Members include parents of current and former students, alumni, business owners and others interested in providing a quality education to students – Building a Foundation for Life.
How do the Board Members support EPEF: Board Members contribute their time and expertise to EPEF. In addition, all Board Members contribute financially to the Foundation.
How is EPEF run? The Foundation is run entirely by the volunteer Board Members, none of whom are compensated for their services. The only paid staff is a part-time Executive Director, who handles daily responsibilities.
Is EPEF supported by tax dollars? No! EPEF’s funds are raised strictly through private donations from parents, citizens, businesses and corporate sponsors.
How is EPEF related to the Board of Education and the District Administration: The Foundation is completely independent from both the Board and Administration, but works closely with both groups to identify funding opportunities and needs.
Is EPEF related to the Ewing Teachers’ Education Association (Teachers Union): No! While EPEF enjoys an excellent relationship with the Ewing teachers, there is no connection between the two organizations. Many teachers contribute to the success of the Foundation through payroll deduction.
What types of grants are funded by EPEF? The Foundation provides grants for specialized programs developed by teachers based on their own initiative and in conformance with the educational objectives of the District, which cannot be funded by the taxpayer-supported budget. Grants have been provided to support Science, Math, Technology, Music, Arts & Languages and Civic programs
How much are individual grants? Over the years, grant amounts have ranged from $100 to as much as several thousand dollars based upon the creativity of the teachers and the proposed benefits to students.
Tell me more about the types of programs funded: Grants have funded literacy programs, initiatives such as Odyssey of the Mind, Hands-On Science Night, specialized technology to improve both teaching methods and different types of student-learning, music, math, physical fitness and many other initiatives. During the past eleven years, 281 grants totaling nearly $375,000 have supported these educational initiatives.
How can I help? You can invest in the power of innovative education by making a tax-deductible contribution (no matter how small) to EPEF. Visit the website (www.epef.org), for more information.
Ewing Public Education Foundation