Grosse Pointe Education Foundation Tops Tech Goal
The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education announced last week that more than $830,000 in private, locally controlled funds have been raised in support of the Grosse Pointe Public School System's classroom instructional technology plan.
With this gift, the district's plan to deploy electronic Smart Boards and other interactive learning tools in virtually every classroom in the district is dramatically accelerated.
Just over a year ago, the John A. and Marlene L. Boll Foundation challenged the GPFPE to raise $250,000. If successful, the Boll Foundation offered to provide $2 for every $1 raised up to a maximum of $500,000. The campaign concluded with the GPFPE raising more than $830,000 for our schools including $500,000 from the Boll Foundation and an additional $330,000 from hundreds of other community donors.
"The educational benefit and impact of this technology is remarkable and will serve both students and teachers, today, as well as in the future," said Kristine Boll Mestdagh on behalf of the Boll Foundation. "We were especially pleased that the community at large enthusiastically accepted the GPFPE's challenge and contributed an additional $330,000 toward the campaign."
In addition to the gift from the Boll Foundation, support for the campaign included gifts of all sizes from hundreds of donors. Inspired parents, teachers and students, business partners and sponsors, district residents and a host of friends who followed Dr. Russ Chavey's climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro as a fundraiser for GPFPE technology campaign helped the Foundation exceed its goal by over $80,000.
Bob Bury, GPFPE Board President also noted that two donors, the Cotton Family and the Edward T. and Ellen K. Dryer Charitable Foundation provided leadership gifts to the campaign.
The Cotton family's major gift to the technology campaign validates their belief that a strong public education system is key to building a vibrant and sustainable community.
Similarly, the Edward T. and Ellen K. Dryer Charitable Foundation provided key support to the campaign, their fourth significant gift to the GPFPE. Dryer Foundation Trustees Jon and Lisa Mower Gandelot's long-standing commitment to education, the F.A.S.T. Reading program, and the Grosse Pointe community aligned perfectly with the goals of the technology campaign.
"Providing these teaching and learning tools for students and teachers is critical as we work to ensure the education we provide in our schools is among the best in the nation – today and in the future," said Grosse Pointe Public Schools Superintendent Suzanne Klein. "We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who helped make what was once just a dream a reality for our students."
The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education, an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is committed to the continued excellence of our schools and our community. Since mid-2006, the GPFPE has raised more than $2 million in support of projects and programs that benefit every school and every grade level.
To learn more about the GPFPE, the technology campaign and future plans, visit www.gpfpe.org or call us at (313) 432-3058.
