L.E.A.F. > All Aboard the Grant Express
L.E.A.F Grant Express hits the Million Dollar Mark
For the ninth year, the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (L.E.A.F.) was out delivering pre-holiday surprises that will eventually delight boys and girls around the district.
L.E.A.F. awarded a total of $84,329 to 100 grant winners Nov. 20. Since 2000, the foundation has given out over a million dollars to teachers providing innovation in the classrooms.
“This is always my favorite day of the school year,” said L.E.A.F Executive Director Janice Knight. “The teachers are always so grateful and once the kids realize what types of things their teachers can now buy, it really creates some excitement.”
One teacher, Long Elementary’s Debra Helbert, was moved to tears when she realized she’d won her grant that will allow her to take students on a field trip to the Gulf of Mexico.
“We are still on ‘cloud nine’ at Jane Long, and will be for quite some time,” Helbert said in her thank you note to the L.E.A.F. Board. “I was so shocked and excited when 4th and 5th grade teachers were called out to the hallway yesterday. We are so very thankful to be allowed to provide our kids with an opportunity of a life time. They will never forget about the trip they went on in elementary school where they actually sailed around the Gulf and learned all about its environment!”