Challenging a generous community to meet the match for exploration grants

EdExploreSRQ.com is a new, public website managed by Sarasota County Schools that was launched in August.  It is a time-saving, comprehensive web-based resource for teachers and principals to access “explorations” and curriculum support offered during school hours by area arts, science and history organizations.

To promote collaboration and thrivability of EdExploreSRQ, The Patterson Foundation issued a $500,000 matching challenge for every new or increased donation made to the Education Foundation of Sarasota County in support of explorations. Half of the matching funds will be used to seed an endowment and the other half will be used to fund current EdExploreSRQ teacher and school grants made by the Education Foundation.

Just six weeks after the EdExplore teacher/school grants – 66 teachers and 27 school/grades submitted proposals. Thirty volunteer grant readers reviewed the proposals in mid October. The volunteers were very excited about the potential to excite kids and help teachers more effectively integrate the experiences.

The larger $5,000 grants were for school or grade-wide ideas to incorporate the posted “explorations." Hundreds of students are impacted by these submissions. I was delighted at some of the unusual collaborations proposed – for example, one exploration with Riverview High School and Phoenix Academy art teachers is built around the Ringling Museum.

Now, the tough part – matching the dollars with the highest ranked projects. The Patterson Foundation's $500,000 matching gift is on the table. Current and prospective donors have been contacted……let’s not leave worthy projects on the table because of funding.

You can help by donating to the Education Foundation to match the TPF gift and assure that students reap the benefits of these inspiring experiences this school year https://secure.qgiv.com/for/?key=MRLA9KXXPE7SQESZE57H.

For additional information, please contact Laura Breeze at 941-927-0965 or laura_breeze@edfoundation.net.  Help us spread the word.