The Patterson Foundation to Match up to $500K in EdExploreSRQ.com Sustainability, Exploration Grant Donations

To inspire generosity, The Patterson Foundation announced it will match up to $500,000 over the next three years for every new or increased dollar raised by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County in support of exploration grants for teachers and EdExploreSRQ.com's 'thrivability.'

Half of the matching funds will seed an endowment and the other half will fund teacher exploration grants through the Education Foundation, an independent nonprofit that works in partnership with the community and Sarasota County public schools.

The matching challenge exemplifies collaboration and thrivability - two guiding principles The Patterson Foundation values. The matching gift challenges the community to ensure Sarasota County public school students will have opportunities to experience connections with our unique community assets.

We want to foster thrivability beyond our work. What is thrivability? Sustainability with joy.  We believe the generous individuals, families, businesses and civic organizations will joyfully embrace how EdExploreSRQ.com connects classrooms to the community and will support the participation of these experiences through the Education Foundation's exploration grants.

We’ve heard powerful stories about how museum experiences, great performances and other experiences motivate students. Generous community supporters and teachers are united on this view. We hope the matching gift gives extra incentive for our community members to make this investment.

The Education Foundation announced its exploration grants as part of the August EdExploreSRQ launch. Exploration grants of up to $1,500 or $5,000 will be awarded to teachers who use this new resource to submit innovative proposals that inspire student learning. Grant application information is posted online at EdExploreSRQ.com.  The grants will help support student participation of posted explorations and enhance classroom connections.

About EdExploreSRQ

EdExploreSRQ is a new web-based learning platform, created in partnership with the Sarasota County Schools, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County and the Science and Environment Council of Sarasota County. The partnership formed as a result of The Patterson Foundation Cultural Connections with Students Initiative. The resource will allow teachers and principals to access explorations and curriculum support offered during school time by area arts, science and history organizations. More than 70 explorations by 25 organizations have been approved and posted by the Sarasota School District Curriculum Department using criteria developed by the partnership.