The Millbrook Educational Foundation is an independent fundraising organization charged with providing supplemental resources for educational programs in the Millbrook Central School District. Founded in 2001, MEF is a 501(c)(3) corporation overseen by a Board of Trustees. The Board includes representatives of local corporations, school district administrators, parents, community members and school board representatives.
MEF has successfully provided over $1,200,000 in education grants in the school district for projects that otherwise would not have been possible. It has purchased a wide array of educational resources including technology such as Apple computers and SMART Boards, classroom programming aides, books, tutorial programs, supplies, instructional software programs, equipment, and the components necessary for presentations and classroom initiatives.
The Foundation raises funds through generous corporate and individual contributions received through its well-attended annual event The Taste of Millbrook and an Annual Appeal. In addition, school district employees have designated the Foundation as their United Way beneficiary and have raised several thousand dollars to support the foundation’s mission.
Funds raised by Educational Foundation programs supplement but do not supplant existing revenue sources for the Millbrook Central School District. All funds received by the Foundation at its annual events and through charitable donations are returned to the schools in the form of education grants. Grant applications are distributed to school principals and teachers twice each year. MEF’s grants program has successfully provided funding for a wide array of educational resources. A grants committee within the Board of Trustees reviews all grants and presents their recommendations to the full board for approval.
MEF is run entirely by volunteers who are first and foremost its dedicated Board of Trustees. In addition, the Foundation has benefited from the volunteer involvements, commitments, and contributions from each school’s administrators, staff, teachers, and has strong support from the current Superintendent of Schools.
Over the past 6 years I have written and been awarded many grants. The grants I have received from MEF allow me to access the resources needed make ordinary lessons and learning experiences extraordinary. Providing these extraordinary experiences for students will have a lasting impact on our students far beyond what can be measured by any data point. Thank you MEF!
– Ryan Judge
Family & Consumer Sciences Department
Millbrook Central School District