The Day: Southern Connecticut News
May 27, 2025
Groton Education Foundation Awards Over $20,000 in Grants to Support Innovative Educational Programs
​The Groton Education Foundation (GEF) is proud to announce that $20,540 in grants have been awarded this school year to fund innovative educational initiatives across the Groton community.
This year’s grant recipients include a range of local schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations, all working to expand learning opportunities and inspire creativity for students of all ages.
Fall 2024 Award Recipients include:
• Thames River Magnet School – for a new enrichment program “Music Around the World”
• Sacred Heart School – for a Drama Club production of Dear Edwina JR
• Southeastern CT Homeschoolers – for an educational partnership with Yellow Farmhouse
• Northeast Academy – for a residency with Flock Theater
• Road Signs for Life – for a design partnership with Ella T. Grasso Technical High School’s Digital Media Department, where students will create inspirational posters for incarcerated women and juveniles across Connecticut
Spring 2025 Award Recipients include:
• Catherine Kolnaski STEAM Magnet School – for enhancing digital learning with Apple Pens
• Mystic & Noank Library – to support their Summer Reading Program
• Mystic River Magnet School – for reading curriculum enrichment
• Groton Middle School – for hands-on STEM kits and a therapy dog program
• Mystic Seaport Museum – to reduce after-school program fees for Groton Public Schools students
“These grants are a testament to the creativity and dedication of Groton educators and community partners,” said Julie Cagle, President of the Groton Education Foundation. “We are honored to help bring their visions to life and support learning opportunities that are both meaningful and innovative.”
The impact of GEF funding is already being felt across the community. “Your grant helps us bring engaging, hands-on programs to kids in our community, sparking creativity and curiosity all summer long,” said Katherine Trejo-Thorp of the Mystic & Noank Library. “We’re grateful for the Groton Education Foundation’s commitment to supporting learning beyond the classroom. Your generosity helps make these programs possible, and we can’t wait to see the joy and excitement they bring to our young library visitors.”
ABOUT GROTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Since its founding in 1997, GEF has awarded over $250,000 in grants to schools, libraries, and nonprofits throughout Groton. The Foundation’s mission is to provide resources that empower learning and foster educational excellence across the community, with a focus on expanding opportunities, promoting equity, and building collaborative partnerships.
The Groton Education Foundation is an independent, all-volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Every dollar raised goes directly toward funding educational programs that benefit the Groton community.
For more information about GEF or to donate, visit www.grotonedfund.org or email grotonedfund@gmail.com.
GEF Supports:
The mission of Road Signs for Life is to foster a positive mindset and personal growth in our society’s vulnerable populations of women in prison and juveniles in detention and treatment centers.
Thank for the foundation's generosity,
Carol Belli, Founder
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The GEF Helps Groton Stay Proud and Put Children First
The Groton Education Foundation was happy to fund the Children First Groton inaugural Early Childhood Resource Fair!
The fair was not only educational but it was also fun! It was wonderful to witness the joy on thechildren’s faces while they visited each of the “fun” stations which also provided lessons in safety, health, and education.
Highlights
52 community partners registered to participate
16 teens volunteered from the community
95 children and 54 families benefited from the fair
Reading: Book Station- Each child was able to select a book of interest and learn about the importance of learning to read for enjoyment and to gain
knowledge.
15 Car Seat checks were performed (Groton Ambulance)
3 Car Seats were provided
10 Bike Helmets were provided (Groton City Police)
Bike Helmet Station: Children learned about the importance of wearing a helmet
to protect their head (brain) when riding a bike. Instruction was provided
regarding proper sizing/fitting of a bike helmet. Children were gifted/fitted with a
new bike helmet upon need.
63 Fingerprint Kits were provided
Many community partners reconnected in-person post-COVID
Sunglasses Safety Station: Children were informed of the importance of protecting their eyes from the harmful UV rays emitted from the sun. Children selected a pair of sunglasses to support their ability to enact the learning from
this lesson.
GEF Supports Communication Equity at Local Grade School
June 2023
With a grant from the Groton Education Foundation, an Outdoor Playground Communication Board was recently installed at the Mystic River Magnet School (MRMS). The sign will be used to support the communication development of students with disabilities. This sign will allow nonverbal and minimally verbal children to communicate their wants and needs while playing outdoors.
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Children and adults can point to the pictures on the sign in order to request something they want to play with (i.e. slide), to tell how they are feeling (i.e. happy), to request something they need (i.e. bathroom), to comment about an activity (i.e. like it), to protest/negate (i.e. not), etc.
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Being able to communicate effectively and efficiently is a communication goal in the Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) for most students enrolled in the Autism Program and Integrated Preschool programs at MRMS. With the installation of a sign on the preschool/kindergarten playground and the 1st-5th grade playground, the GEF has made it possible for the staff to provide equity to their students who are learning to communicate.
GEF Supports Local Production of The Lion King.
April 2023
Fifth grade teacher, Heather Dalton, was busy making memories for her students this spring with a grant from the GEF. 27 fourth and fifth graders performed The Lion King play twice on April 6, 2023, before a live audience. It was a huge success. The kids built everything including the sets, costumes, props, and dances! Every student felt proud and confident.
Humor and Hakuna Matata!
Costume Design
Movin' and Groovin'
"I want to thank you wholeheartedly for supporting the theater program at Charles Barnum. Our production of The Lion King was a raving success I really appreciate the help of the GEF. Since I have no site-budget for theater, without your help the show would not go on!"
Heather Dalton, Fifth Grade Teacher
Charles Barnum Elementary School