Carl M. Freeman Foundation grants funds to local teachers

Nearly 30 Sussex County teachers were awarded grants through the Carl M. Freeman Foundation’s latest one-time grant opportunity established in response to the changes and difficulties local schools have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This initiative was launched in January to help fund needs and/or projects that teachers and their schools felt would support their students most. Teachers were asked to submit a brief application, a budget plan and a recommendation signed by a school administrator.

A total of 82 applications were submitted from teachers in all nine Sussex County school districts. Of those, 28 teachers received grant funding for their proposed projects, which will benefit about 8,000 students for a total grant investment of $25,000 from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation.

“The response to this grant opportunity was astounding. The number of applications we received is evidence of the needs our students and teachers are experiencing during the pandemic,” said Patti Grimes, executive director. “Our board of trustees is proud to help support our local educators and community during an incredibly difficult year.”

An advisory board composed of seven employees familiar with Sussex County evaluated the applications and recommended where funding should be awarded based on the needs and projects submitted.

Awardees will use the grants for a variety of projects, such as online and in-classroom libraries, STEM kits for students, basic school supplies, and even umbrellas for students who walk to school. Seven of the nine Sussex school districts will receive funding, with 54 percent of grantees being elementary school teachers, 17 percent high school teachers, 14 percent middle school teachers and 9 percent prekindergarten teachers.

Schools receiving grants include Delmar Middle School and Senior High School, Indian River High School, Laurel Elementary, Lulu Ross Elementary, Milford Senior High, West Seaford Elementary and Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center.

The Carl M. Freeman Foundation commits its time, talent and treasure to facilitate, support and promote innovative community-based leadership and giving. It seeks to honor its founders’ legacies and passions by endorsing excellence and leveraging resources. Generally, the foundation limits donations to communities where the customers, employees and vendors of Carl M. Freeman Companies work, live and play.

To learn more, go to carlmfreemanfoundation.org.