How Do I Help?

In a CHS science classroom last June, CPSF development associate Larina Warnock sat with other community partners including a representative from the City of Corvallis and another from Oregon State University. They all listened as students Kyle Swartzelender and Anthony Rinaldi began a presentation about the CHS Bioswale with a poem about turbidity:

"But how was it measured?
How was it done?
We used a turbidimeter,
And five tons of fun."

The turbidimeters these students used as part of a hands-on project in their AP biology class (taught by Carole Beedlow) were provided by CPSF. The results--enhanced student learning and retention, collaboration with other organizations for a successful project, and demonstrable outcomes--were exactly what CPSF strives to produce through our grant program.

CPSF Mini-Grants for Educational Excellence are funded by donations designated for the grant program or unrestricted donations to CPSF. Although CPSF makes every effort to fund as many grant applications in full or in part as possible, funding is limited. In 2008-2009, we received 150 applications requesting more than $112,000. We were able to award 64 grants for nearly $34,000.

Corvallis School District has extremely innovative and dedicated educators who are always looking for ways to enhance opportunities for their students. As the recession continues and school budgets are reduced and program budgets are cut, we anticipate an increase the number of grant requests we will receive. Your support of this valuable program can have a significant impact on our students' education and achievement!

There are three ways to support the program. You can make an unrestricted donation or a donation designated for the CPSF grant program in general. Gifts made in this way can be of any size and all of our donation methods are available. If you are have an interest in a particular subject area (i.e. the arts, science, social science), you can designate your gift for grants in that area.

You can also visit our web site after each grant cycle and look through some of the grant applications that we were not able to fund, but that we believe may find support from a donor or could benefit from an in-kind donation of equipment or supplies. To donate in support of one of these applications, please contact our office.