DUNELLEN EDUCATION FOUNDATION AWARDS OVER $10,000 IN GRANTS

(Dunellen) The Dunellen Education Foundation awarded $10,017.09 during its fall 2000 grant cycle ceremony. Ten projects were funded. The ceremony was held at the Dunellen Public Library on Thursday, November 30. This is the third grant cycle for the Foundation since its inception in September 1997.

"This is a great milestone for the Foundation," President, Roger Dornbierer, said. "To have reached the ability to fund over $10,000 in grants within three years of the Foundation’s creation is exceptional. No one imagined that we would reach this level so soon. The volunteers, contributors, and Board of Directors should be incredibly pleased with the result.

The ceremony also recognized the talents of certain Dunellen residents who individually or through their businesses make significant contributions to the Foundation. Those recognized were Louann Stebor, who annually creates the Foundation's 5K Run for Education logo, Jay Conroy, who provides DJ services at the 5K Run, and Frank Portik whose business, Dunellen Bagel, donates bagels for the 5K Run participants.

"We are indebted to these individuals. They have been involved with the Foundation’s Run for Education since its inception. Their contributions have helped make the run a tremendous success. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received from race participants is due in large to these giving people," Dornbierer said.

The Foundation also recognized its major repeat sponsors - Provident Savings Bank, the Dunellen Parking Authority, and the American Legion Post 119, all Platinum sponsors donating $1,000 or more. Recognized Gold sponsors ($500 - $999) included Boswell McClave Engineering, The B.E.S.T. Institute of Sports Medicine, Levinson-Axelrod Attorneys-at-law, and Tunison's Home Improvements.

"These businesses and organizations are the reason the Foundation can finance grants. Their repeated generosity is the cornerstone to our success," Dornbierer said.

The title of the grants, their amount, the contact, and a description follows:

Poet in Residence – $1,200. Contact: Ms Donna Bivaletz, Faber School Teacher.

A four-day workshop for students on poetry and its use as a writing tool to communicate. The program is directed by published poet Katherine Doty.

P.A.L.S. (Parents Are Learning Strategies) - $482.09. Contact: Ms. Georgia Case, Ms. Donna Bivaletz, and Ms. Dea Young, Faber School Teachers.

PALS’ purpose is to improve and/or deepen students’ academic experiences by empowering parents with new strategies through parent workshops and the establishment of a resource library.

Global Education for Scouts - $1,200. Contact: Mr. Nick Fantini.

The second phase of Dunellen Boy Scout Troop #29’s International Scouting Project. The U.S. Troop will host 21 Sea Scouts and 6 Leaders from Great Britain’s National Seamen’s Training Center during the summer of 2001. This project’s objectives are to inst8ill leadership through mentoring and planning skills. The project is not organized or funded through the national or district Boy Scouts of America organizations. It is solely initiated by the local troop.

Internet Access to Dunellen High School Card Catalog - $1,200. Ms. Mary Ann Greczek, High School Media Specialist.

The project will allow all members of the Dunellen and outreaching communities to have knowledge of and access to the Dunellen High School card catalog.

Dynamo Bios - $760.00. Ms. Georgia Case – Faber School Teacher.

The project would broaden a student’s knowledge and deepen his/her learning experience by reading and studying about people who contribute to our culture in the 20^th century or in our early history. Using the interdisciplinary approach, the student would incorporate language arts, social studies, and critical thinking skills into the finished product.

Rainbows - $925.00. Ms. Mary Conroy, Parent of Faber School student.

Rainbows is a not-for-profit, international organization that offers training and curricula for establishing peer support groups in churches, synagogues, schools or social agencies. These curricula are available for children and adults of all ages and religious denominations who are grieving a death, divorce or any other painful transition in their family.

Book Talk at the Library - $650.00. Ms. Gertrude Ceccarelli, Friends of the Library.

A community-based book club that will include family reading initiatives.

Broadcast Editing Machine - $1,200. Mr. Michael Altman, High School Drama Teacher.

Editing machine for a Broadcasting Class. Will allow film students to take raw footage and process it into a final archival format.

Dunellen Community Weather Station - $1,200. Mr. Robert Wolfskehl, Dunellen High School Computer Teacher.

Installation of an AirWatch Weather System on the roof of the High School. The system and its data will be used by Earth Science and Environmental Science Classes, Computer Education Classes, Mathematics classes grades 7 – 12. All members of the community will have access to the information via the Internet.

D.A.R.E. Program - $1,200. Mr. Jeff Nelson, Dunellen Police Department.

The D.A.R.E. Program is designed to educates children about the dangers of drug and alcohol use and its consequences. The course also helps them to handle the everyday stresses brought on by peer pressure.

The Dunellen Education Foundation is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to support educational, not-for-profit and community-related programs that provide the knowledge and skills to face the challenges of an increasingly complex and competitive world. It is governed by a community-based Board of Directors.

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