The Vandalia-Butler Foundation will award a record $36,940 in educational grants this year for innovative initiatives in the Vandalia-Butler City Schools.The grants support more than a dozen initiatives, including an augmented reality welding system to help teach students a trade, new kitchen equipment for cooking classes, a motor sensory room for special needs students, materials for a cardboard boat regatta, and Boonshoft Museum of Discovery tickets for sparking the imagination and creativity of young people.
Thanks to the success of last fall’s inaugural Paddle-Palooza, a 36-hour pickleball marathon held at Helke Park, a portion of the Helke Learning Center’s playground will soon be shaded, creating a safer and more comfortable space for preschool students and families.
The Vandalia-Butler Foundation is contributing $8,000 in proceeds, its largest grant in the foundation’s history, along with a $1,150 VISIONS grant to fund the shade structure. Vancon General Contractor and Capstone Property Solutions are generously donating their labor pro bono.
Most of this year’s grant funding comes from VISIONS: An Eye for the Future Fund, with substantial contributions from the Mary Ann Wietzel (“What’s in It for Kids?”) Fund and the Vandalia-Butler Alumni Association. Local businesses and individuals stepped forward with significant gifts, too.
“This year’s grants reflect what’s possible when a community truly rallies around its schools. From early learners to high school students preparing for careers, we’re investing in opportunities that will shape lives for years to come,” said Denise Eder, chair of the Vandalia-Butler Foundation’s education committee. We are deeply thankful to all the families, businesses and individuals who stepped up to support our students and teachers.”
Here are the awards:
- $10,178 to Helke Early Learning Center — $9,150 for material to create a shade structure over part of preschool playground and $1,028 for flexible classroom seating.
- $7,786 to Butler High School — $3,500 for an augmented reality welding system for the industrial technology program; $2,650 for an intensive needs classroom; and $1,636 for new kitchen equipment for cooking classes.
- $7,753 to Morton Middle School — $3,800 for iPads to create individual electronic portfolios to store student artwork; $2,425 for display panels and hardware to expand the annual “Elevate the Arts” exhibit; $928 for materials to create cardboard boats for a regatta in the Vandalia Recreation Center pool; and $600 to provide field trips for students who don’t participate in the Washington, D.C., class trip.
- $5,888 to Demmitt Elementary School — $3,000 for an interactive display cart for English language learners and $2,888 for Boonshoft Museum of Discovery tickets for a field trip. In addition, Demmitt will receive $1,500 in a previously approved grant for books for a book vending machine to reward students for positive behavior.
- $5,335 to Smith Intermediate School — $4,135 to develop a motor sensory room for third, fourth and fifth graders and $1,200 in materials for 600 students to create glazed clay art mugs.
Since 2002, more than $325,000 has been granted or committed to support learning opportunities for students in the district.
“This work doesn’t happen without dedicated volunteers and leaders who believe in the mission, Eder said. “I am especially grateful to Greg Toman, the committee’s former chair, whose dedication and behind-the-scenes coordination have been instrumental in driving our fundraising momentum.”
For those wishing to make a contribution to the VISIONS Fund, tax-deductible donations can be mailed to VISIONS Fund, c/o The Dayton Foundation, 1401 S. Main St., Suite 100, Dayton, OH 45409-2600. To make an online donation, visit vandalia-butlerfoundation.org/visions.