FACes
& PlaceS
Around Town 2004
 Lambertville
Area Education Foundation
by Marilyn Bullock
Led
by Lambertville resident, Phil Mackey, the Lambertville
Education Foundation (LEF) was formed in 1991 by
a concerned group of citizens who wanted to offer
community students educational programs that would
not be available to them otherwise. The resulting
non-profit organization has been responsible for
enriching the lives of hundreds of students for the
last decade.
Most
LEF sponsored programs begin when a teacher prepares
a proposal and submits it to LEF for approval. Once
approved, members of LEF’s 12-member board
of directors work closely with that teacher to make
sure the project is successful. Below are a just
a few examples of LEF sponsored programs:
String
of Pearls – This very innovative program
is produced and performed by selected students
in the upper grades. It was inspired by a performance
seen in Europe by one of the teachers and is done
in mime under black light. LEF provided an initial
grant to purchase necessary costumes and props
and a follow-up grant for additional materials.
Writing
and Poetry Workshop – Teachers asked
LEF to support poet-in-residence and writer-in-residence
programs to help first and second grade students
appreciate literature, understand how it is created
and create some themselves. LEF provided funds
that brought a poet and a writer to school every
day for a week.
LPS
Environmental Inventory – A teacher who
wanted to improve students’ awareness and
appreciation of their natural environment asked
for help in developing an environmental inventory
of the school grounds and nearby creek. LEF provided
the funds to bring in an environmental scientist/educator
from a local watershed organization, which worked
with children in the upper grades to produce the
inventory.
The
Foundation works with teachers, administrators and
school board representatives to explore the most
effective ways to allocate funds raised by the organization.
All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Last
year, LEF expanded its reach to include the high
school. The organization changed its name in deference
to this expansion – Lambertville Area Education
Foundation.
This
year LEF’s annual fundraiser honors
former Lambertville Mayor Phil Pittore and
will be held Saturday March 27, 2004, at 6:30 PM
at the Eagle Fire Company Banquet Hall, Sugan Road & Rt.
202 in New Hope, PA. The event will feature wonderful
food prepared by some of the area’s finest
chefs. A silent and a live auction will feature artwork,
gift certificates for great dining, great getaways,
and more.
Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Call Darcy Dunaj at 609-439-8289
or email gdaa@netzero.net. Tickets are also available at Dresswell’s,
10 Bridge Street and Lambertville Trading Co., 43 Bridge Street in Lambertville.
Seating is limited and in the last two years the event has sold out weeks prior,
so purchase your tickets early.
For
more information about LEF or to donate to this amazing
organization, contact Jim Mastrich at 609-397-4906
or Bob Dahl at 609-397-8937. You can also visit their
website at www.lefonline.org.
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