Meemic Foundation Aims to Help Wisconsin Educators with Their Back-To-School Planning

MADISON, Wis., July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As we hit the midway point of summer vacation, educators across the state are already beginning to plan for the upcoming school year.  The Meemic Foundation, a non-profit organization created by Michigan-based Meemic Insurance Company that began offering support to Wisconsin educators earlier this year, is encouraging teachers to be sure to include a visit to www.MeemicFoundation.com where they can complete a simple application to receive a grant for up to $2,500 to fund innovative educational programs. 

"While it may be vacation time for the students, many educators use the summer months to plan and prepare for the upcoming school year," said Jack Cantwell, spokesperson for The Meemic Foundation.  "We have already seen a tremendous response from the Wisconsin educational community since the launch of the Foundation as teachers are using their summer months to apply for additional funding."

The Meemic Foundation offers a variety of grant opportunities, including traditional grants in amounts up to $2,500 and specialty grants of varying amounts for specific items such as books. To submit an application, educators can simply visit the Foundation website and complete an online form outlining their request. 

Grant applications are evaluated based on a variety of criteria that are provided on The Meemic Foundation website. The goal of the Foundation is to fund innovative programs, events or projects that will significantly enhance students' classroom experiences. Any employee of a Wisconsin public, private, charter or parochial school, from pre-school through higher education, may apply for a Meemic Foundation grant. Educators from the same school are welcome to submit proposals for different programs. The deadline for applications is September 9, 2012. Grant recipients will be notified in October 2012 and funds will be made available immediately for the 2012-13 school year. 

The support from The Meemic Foundation allows educators to be innovative and offer learning experiences that otherwise might not be possible due to funding limitations.  The Meemic Foundation grants have been used to update aging libraries, replace outdated textbooks, purchase snowshoes for kindergartners to enhance outdoor learning, and fund new media centers.  The Eton Academy, a specialized independent school for students with learning challenges, earned a $2,000 grant to purchase a Van de Graaff generator to assist with the school's new physics program and further enable the school's experiential-based learning programs.

"The Meemic Foundation was created to support the efforts of educators wanting to offer their students more than just the standard classroom experience," said Cantwell.  "Exceptional teachers are constantly looking for new opportunities to inspire their students and make learning fun.  Our goal with the Foundation is to make sure that financial concerns don't prevent teachers from continuing to explore ways to keep students engaged and excited about learning." 

About The Meemic Foundation

The Meemic Foundation for the Future of Education http://www.MeemicFoundation.com was created by Meemic Insurance Company in 1992. As a non-profit organization, the Foundation is dedicated to advancing the future of education by offering financial assistance to schools and educators. Over the years we have had the pleasure of providing funding to some of the most creative and passionate teachers in the world. Their stories inspire us to continue funding projects that affect a large number of students and support the educational communities that we proudly serve.

SOURCE The Meemic Foundation