Chatham Education Foundation Awards Nearly $150,000 in Grants to Support Innovation Across the School District of the Chathams
By Chatham Education Foundation
The Chatham Education Foundation (CEF) is proud to announce that it awarded $146,337.22 in grants during the 2024 calendar year to fund forward-thinking programs and resources across all six schools in the School District of the Chathams (SDOC). These grants are designed to enhance classroom learning, support educators, and provide students with hands-on, real-world experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and academic excellence.
The largest grant of the year—$105,588.33 for the Chatham Middle School Library Media Center Redesign—will transform the existing library into a modern Learning Commons serving grades 5 through 8. With the addition of fifth grade at CMS, this reimagined space will offer flexible, student-centered zones for collaboration, independent learning, and social-emotional development. The redesign was developed with long-term adaptability in mind and will be evaluated through measures of student engagement and learning impact across the district.
“We are incredibly proud to support innovative programs that equip our students with skills that extend far beyond the classroom,” said Puja Swamy, President of CEF. “From technology and science to literacy and the arts, every grant this year reflects our mission to enrich public education in Chatham. We are especially excited about the CMS Library redesign—an investment that will benefit students for years to come. These opportunities are only possible because of the extraordinary generosity of our donors, endowment supporters, and sponsors who believe in what we do. Thank you for helping us empower educators and inspire learners.”
About the Chatham Education Foundation
The Chatham Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting educational excellence in the School District of the Chathams through community and parent donations. In partnership with SDOC and school administrators, CEF funds innovative programs and special projects that enrich the learning experiences of over 3,500 students across Chatham’s six public schools. Since its inception, the Foundation has funded more than $1.8 million in grants and scholarships.
To learn more or to support future grants, visit www.chathamedfoundation.org.