Archives
2009-2010 Academic Year
- BEF Classroom Innovation Grants Awarded
- People were ‘so kind to our students’ during annual BEF phone-athon. School groups collected more than $100,000 in pledges from community donors to support Kids Count Grants.
- BEF has received a $20,000 challenge grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund
- Look at What's Happening Around the District…Summer Sounds Program at Beaver Acres
- Beaverton Education Foundation Awards $48,922 in Grants to Beaverton Schools for After-School and Summer Programs
- After-the-Bell Awards
- Opal Creek Ancient Forest Overnight Program
- BEF: A Great Return on Your Investment
- It's Your Turn
- Become a BEF Facebook Fan and Win!
- BEF Friends and Family Discount
2008-2009 Academic Year
- 2008 BEF Kids Count Grants Awarded
- Beaverton Education Foundation Has Moved!
- More than 100 friends join us for our October 1 Kick-off
- 10th Annual Beaverton Education Foundation Phone campaign
- 2008 BEF Classroom Innovation Grants Awarded
- Beaverton Education Foundation Night at PGE Park with the Portland Timbers
2007-2008 Academic Year
- BEF has received a $20,000 challenge grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund
- BEF Wins Crystal Award
- BEF Launches New Graphic identity
2009 BEF Classroom Innovation Grants Awarded
With thanks to our generous donors, including the Dave Gettling Technology Fund, the Mike Osborne Memorial Award Fund, and Building STEAM 4 All (supported with donations from Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Genentech, Beaverton Rotary and Boyd Applegarth Memorial Fund), Beaverton Education Foundation was able to award $26,566, funding 30 classroom projects.
BEF Classroom Innovation Grants awarded to schools throughout the Southridge High School feeder system: Southridge High, Highland Park Middle, and Cooper Mountain, Hiteon, and McKay Elementary Schools were partially supported by a gift from the Helming Family Foundation. Learn more.
Grant to Foundation a $20,000 Challenge
Beaverton Education Foundation has received a $20,000 challenge grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. The money has been designated for the foundation's Building STEAM 4 All project. The acronym STEAM signifies Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs the grant seeks to strengthen. The challenge condition requires the foundation to raise a matching sum to receive the community fund award.
The STEAM 4 All project encourages students to pursue science studies in the classroom and outside the traditional school day. All schools and grades are eligible to participate. Underrepresented groups in science and math classes will be given special consideration for the program.
Summer Sounds Program at Beaver Acres, submitted by Shellie Ritter, First Grade Teacher at Beaver Acres Elementary School
TALK! SING! READ! WRITE! These are the main priorities for about 30 incoming kindergarten, first and second grade students at Beaver Acres Elementary School this summer. They are participating in Summer Sounds, a four week summer school funded by a Beaverton Education Foundation Kid's Count Grant.
A Beaver Acres first grade teacher, Shellie Ritter, developed the program to focus on the oral language development of incoming kindergarten, first, and second graders. The students have fun identifying mystery sounds and applying the sounds of our language to read and communicate. There are only 10 students in each class to facilitate frequent oral language practice.
In our busy lives, adult-child conversation is often limited by cell phone usage, TV, and video games. Summer Sounds puts an emphasis on listening to students and giving them time and guidance to express themselves orally. Research shows that solid oral language development contributes to success in reading, writing, and thinking.
Readers' Theatre, plays, songs, and dedicated one-on-one conversation times are some of the ways oral language is developed through the program. Principal Stacy Geale and Vice- Principal Erica Marson have enjoyed interacting with the students and helping to develop oral language skills. Thanks to Nutrition Services, the students also received free breakfast and lunch daily during the program.
Beaverton Education Foundation Awards $48,922 in Grants to Beaverton Schools for After-School and Summer Programs
The Beaverton Education Foundation announces the recipients of its 2009 BEF Kids Count Grant Awards. Six grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 were awarded to school district staff through a competitive grant process. Water, Water Everywhere, Summer Sounds and After-School Enrichment are just a few of the innovative programs BEF is funding this award period.
Due to the generosity of community members, corporate sponsors, Intel, Comcast, Trust Management Services and Portland General Electric, the Foundation was able to award $48,922 to fund after-school and summer school programs that provide tutoring and/or enrichment in reading, writing, science, math and/or the Arts.
BEF After-the-Bell Awards Help Thousands of Students
3,800 middle school students stay after school each year for vital help with core subjects: math, reading, and writing. For some it means access to the computer lab, as there is no computer or Internet at home, for others it means one-on-one help with writing a paper, tackling some tough math problems or just spending some quiet time at school completing assignments. Not only do BEF awards provide funds for tutoring and academic support, but also for service clubs, including Art Expressions, flag football, Latino Club, choir, student leadership, volleyball, jazz band, orchestra, community service, chess, and drama.
Teachers share that Homework Club students come to class the next day excited because they were able to grasp a concept or finish projects and assignments during Club.
Opal Creek Ancient Forest Overnight Program
"Thank you for your marvelous support and I think I speak for all 5th graders at Vose, in saying Thank you, you changed our lives." remarked Brandon, student participant.
Despite rain, snow and sleet, 90 fifth grade students translated their entire academic year in the classroom, to the field by participating in the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Overnight Program funded by the BEF and the Mike Osborne Memorial Fund. Throughout their two day experience, the students were given multiple opportunities to reflect on, and journal about, their experiences: hikes, explorations at the edge of the creek, lectures about the water cycle and health watersheds, Native American folklore, rope making, edible plants, the life cycles of the flora and fauna around us, and sustainable energy sources.
The students made invaluable connections to their classroom knowledge, but more importantly, they left with the notion that all species, including humans are interrelated. They understand they have the power to relate to, explain and impact the future of their world, its inhabitants and resources.
BEF: A Great Return on Your Investment
Whether you are interested in arts education or homework support, BEF funds programs in a wide range of disciplines that reach a significant number of students. These charts show how grant dollars are invested. From 1999-2000 to 2008-2009 the Beaverton Education Foundation awarded $1,744,299 in grants and awards.
It's Your Turn
Starting this spring the Beaverton Education Foundation, will launch Beaverton's Choice, an innovative web-based tool to raise funds for classroom projects and involve you, our donors, in the process.
Beaverton's Choice is a web-based extension of the long-standing BEF Classroom Innovation and Kids Count Grant programs and will enable donors to participate in the funding process. Teachers and other staff from schools throughout the district will submit projects for review, and BEF will post selected projects. As with all BEF grants, the projects are staff-envisioned, and directly benefit students.
The Beaverton's Choice site will be active in the late winter and spring and will provide details about selected projects, the students who will participate, and the cost of the project. This will offer our donors the opportunity to be involved in funding decisions, as well as the ability to fund directly to a particular school.
Beaverton's Choice would not have been possible without the generous support of the Beaverton Education Association, the web team at Studio Cue and Sunset High School.
Become a BEF Facebook Fan and Win!
Follow us as a friend of the Beaverton Education Foundation on Facebook and you are eligible in our BEF drawings, spotlighting our current promotion. For every partner activity we offer we will randomly select one of our Facebook friends to win an exclusive prize. It could be free tickets, memorabilia, or a gift card with some of our participating community partners such as: Powell's Books, Broadway for Beaverton Schools Portland Opera, Portland Trailblazers, Timbers Soccer, Beavers Baseball and MORE!
To Become a Fan of us on Facebook: Click on the Facebook link below and you will automatically be sent to our Facebook page. If you are currently a member of Facebook, just log in and click "Become a Fan." The BEF logo will appear at the bottom of your profile page showing you are a member of our Foundation and the great work we do.
If you are NOT currently a member of Facebook, follow the same steps – only when you are sent to our Facebook page, click on the green Sign Up button. Facebook will take you through the steps. It is FREE and easy to do!
Click here to check out BEF
on Facebook
and become a BEF fan!
BEF Friends and Family Discount Ticket Offer
Long time partner, Portland Opera and Broadway Across America Portland and the Beaverton Education Foundation are pleased to offer you the chance to purchase tickets at special prices to several performances throughout the year. Please check our home page for the current show. Please feel free to share this offer with your friends and family.
- Shop online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com/groupsales
Password: befbenefit
2008 BEF Kids Count Grants Awarded
With thanks to the BEF Grant Committee and readers and the generosity of our corporate and community members, the Beaverton Education Foundation was able to award thirteen grants, totaling $113,120.
Beaverton Education Foundation Has Moved!
September 9 , 2008: The Beaverton Education Foundation has now moved into its new office on the ground floor of the BG Plaza in downtown Beaverton. "Our move enables the Foundation to be further engaged with the community of Beaverton as well as the all of the schools," announces Executive Director Kristine Baggett. Learn more about the move.
More than 100 friends join us for our October 1 Kick-off Breakfast, Open House and Ribbon Cutting
October 1, 2008 was a great celebration for the Beaverton Education Foundation. The multipurpose gathering celebrated our new location, the work of our summer Kids Count Grant recipients and kicked-off our fall fund raising drive.
Our gathering brought friends from around the community together to learn about the great work and commitment of our many partners.
The event would not have been possible without the hard work of Mindy and Sue, the wonderful teachers, volunteers and program directors at each of the Grant awardees and the generous contributions of so many of our committed partners: Tanasbourne Whole Foods Markets, Noah's Bagels, Starbucks at Beaverton Towne Square, Fred Meyer at Beaverton Towne Square, Aloha Costco, BG Plaza, Kingstad Center, Beaverton Florist, Beaverton Target, Beaverton Chamber of Commerce, Beaverton School District.
10th Annual Beaverton Education Foundation Phone campaign
In the five, fun-filled, competitive nights of the awarding winning 10th Annual Beaverton Education Foundation Phone-a-thon, more than 350 student volunteers made more than 33,000 phone calls, on generously donated Cricket Wireless cell phones from several offices donated by our new landlord, BG Plaza. More then 100 adult volunteers - callers, coaches, team advisors joined the ranks of students volunteers to assist with advancing the mission of the BEF.
2008 BEF Classroom Innovation Grants Awarded
With thanks to our generous donors, including the Dave Gettling Technology Fund and the Mike Osborne Memorial Award Fund, the Beaverton Education Foundation was able to award $22,266.97, funding 26 classroom projects through-out the District this award period. Learn more about 2008 BEF Classroom Innovation awards.
The Portland Timbers welcomed the Beaverton Education Foundation supporters to a fun-filled night at PGE Park on May 30th, 2009!
Portland Timbers face-off the vancouver Whitecaps while helping Beaverton students. A portion of every ticket sold for the exciting game went directly to the Beaverton Education Foundation to help fund programs for Beaverton students. The BEF ticket gained game-goers admittance to the exclusive pre-game autograph session on the Fred Meyer Family Deck presented by FirstTech Credit Union.
Grant to Foundation a $20,000 Challenge
Beaverton Education Foundation has received a $20,000 challenge grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. The money has been designated for the foundation's Building STEAM 4 All project. The acronym STEAM signifies Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs the grant seeks to strengthen. The challenge condition requires the foundation to raise a matching sum to receive the community fund award.
The STEAM 4 All project encourages students to pursue science studies in the classroom and outside the traditional school day. All schools and grades are eligible to participate. Underrepresented groups in science and math classes will be given special consideration for the program.
BEF Wins Crystal Award
May 14, 2008: The Beaverton Education Foundation has been awarded a 2008 Crystal Award for Outstanding Event (operating budget under $500,000), - Annual BEF Phone Campaign 2007, by the Willamette Valley Development Officers.
BEF Launches New Graphic identity
June 3, 2008: In a District wide competition, the Beaverton Education Foundation challenged local high school students to design a new original graphic identity for the BEF.
Watch BEF Board member, Janis Collins on Comcast Newsmakers to learn about BEF. Click the Play button in the middle of the screen.
