As a charitable organization, the Education Foundation of Lower Merion (EFLM), is always looking for ways to raise money for LMSD.
The EFLM, formed in 2006, provides funding for various school activities and raises money for the school District.
“The foundation is an incredibly valuable partner that has helped launch a number of important extracurricular programs. In addition to generating funds, the foundation helps build awareness for district programs and serves as a bridge to the large community,” said Doug Young, Director of School & Community Relations for the District.
The need for a charitable organization for LM became apparent after Act 1, a tax legislation designed to limit the amount Pennsylvania school district’s budgets can increase each year. This inhibited the amount of resources that Lower Merion School District can offer. The EFLM raises money through projects designed to accept donations from Lower Merion residents.
EFLM uses fundraisers such as the Legacy Walkway at LM to raise money for future grants. Designed to raise money for the school district, the Legacy Walk allows people to purchase messages on bricks in a sidewalk leading to the entrance of the new LM high school. The messages can be used to commemorate a graduate, a student or a teacher.
“We hope that all kinds of people who are associated in some way with the two high schools in particular, or with the Lower Merion School District in general, would be interested in purchasing bricks,” said Richard Wells, the President of the EFLM. “The bricks are a great way to honor a student or faculty member, or to express thanks to the schools.”
The profits made from the sale of the bricks will be donated to the school district through the EFLM. The EFLM uses their earnings to fund activities that take place in the school district. Some allocations of EFLM funds included the ninth grade Humanities project materials, SMART Boards, and various auxiliary textbooks.
“The EFLM will be using the proceeds from the legacy bricks to continue to our grant program,” said Debbie Sokil, a member of the Board of Directors at the EFLM. “I believe at this point the foundation has given out $80,000 in grants, including $40,000 to help outfit the new TV studios in the new high schools.”
Many projects in the past have been funded by donations from the EFLM. These projects would likely not be possible without the help of the organization.
“Recent grants at LMHS, for example, have funded the Wii Friendship Club begun by Heather Van Horn [a Special-Ed teacher], equipment for the Ninth Grade Global Humanities Collaboration spearheaded by Enlgish teacher Trish Schuller, several grants for Maestro the Lion, as well as about $20,000 in video production equipment for the LMHS television studio,” said EFLM coordinator Sherry Wert.
Ian Cohn
Class of 2012
