The Eastern Education Foundation invites new members to join in the upcoming year. The Foundation helps support activities at the school.
When most people think back on their high school experiences, it’s not the studying, the tests or the early morning bus rides they remember. Most people remember much more personal experiences: the activities they chose to participate in as they were making friends and learning who they were.
It takes a lot more than just a general interest to make those activities available to students, though. That’s where the Eastern Education Foundation, a non-profit fundraising arm of the Eastern Camden County Regional School District, comes in. The EEF is the only organization that funds projects across the “Four As”: athletics, academics, arts and activities.
The EEF was founded in 1996 and has funded dozens of programs over the years. It exists to support organizations, faculty, staff or students who don’t have a natural affinity group.
“Teachers, club organizers, student groups count on EEF to fund events, projects, trips and educational activities that are not budgeted by Eastern High School,” said David Cheatham, president of the Eastern Education Foundation. Without the EEF, these events might not be possible.
Cheatham went on to clarify the foundation’s goals. It focuses on enhancing the quality of educational programs at Eastern Regional High School, but it also wants to encourage creativity among staff and faculty by supporting unique projects.
“This gives faculty and students the opportunity to come to us with not only non-budgeted items, but unique or creative ideas they are willing to put the time into to make it happen,” he said.
The foundation also aims to provide stipends and grants for teachers to develop and integrate technology into their classroom curricula.
Just this year, the EEF has had a few projects of note. It supported an Easter egg hunt put on by the Eastern Interact Club, which is the largest club/organization at the school, with approximately 400 members.
EEF also provided funding to DECA, a national marketing club for high school and college students that prepares future leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in finance, marketing, sales, business and hospitality. The Eastern Education Foundation supported DECA members as they competed in nationals this April in Anaheim, Calif.
Additionally, EEF provides annual scholarships of $500 each to four seniors graduating from Eastern. Awards this year will be given out June 1.
To support these programs, EEF has launched a few initiatives. In 2015, it began its Paver Project Fundraiser, an ongoing effort that allows parents, friends of the schools or any community member to purchase paver stones engraved with messages to the students who have graduated or the faculty. The stones can be ordered at any time as part of a new garden in front of the school in front of the performing arts center. An order form is available on the foundation’s new website, www.easterneducationfoundation.org.
In addition to its new website, the group has recently launched a Facebook page, through which anyone can contact the foundation.
Cheatham expressed excitement about the new generation of parents coming into Eastern Regional High School.
“Every four years, there is a new generation of parents and students at Eastern, and we want to get those new parents and let them know what we do, why we do it and how special we are,” he said.
The EEF provides support to many organizations, and any new parents, especially those already involved in their kids’ activities, would be welcome to join the EEF. Often, student groups or teams will raise a certain amount of money and, to take some of the burden off, the EEF can help plug the gap in funding. Cheatham wants the parents of those student to know they aren’t alone.
“We are always able to help in some way,” Cheatham said.
The EEF would welcome any volunteers who are already passionate and who already understand the difficulties of fundraising, though all volunteers with any experience level are welcome. It is a great opportunity to give back, Cheatham said, because “there is a great deal of good we can do.”
To join, people only need to attend any of the EEF meetings through the year. There are no fees or dues for membership; “all you have to do is show up.”
The next meeting will take place on May 15 at 7 p.m. at Eastern High school. All are invited to attend.
Anyone who is unable to make the upcoming meeting is welcome to email Cheatham at [email protected] or to reach out via the foundation’s Facebook page.
