Education Foundation Raises Thousands for Education at First Golf Tournament
The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel (EFKA) raised more than forty thousand dollars at its first ever golf tournament at the Webhannet Golf Club June 28.
Tournament organizer Chris Stevens gives credit for the great bottom line to a community committed to education.
Major sponsor Kennebunk Savings Bank is one local business that has always supported the Foundation and its mission. "At Kennebunk Savings we're always proud to support activities that strengthen the community," says Brad Paige, president and CEO. "The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel has grown from a grass roots group to a thriving organization with a widespread impact on all of the schools in this district."
Twenty-seven teams of golfers played the course throughout the afternoon. A BBQ dinner was held after play ended, with prizes presented to golfers who won putting, driving, hole-in-one, and closest-to-the-pin contests.
Other major sponsors were Thrive Foundation for Youth; The Cottages at Seagrass Lane; Dynasty International, Inc; BNY Mellon Wealth Management; Corning; and GFI.
Dozens of area businesses, foundations, families, and politicians also sponsored holes or provided gifts to help EFKA reach its goal.
The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel is an independent non-profit organization founded for the purpose of increasing excellence in the public school system in the Kennebunks and Arundel. The money raised at the tournament will help fund innovative programs for students and professional development for teachers and other staff.
2010 May Day Parade
Students from Mere Lane neighborhood
make signs for the May Day parade
At this year's May Day parade in Kennebunk, an enthusiastic group of children and adults from Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Arundel showed both their civic pride and school spirit by marching for the first time behind an EFKA banner. Marchers carried hand-made posters created by children celebrating in words and pictures their favorite EFKA programs.
The May Day parade is a much loved small town tradition. It celebrates the vibrant web of community groups—from school bands, Girl and Boy Scout troops, Little League teams, and Rotarians, to police, fire, and rescue departments—that make our towns so special. EFKA is proud to support school children in the towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Arundel, and is delighted to join the ranks of community groups that make the Kennebunks and Arundel such special places to live and raise children.
Join us in next year's parade and show your support for our schools, educators, and children.
Call-a-thon Benefits the Education Foundation
The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel held its first ever Call-a-thon October 19-21, 2009, to raise additional funds for innovative educational programs and professional development of teachers in RSU#21. Hundreds of calls were made by parents, teachers, business leaders, and other volunteers who believe in the Foundation's mission. Families with school-aged children were contacted first by letter and then by phone. Parents were asked for pledges and at the same time educated about the Foundation's goals and programs--programs their children were currently participating in!
The Call-a-thon was intended to expand the Foundation's donor base, with the ultimate goal of establishing a permanent endowment to ensure exceptional educational opportunities continue for students and teachers for years to come.
With $14,000 in matching funds pledged by generous benefactors, the Call-a-thon was a tremendous success, raising a total of over $42,000.
The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel
Annual Spelling Bee
Worker bees spell F-U-N!
The Spelling Bee has been the primary community fundraiser for the Foundation since 2007. Civic groups, businesses, teachers, and municipal employees come together for a night of fun that brings them back to their school years by testing their spelling prowess!
Andrew Young and Joe Foster, emcees
Words like
Pecksniffian and
aileron challenge teams and eliminate them one by one until a single champion remains. (The team from Biddeford's
Journal Tribune has taken the Spelling Bee title the last two years.) Up to 50 teams take part annually, and everyone from the school district is invited to watch the fun.
Competing teams or their sponsors make donations to EFKA to participate in the event. The Foundation values their continued commitment to creative, innovative education and the professional development of teachers in the community.
