The Hamilton Education Foundation: Supporting Teachers, Students, and Families Across the District
Photo from HEF.
Aashi Iyengar
The Hamilton Education Foundation, or HEF, is a non-profit organization supporting the eight schools in the Sussex Hamilton School District. It was started by a concerned group of parents 33 years ago to help students in the Hamilton School District. The Foundation was all volunteer run up until 1.5 years ago when Julie Carpenter and Kristen Kidd were hired to take it to the next level! HEF, as part of their contributions to the community, has raised and given away over $2 million to teachers and students over the years. It has been a place that teachers can turn to for fun, innovative things they want to integrate into the classroom that aren’t in the budget. Kristen Kidd, Co-Executive Director of HEF, states how rewarding and fascinating it is to hear the passion of teachers when they are applying for grants. “This is what makes the job so much more gratifying,” Kidd says.
Upcoming Events: SSI Winter Blast
This Saturday, February 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., HEF is hosting the 2024 Winter Blast at Silver Spring Intermediate School! This event is for young children and includes face painting, crafts, fairy hair, bouncy houses, and a special appearance by Hamilton Robotics! HEF’s mission for the Winter Blast is to strengthen our district’s community by providing an opportunity to connect with younger families. This event has food for purchase and a $25 registration fee. Register here for an exciting opportunity to connect with Hamilton families!
Upcoming Events: Gala
In order for HEF to continue its contributions to the community, they have fundraising events, and an annual tradition is the fundraising Gala. Year after year, the results of this event grow tremendously with the support of the community and everyone's participation! Last year, the Gala’s theme was “Night at the Oscars,” and the fundraiser cleared almost $100,000. It was a spectacular event with games, raffles, auctions, dinner, cocktails, and live entertainment.
This year, the Gala will be on April 13 at the Brookfield Conference Center. The theme is 007 Mission Education. There are many key highlights to look forward to, the first of which is the golden ticket. There are 100 $100 raffle tickets being sold, and a winner will be drawn at the end of the evening to receive a big prize: a trip to one of five amazing destinations! The winner of the drawing will win a trip to their choice of Orlando, Mexico, Tuscany, Hawaii, or Spain. Attendees can also enter a raffle for a chance to win two Taylor Swift tickets. These tickets are for Swift’s show on November 1 at 7:00 pm in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium. Each raffle ticket is $100 each, and there is an unlimited amount of tickets! All of the games and activities at the Gala will be in keeping with the 007 theme, and there will be live music played by the Now or Never band.
The goal of this year’s Gala is to raise $150,000. The event is for adults only, and HEF would love to see an increase in attendance from people around the area! Registration opens on February 26, and raffle tickets can be purchased online through this link starting on February 10. If you are attending in person, HEF requests that you wear black, white, or metallic to fit with the 007 Gala theme.
Kidd describes her favorite part of the HEF Gala as seeing everyone come together. She describes how “it’s fun to see the teachers and other parents dressed up and having fun! It’s an opportunity to see families in a different kid-free setting.”
Grants:
HEF gives grants to teachers for different things throughout the year. For students, they give two kinds of grants. The first is called The Ventures in Education Grant, and it’s for students traveling to attend conferences or programs that are educational during the school year. The application for this grant is open year-round, but in order to be eligible, you must be traveling during the school year to attend an educational experience. The second grant is called the STARS grant, and it is open for students K4-11 for any educational camp or program during the summer! Students applying for this grant must have all the required information submitted no later than April 30.
Last year, HEF gave $20,000 to students through these grants!
HEF also offers scholarships to graduating seniors.The Marjorie Wrezic Scholarship offers scholarships for two and four-year colleges and any continuing education in trades. Application information can be found here. If students have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Kidd or the guidance office for assistance.
HEF will also be offering a nominated scholarship this year. The Adams family, made up of former Hamilton graduates, is starting a scholarship in their parents’ names. To qualify for this scholarship, students must be nominated by a teacher, coach, or counselor. Preference is given to students who have not been often recognized but recommenders want to highlight their achievements and preference may also go to those looking to pursue early childhood education.
HEF has many opportunities for students to volunteer at their events. Student volunteers are needed to help set up and run events, and this is a great way to serve the community! HEF is also looking for a rising sophomore or junior to assist with their social media presence! Any students who are interested in assisting with these HEF opportunities are welcome to reach out to Kristen Kidd at kkidd@hamiltoneducationfoundation.org or Julie Carpenter at Jcarpenter@hamiltoneducationfoundation.org!
HEF has been working very hard to provide opportunities for teachers, students, and families across the district. The work they do has substantially improved the Hamilton School District’s educational resources and is invaluable to the community.
