On Tuesday, November 27, over 300 business and community leaders gathered to celebrate FCPS and the Foundation. The event featured a key-note address from Dr. Stephen Jones, new CEO of Inova Health System, who spoke of the importance of Inova’s work in FCPS to help students identify their future career path. Attendees heard from one of the teachers who received a grant from the Foundation for FCPS, and the awards were presented to the Business, Community, and Workforce Development Partners of the Year. Best of all, over $55,000 was raised to be used for the 2019 Teacher Grants! More information can be found here. Thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters, whose information is located on the Foundation’s 
.
Foundation Announces Teacher Grant Awards
The Foundation for FCPS launched its inaugural Teacher Grant program in spring 2018, aimed at developing the workforce of the future. More than 70 creative and innovative proposals were submitted. The Board of Directors selected 28 projects for funding. Grant amounts ranged from $500-$2,500, and total amount to be distributed is $45,500. The grant program supports classroom initiatives that focus on enhancing work-based learning, career exploration, or workforce readiness opportunities for students in grades K-12. Proposals will be implemented in the 2018-19 school year. For more information, please visit our Teacher Grant page.
Foundation Receives Grant from Environmental Fund at Community Foundation
The Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools is the recipient of the first grant from newly established Environment Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. The Foundation for FCPS received $25,000 in support of Get2Green, the environmental stewardship program within FCPS. The program’s goal is to integrate environmental stewardship into the PreK-12 curriculum throughout the entire school system. The grant will support a countywide implementation of new and continued environmental projects in over 30 schools, including expansion of Eco-Schools (a partnership with the National Wildlife Federation). Eco-Schools work toward awards through addressing specific environmental pathways at their schools, including Resource Stewardship, Schoolyard Gardens, and Community Stewardship.
“We are honored to be the first recipient of a grant from this new fund, especially as FCPS has a systemic commitment to energy reduction and conservation. This grant from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia will enable more schools to participate in the Eco-Schools program, and increase student learning and engagement around the environment,” said Elizabeth Murphy, Executive Director of the Foundation for FCPS.
To find out more about Get2Green, visit their website, http://get2green.fcps.edu/.
Students Support Music Therapy Program at Kilmer Center
When students at Julia Turnbull’s voice studio learned about the music therapy program at the Kilmer Center, they wanted to help. They held a charity karaoke hour at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, VA, and unanimously voted to donate all proceeds to music therapy. The students felt so strongly about giving to the Kilmer Center that they also held a bake sale, to offset the rental fees at Jammin’ Java, so that their contribution to Kilmer could be as large as possible. A huge Thank You to these dedicated musicians, who raised money through their own talents to help others in FCPS have the joy of music!
Inova Health System Provides Community Health Grant to FCPS
The Inova Health System presented the Foundation for FCPS with a $15,000 grant award on 4/19/18. Funds will support the Providing Access to Vaccines for Everyone (PAVE) Program. Through a unique partnership with George Mason University’s Mason and Partners (MAPS) Clinics, FCPS has established a primary care access point for families at the Dunn Loring Central Registration Site. The clinic provides access to basic medical care in order to expedite school entry. Since opening in July, 2017, FCPS and the MAPS Clinic have served over 750 students. Beginning in April, 2018, FCPS began offering free immunizations to students in order to remove barriers for school attendance. Funding from the Inova grant will support a registrar position, who will serve as a liaison to the families and provide translation services as needed. Thank you, Inova, for helping FCPS find creative ways to support some of our most vulnerable students!