Our Mission

Foundation 51 is a volunteer, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide independent funding to promote innovative student development in MSAD51.  
By supporting the inventive use of existing and emerging teaching methods, Foundation 51 seeks to enrich the educational experience with programs that inspire creativity and passion, and encourage social responsibility.

Foundation 51 Announces Spring Grants Awarded!


We are happy to support the following creative and compelling educational grants totaling nearly $9,000.

1. Cultural Awareness Through Music, Storytelling, Dance, Art & Direct Communication.

This grant brought Sayon Camara, a village drummer from Guinea, Africa to the Mabel I. Wilson school for a week to teach students, during art class, about the culture of the Malinke people, music, and art. Check out a few images from Sayon's visit below. (Photos: Christina Wneck Photography.)






2. Exploring Adaptive Fairytales Through Reader's Theater.

STAGES teaching artists will spend 5 one-hour visits for each second grade class, working with students and teachers to create an original script of fairy tales adapted from traditional ones.


3. Portland Symphony Orchestra Kinderkonzert & Masterclass.


This grant supports a Kinderkonzert, presented by the PSO,  in the new Greely Center for the Arts for Kindergarten through grade 5 students, and a Masterclass for music students in grades 6-12. 


4. Snowshoeing as a Lifelong, Winter Physical Activity.

Mabel I. Wilson students will experience the many benefits of participating in snowshoeing as a lifelong physical winter activity as an opportunity to increase health related fitness. This grant will support the purchase of 30 sets of snowshoes to serve physical education classes. 

 


Please Consider Making A Gift To Foundation 51

For 20 years, Foundation 51 has been directing private charitable resources towards the enrichment of educational opportunities for our children. 

 

Over the years, the number of grant applications has steadily increased, and our hope is to fund even more projects. Please consider supporting Foundation 51’s efforts during our 20 year anniversary. Your donation is tax deductible - and we encourage you to dedicate your corporate match.

>>> Click here to donate online now <<<

Or, send a check, payable to “Foundation 51”, to P.O. Box 545, Cumberland, ME 04021. 

You may e-mail questions or to ask for assistance to info@foundation51.org or to the Board President, Carla O’Sullivan, at Carla@foundation51.org. 

Grant Spotlight

  • High School Robotics Club
    The Greely High School Robotics Club gives students a chance to apply lessons they’ve learned from a broad array     of classes (e.g. general science, computer science, physics) in a practical situation. Andrew Baca, a former science teacher and current member of the science staff at Greely High School has prior exposure to robotics competitions and applied for a grant in the 2016 spring grant cycle. Foundation 51 was proud to award a grant substantial enough to fund the Robotics Club this fall.  The Club already has 14 students participating - enough to sponsor three teams working on one robot each. Club members meet twice a week at the high school.  The Robotics Club’s main activity is to design and build robots to bring to local competitions. Baca makes sure that the students have the materials, direction, and support to build and compete.

    In addition to fostering interest in physics, computer science, and programming, the Club promotes teamwork and communication skills. Each individual contributes some range of leadership, project management, mechanical awareness, technological savvy, and, of course, problem solving skills to his or her team. The Club provides an opportunity to bring students together to explore and to practice these vital skills regularly.  Baca anticipates that participation will continue to grow over the next few years. As the Club grows, he hopes to extend not only the number of teams composed of high school students but also to expand the Club to include middle school students as well.

    Foundation 51 is pleased to have been able to help enrich the intellectual and personal growth of a number of students at Greely High School outside the classroom with this fun and innovative project. We thank Andrew for his leadership and commitment.




    Posted 27 Dec 2016, 17:54 by Webmaster Foundation51
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