Renton Community Foundation, Maxwell Fund gives more than $40,000 to teachers, community organizations through ‘Circle of Giving’ campaign
For eight years community members, through the foundation, have granted nearly $200,000 to schools and community

January 8, 2008 - The Renton Community Foundation's “Circle of Giving” campaign will award grants totaling more than $40,000 to Renton teachers and local organizations and causes.

Thirty-two Renton teachers and staff will receive a total of $10,000 in grants as part of the annual Circle of Giving program. More than $20,000 will be awarded to about a dozen community organizations such as Communities in Schools, Renton; Skyway Boys & Girls Club; and Renton Clothes Bank.

Awards will be issued on Friday, January 11, 4 p.m. at Renton Technical College in the Robert C. Roberts Campus Center, building I, 3000 NE Fourth Street, Renton.

Community members personally donated $1,000 each to fund the awards. An additional $6,500 came from Renton School Board member Marcie Maxwell and her husband Steve through their Maxwell Fund for Youth and Families.

Nearly 80 teachers and staff members submitted applications for the grants. Thirty-two applications were accepted. Teachers will use the money to fund classroom activities and materials to improve mathematics and science education, offer multi-ethnic family programs, and buy reading comprehension materials and games, activity books, educational CDs, art supplies and materials for after-school programs.

Over the past eight years, the Renton Community Foundation Circle of Giving has awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to teachers and various community organizations and projects. That figure includes generous donations by the Maxwell Foundation.

Each year, staff are asked to submit a brief letter requesting the funds, along with an explanation of how the money will be used in classrooms to improve student achievement. If the requested is accepted, a staff member can receive up to $1,000 to use in her/his classroom or for school-based projects.

Renton School District staff to receive grants:

Elementary Schools:
Stephanie Manderscheid and Mary Washington, Campbell Hill; Elizabeth Bybee, Hazelwood; Jennifer Linn, Highlands; Kelley Miller, Shelly Graham, Jennifer Keil and Michelle Lunders, Kennydale; Ginny Knox and Donna Vasquez, Lakeridge; Danielle Craven, Jill Cronauer and Carmen Unti, Sierra Heights; Lynne Wasson, Geri Scarvie and Jane Lambert, Tiffany Park; Katie Billings, Talbot Hill.

Middle Schools:
Michelle Opiniano, Dimmitt; Sandy Sandford, McKnight; Jean Abrahamson, Lindy Snyder and Ashlie Tusberg, Nelsen.

High Schools:
Sandy Cato, Black River; Anne Marie Fern, Lisa Behmer, Angie Atkinson and Denie Page, Hazen.

District programs:
LaDonna Kenny, Karen Mataya and Maggi Kellogg, Autism Facilitators; Valerie Sensabaugh H.O.M.E. program; Renton High School PTSA; Lindbergh High School PTSA.