A meditation and writing lesson from a West Michigan rapper-poet, physical education classes that integrate music and movement for special-needs students, and a machine that will introduce hundreds of high school students to printmaking were three of a dozen efforts funded recently by the Grandville Education Foundation (GEF).
The total grant payout was $12,038.73, and award amounts ranged from $200 to $2,400. Executive Director Marcia Force said the most recent cycle’s award amounts were higher than normal, and “we hope to have the trend continue and see the staff utilizing the funds available.”
High school art teacher Derek Johnson said some 300 students a year in grades 9-12 will have access to an etching machine the school was able to buy because of the grant.
Students can use skills developed on the machine to participate in regional, state and national competitions and to advance their portfolios for art school admission, Johnson said. “I am excited for the chance to grow the visibility of Grandville students’ talent throughout the region.”
The GEF, which has awarded more than $210,000 in grants, is funded through private donors and businesses. Its largest fundraiser is the Taste of Grandville, and second-largest is its annual appeal letter.
