Year after year, Dublin City Schools rates among the best performing public school districts in central Ohio. Dedicated teachers, administrators and school district staff keep the city’s kids on a path to success. But even this winning team needs a boost from time to time. That immersive experience that deepens understanding. Those extra, hands-on materials that make a good lesson great. 

For the average educator, a few hundred dollars for those materials puts them out of reach. That’s where the Dublin Education Foundation comes into play. Founded in 1999, the non-profit organization supports innovative educators by providing grant funding for enrichment opportunities in Dublin City Schools. Since its inception, the organization has funded over 350 grants to our schools and educators. 

Funds donated to Dublin Education Foundation are administered by an all-volunteer board.  Grants are awarded two times per year and DEF funded 74 grants totaling over $105,000 the past 5 years.  The average grant amount requested has increased 47% from $1,600 to $2,350 and grants have been awarded from $250 to $4,100. 

Scioto High School used $3,500 from the foundation to expand its Kindness Café and replicate prior DEF awarded grants that helped fund the Coffman Coffee Shop and the Jerome Knot School Store. These student-led sites operate as a café and school store within the buildings and provide job training for students with disabilities. A job coach works with students to assist with training and operations.

$3,049 went to purchase innovative STEM items for students at Abraham Depp Elementary for their Maker Space. These materials are designed to help students work collaboratively and develop innovative thinking skills.  Recently Eli Pinney Elementary received $2,525 in grant funding for tools that offer individualized support for written expression and literacy development in special education. 

The Dublin Education Foundation is funded by businesses, alumni, educators and community residents. The organization also hosts two fundraising events each year. Join other supporters on February 28 at the Exchange at Bridge Park for the second annual Elevate Education fundraiser or in June at the DEF Mix & Mingle at COhatch Dublin.

Looking ahead to its next 25 years, the foundation is launching a $700,000 endowment campaign with funds held at The Columbus Foundation. Endowment gifts will allow the organization to continue its mission to innovate, enrich and inspire learning in Dublin City Schools.

To make an endowment gift or learn about other sponsorship opportunities, visit the Dublin Education Foundation website at dublineducationfoundation.com, drop them a line at DublinEducationFoundation@gmail.com, or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com.DublinEducationFoundation; on Instagram @DublinEducationFoundation. 

Your donation to the Dublin Education Foundation today will help ensure meaningful learning experiences for the students of Dublin City Schools long into the future. That’s a gift that truly keeps on giving.