2011-12 Accomplishments

• Sponsored the 15th annual Walk for Education with 6,000 walkers. This event raised over $100,000 in direct support for schools in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School district. 
• The inaugural 5K for Fitness was held in April with over 500 participants and incorporated a new 6-week training program in conjunction with Fleet Feet Sports.
• Hosted the fourth annual Novice Teacher Tea at which 40 novice teachers received cash gifts to start off their new careers.
• Held the 8th annual “Teachers First Breakfast” benefit raising nearly $60,000 to support the Teachers First Initiative. The proceeds provide grants for national board certification fees for teachers and Student Enrichment Grants, as well as support for novice teachers, the PSF-East Chapel Hill Rotary Teacher Supply Store, the Educator Extra Credit Card and other programs designed to attract and retain outstanding teachers.
• Awarded 19 Student Enrichment Grants totaling $32,000 to classrooms across all grade levels.  Funding was supported by the Strowd Roses Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Elmo’s Restaurant, the Margaret Kepner Fund, The Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, Reichhold, the Orange County Arts Commission and the Foundation’s Teachers First Fund.
• Awarded 40 Achievers Fund grants for individual student needs or small groups of students totaling over $81,000.
• Coordinated funding from the Strowd Roses Foundation for 6 larger grade level or district wide grants.
• Awarded 9 teaching chairs and 23 other awards to teachers and staff who demonstrate outstanding performance.
• Awarded 11 grants for teachers pursuing initial certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and 8 scholarships for renewal. National board certification is a self-initiated, rigorous certification standard beyond the required state certification. To date, PSF has awarded national board certification scholarships to 113 teachers.
• Awarded 14 student scholarships for post-secondary education from the R.D. Smith Fund, the New American Scholarship Fund, the Elizabeth Rainey Vincent Fund and the AVID Fund. 
• Initiated and funded SMART Board training program at each elementary school lead by teachers known as "SMART Board Champions" who, with their colleagues, developed lessons tied to the new common core curriculum for use by teachers district-wide. 
• Co-sponsored and participated in the Greenhouse Project (the CHCCS district-wide strategic planning initiative).
• Partnered with the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club to provide free school supplies valued at over $25,000 to pre-k through grade 5 teachers, novice teachers and family specialists in the district. Obtained funding for the project from the Staples Foundation for Learning.
• Hosted two Grant Writing Workshops to provide guidance on grants and funding resources to teachers and community members.
• Through PSF restricted funds and the facilitation of pass-through funds for individual school or district programs, including Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate, the foundation has granted an additional $380,000.