Berryville, Virginia (May 30, 2019) – The Clarke County Education Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $5,500 grant from the United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley. These funds will support the Dr. Richard M. Lewis Academic Access Fund by funding 10 months of service for CCEF’s Kajeet Smartspot devices.
This grant will extend the life of the Dr. Richard M. Lewis Academic Access Fund which provides funding for home Wi-Fi connection for school assignments to CCPS students without home internet because of the expense or lack of connectivity. The grant will pay for 10 months of service for CCEF’s existing Kajeet Smartspot devices which allow students to connect to the internet from any of the nation’s five leading cellular networks when they do not have access to an internet signal at their home. With the help of the Dr. Richard M. Lewis Fund, CCEF has purchased 16 Kajeet devices available for student check out at both Johnson- Williams Middle School and Clarke County High School’s libraries.
This technology is the result of generous memorial contributions made to honor the late Dr. Lewis, who passed away in July 2016. Dr. Lewis was the President of the Clarke County Education Foundation at the time of his passing, and he was a tireless advocate for access to educational opportunities. It was his vision to help level the playing field for all students by providing internet access at home.
United Way NSV awards annual grants through a competitive application and Fund Distribution review process that is entirely completely by community volunteers. This year volunteers reviewed funding applications, undertook site visits and recommended grant funding to focus on priority human care needs as defined by United Way’s Community Needs Assessment.
About United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley: Since 1946 the United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley has worked to impact the community human care needs that matter most to the people of Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah Counties and the City of Winchester. United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley convenes the people and organizations necessary to create solutions to our region’s most pressing challenges and collaborates with effective partners. United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley seeks to serve as the catalyst for community change by supporting over 42 partner agencies in the areas of Financial Stability, Health and Education. For more information visit our website www.unitedwaynsv.org. Follow us on Twitter @UWNSV.
The Clarke County Education Foundation, established in 1991, is an independent public charity dedicated to promoting, expanding, and augmenting the educational opportunities for students and staff in the Clarke County Public Schools, by generating private support and involvement to enhance these publicly-maintained services. The CCEF has provided more than $2.5 million in student scholarships, teacher grants, system demonstration grants, and donor-defined projects through a combination of fund-raising and endowment income since its inception. For more information visit www.ccefinc.org
For more information regarding this grant, The Dr. Richard M. Lewis Academic Access Fund, how to donate to this fund or information regarding the CCEF, please contact Beth Williams, Clarke County Education Foundation Executive Director, at 540-955-6103 or ccefinc.berryville@gmail.com.
