The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations recently awarded The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools in matching funds through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program. The funding provided to the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools will directly support three critical programs aimed at enhancing educational opportunities across the district: the Collegium for the Advancement of Education, College & Career Initiatives, and Classroom, School & District Grants. These initiatives will empower educators and students alike.

The Collegium for the Advancement of Education will foster collaboration among teachers to develop innovative teaching methods, while the College & Career Initiatives will guide high school students toward college readiness and vocational career paths. Additionally, the Classroom, School & District Grants will provide resources for unique classroom projects and school improvements, benefiting educators and students district wide. The foundation is partnering with local organizations and community leaders to further enhance the reach of these programs.

“These grants reflect the partnership between the business community here in Lee County, the Florida Legislators and the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.” said Marshall T. Bower, president and CEO of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. “They are an excellent example of leveraging public and private funding for the benefit of our students and educators. Because of this great partnership, our students are given the opportunity to achieve their highest potential!”

The Consortium has received legislative matching funds which provide a dollar-for-dollar incentive for local education foundations to raise private contributions for eligible projects for more than 20 years. Since the inception of the program, more than $166 million in combined private and state dollars has been provided for local projects that serve students, literacy initiatives, encourage STEM and career/technical education, increase classroom innovation, support teachers and/or increase graduation rates.

The Consortium is the membership organization for Florida’s school district-wide local education foundations. Established in 1987, the Consortium connects individuals, organizations and financial resources to build the capacity and effectiveness of local education foundations throughout the state in achieving student success. The Consortium now has 62 member foundations with 1,200 business and community leaders serving as volunteer board members. Collectively, the local education foundations raise $100 million annually to support students, teachers, and schools through a variety of programs. The Consortium has facilitated more than $88 million to local education foundations since 2002 through various private- and public-sector partnerships, including the State of Florida School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program.

About The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools

The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc. is a private 501(c)(3) organization established in 1986. Its mission is to enhance and enrich the quality of public education in Lee County for students and educators through programs, resources, and experiences made possible through corporate, individual, and educational partnerships. Find the foundation online at LeeSchoolFoundation.org, on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

To learn more about the Consortium and the statewide impact of the program, visit EducationFoundationsFL.org.