The grants

will be awarded in the range of $200-500. There are specific standards

and a timeline that funded programs must meet. All grant requests must

support a goal of the school from which the request is being made.

Grantees are

required to submit a formal report to the foundation describing how the

funds were used and the benefit that resulted from the funded project.

Grants are competitive and the number awarded will be determined by the

requests that are made. Funding for the grants is provided by monetary

donations that have been made to the foundation by local businesses, school

system employees and friends.

Applications

for mini-grant requests will be available at each school in January. All

applications must be submitted to the FCEF by Feb. 28 to be considered.

Grant awards will be made in May.

A board of

directors made up of community leaders and school system administrators

oversees the operation of the foundation.

Anyone interested

in more information about the foundation and its mini-grant program, or

those who would like to volunteer, make a donation or submit a suggestion,

can call 770-460-3535, ext. 122.