2024 Year In Review

As we reflect on our past year, the East Lansing Educational Foundation (ELEF) extends our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support.

Grants Awarded by East Lansing Educational Foundation

Thanks to those who have given to ELEF, we were able to distribute 44 grants for students this year. Together, we funded projects such as:

• Hosting teachers from the Ziibiwing Center who shared Anishinaabe culture with students at the high
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• Storytelling materials for elementary stop-motion filmmakers
• Materials and registration for middle school Science Olympiad team members
• Updated spotlights for high school theater students
• Professional-grade photography equipment for journalism students and cost-free senior head-shots
• A large-format printer for middle school art students
• Sensory materials for elementary students
• Resources for English Language Learners
• Native American literature for elementary readers
• Hosting top jazz and classical music guest artists
• A hip hop workshop for elementary writers with poet Baba Bomani

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Annual Awards Celebration - May 2024

In May, we celebrated the 40 year anniversary of East Lansing Educational Foundation and recognized our 2024 Award Honorees.

2024 Award Recipients

Distinguished Alumni Award
Polo Reo Tate | ELHS Class Of 1995

Outstanding Alumni Honor Roll
Sonya Gunnings-Moton | ELHS Class of 1978

East Lansing Educational Foundation Award
Will Kopachik

Distinguished Community Service Award (Theda Assiff Award)
Dorinda Carter Andrews

Spartan Village GLOBAL Education Award
Mark Pontoni

Outstanding Philanthropist Award
Robert and Shelagh Miller

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Other Events This Year

We kicked off the 2024 school year by participating in the homecoming parade. In September, we threw a tailgate to welcome new kindergarteners to the district and help cheer on the Varsity football team. We then held an event for ELEF's major donors and business partners to thank them for their support.

$61,519 in 44 grants!

• This year 44 grants were awarded to ELPS teachers and students, totaling $61,519.00 in funds.

 40 year anniversary!

• We celebrated 40 years of the East Lansing Educational foundation. We honored the commitment that brought us here and look ahead with gratitude for what’s to come.

$1.6 million dollar endowment

• Thanks to our generous donors and business partners, ELEF's total endowment reached $1.6 million this year.

637 Sarah Tarpoff Creative Writing Award Entries

• ELEF provides students the opportunity to submit their creative writing pieces to be awarded prizes and recognized for their literary work.

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