Archive: Around Town

At the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) Board’s annual meeting on September 10, President Terry Byrnes announced, “Thanks to the continued generosity of the community, IPEI will be able to provide over $300,000 during the 2012-13 school year in support of our students and teachers including $100,000 in grants awarded in a competitive process through its four grant programs.”

IPEI’s budget also includes funds for Kids Discover the Trail!; for use by its affiliates (Fine Arts Booster Group and Code Red Robotics Team); and for other IPEI-managed awards and grants.

In other business, Byrnes was re-elected as IPEI’s president, and Jennifer Engel was re-elected as vice president. Deborah O’Connor will serve as treasurer, and Fran Kozen as secretary. Byrnes, Engel and Kevin Brew were re-elected for board terms; they are joined by three new board members: Christopher Kim, Denise Gomber and Karen Yearwood. IPEI also welcomed new Fine Arts Booster Group liaisons: Janine Eng and Alice Wu. IPEI welcomes interested community members as volunteers and committee members, too.

IPEI board members were updated on The IPEI Campaign: Our Children * Our Schools * Our Future.  This special capital campaign is closing in on its $600,000 goal due to the participation of almost 200 individuals and organizations.  According to IPEI Development Committee chair Mary Grainger, “All community members are encouraged to help us reach the campaign goal.  We hope to complete this fundraising effort by late September and have great news to share soon.”

"Besides increasing the number and size of grants that IPEI can award, a successful campaign will allow IPEI to move from being an all-volunteer group and to build an endowment to ensure that it can continue to support the schools for years to come," said Grainger.

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