Upcoming and Past WEF Events

The Big Event 2009

Prom for Grown-Ups, Dinner Dance & Raffle
featuring music by First Class, featuring Concetta

March 28, 2009

Raffle Tickets on Sale now at various venues around town are $50 (only 500 will be sold)

Prize: $5,000

Tickets for Prom for Grown-Ups will be on sale soon for $100 per ticket

Click here for Raffle Rules & Regulations

Walk for Education 2008 Huge Success!

Click here for Pictures
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Winners of 2008 Innovative/PDP Summer/Fall Grant Cycle Winners

We tried something different this summer, we opened up the Innovative & Professional Development Grant Cycles through the summer. This allowed anyone that might not have the time during the school year, the time to finally apply for that WEF grant they have been thinking about! Grants were accepted all summer through October 3rd, 2008. Grants were awarded on October 31, 2008. As you can see from the press release below, this was a great success!
Click here for lots of pictures. Login: wef Password: peacock

Westford Education Foundation announces the approval of $22,934 in educational grants to Westford Public School teachers, the largest total amount awarded for a grant cycle in the Foundation’s history as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.  Another first for WEF is the fact that every school in Westford was represented and received funds in the Fall 2008 Innovative and Professional Development round.  “We are thrilled that so many applicants took advantage of this opportunity,” said Tom Peacock, WEF President, “It’s rewarding to see our fundraising efforts put to good use.”  The following grants were awarded:

Wired Teachers/Wired Students - Stephanie Gosselin   $7,392

Ron Clark Academy,  National Educators Conference - Jessica Huizenga, Liz Benstead  $5,445

Performing Arts Sound Package - Ken Culver  $3,220

It’s A Snap! - Megan Walsh, Andrea Gardner, Cara Parker  $2,800

Bodyology 3D - Heidi Tierney, Elementary PTO  $1,445

Day School Book Club - Brenda Tobin, Barbara Cope  $900

Photo Journal of Teacher’s Deployment to Afghanistan - Erik Ruhmann  $650

Responsive Classroom - Kevin Regan  $500

Spectrophotometer - Bill Bowen  $482

Project Picnic Table - Dianna Fulreader   $100

WEF raises money to fund innovative and professional development programs in Westford.  “We thank our Corporate Sponsors – Dana Wallboard, Parigi/PUMA Kids and Peacock Photography – as well as our generous Westford community for their continued support of our teacher’s innovative ideas”, said Kathy Fahey, Grant Committee Chair and corporate officer.  Events like this fall’s Walk for Education and The Big Event, coming March 28th, 2009, enable the nonprofit organization to continue awarding grants each year.  

Spring PDP 2008 Grants Awarded

Westford Education Foundation would like to thank its Corporate Sponsors – Dana Wallboard, Parigi/PUMA Kids, Peacock Photography, Family Eye Care Center and Reichheld Ting Orthodontics – and other generous donors who have contributed this fiscal year, enabling us to add an additional Grant Cycle. The winners of the Spring PDP Grants are:

Tracy Lewis
Crisafulli School
July Institute on the Teaching of Writing at Columbia University, NY

Amy Poland
Crisafulli School
August Institute on the Teaching of Writing at Columbia University, NY

The Big Event 2008
Under the Tuscan Moon Dinner/Dance and Raffle

On April 5th, 2008 the Westford Education Foundation transformed the First Parish Church into an elegant ballroom. Guests were treated to gourmet cuisine prepared by Off the Vine Catering, under the direction of Food Connoisseur and Executive Chef Tom Peacock. Following dinner there was an evening of dancing to the musical stylings of First Class featuring Concetta.

Click here to view and purchase portraits from Under the Tuscan Moon

Additional photos of Under the Tuscan Moon and the Making of Under the Tuscan Moon

If you would like to order any of the above pictures, please contact Peacock Photography at 978-392-0402 or btpeacock@aol.com

Raffle Winners

Congratulation to Kim & Dave Fantini of Westford
Grand Prize Winner of the Trip for Two to Tuscany

2nd Prize - Home Entertainment System won by Chris & Terri Hughes of Westford

3rd Prize - $1,000 cash was won by Dr. Frank Brand of Boca Raton, Florida

Thank You to all that made The Big Event - Under the Tuscan Moon a huge success!

Innovative & Professional Development Grants Awarded

Westford Education Foundation would like to thank its Corporate Sponsors – Dana Wallboard, Parigi/PUMA Kids, Peacock Photography, Family Eye Care Center and Reichheld Ting Orthodontics – and other generous donors who have contributed this fiscal year. It is because of their big-hearted donations that WEF was able to add a third grant cycle in February. We had a wonderful response – in fact, we awarded our largest grant in WEF's five year history as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. We're thrilled that so many applicants took adv antage of this opportunity. The following grants were awarded in the categories of Innovative Education, Professional Development, and Other Grants:

2008 CEC Convention & Expo Paulette Joyce & Jennifer Bonenfant $ 654

Living Lab: Weather or Not Carol Shestok, Science Coordinator $ 1,355

Ronan McElligott Memorial Playground Stephanie McElligott, Chair $ 1,500

SMART Masters Training Andrea Gardner $ 1,800

Friends of Westford Academy Theater Arts, Susan Higgins, Chair $ 10,000
Theater Technology: Sound and Light

We are hopeful that the Spring 2008 professional development grants will have a similar response. The money raised at the Under The Tuscan Moon Dinner Dance and Big Event Raffle on April 5 th will certainly enhance our capacity to fund more grants in the coming year!

Congratulations to all the Grant Recipients!

The BIG Event Raffle 2009
Rules and Regulations
In accordance with Massachusetts Attorney General Regulation 940 CMR 12.00, WEF discloses the following information:

1. Prize description:
   • First Prize First Prize –
2. Prize will be available for inspection the evening of March 28th, 2009 at the Prom for Grown-Ups Dinner Dance, First Parish Church, Westford, MA.
3. Minimum number of tickets to be sold is 100. In the event the minimum is not met, all monies will be refunded to ticket purchasers.
4. Maximum number of tickets to be sold is 500.
5. The value of the prizes will be treated as ordinary income to the winners for federal and state income tax purposes. The Internal Revenue Service takes the position that no portion of the ticket price will qualify as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes.
6. The drawing date for the raffle is March 28, 2009.
7. Estimated percentage of net proceeds from ticket sales to be used for charitable purposes is 90%.
8. Net proceeds from The BIG Event Raffle help to fund innovative education and professional development grants for all Westford Public Schools as well as Nashoba Valley Technical High School.