The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin is seeking applications from K-12 teachers throughout Marathon County for innovative projects to be implemented in classrooms in the 2007-08 school year. The Foundation will again award grants from its WausauMarathon County Fund up to $2,500 each through the Beyond Crayons and Beyond Pencils grant program.

     The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin is seeking applications from K-12 teachers throughout Marathon County for innovative projects to be implemented in classrooms in the 2007-08 school year. The Foundation will again award grants from its Wausauxc3x97Marathon County Fund up to $2,500 each through the Beyond Crayons and Beyond Pencils grant program.

     Meeting the educational needs of our community is an important element of the Community Foundation's mission. "Beyond Pencils and Crayons grants provide financial support for teachers with innovative ideas for projects that will enhance their classrooms through a streamlined method of applying for funding," states Beverly Abbott, Foundation board member and chair of the Pencils and Crayons Grant Selection Committee.

     Since the program was initiated in 1997, nearly $263,500 has been distributed in Beyond Pencils and Beyond Crayons grants from the Foundation's Wausau·Marathon County Fund. In the past ten years, teams of educators and individual teachers have implemented 230 different projects benefiting thousands of area students.

     Application materials are available through the Community Foundation office at 845.9555 or can be downloaded from the Foundation's website at www.cfoncw.org. Completed applications must be received in the Community Foundation office by October 19, 2007. A volunteer committee of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin will review the applications in this competitive process and make recommendations to the Community Foundation's Board of Directors to fund projects that address a specific educational need, and demonstrate creativity, positive impact, cost-effectiveness, and a sense of community.