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At McDaniel & Company, PLLC, we are an active part of our supporting our schools. As the beginning of the school year draws near, the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to raise money for its annual education grants are in full swing.

Supporting our Schools

Kernersville Chamber of Commerce gears up for annual education grants.

“The Chamber believes strongly in education,” Kernersville Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Boyer said. “These students are our future workforce and we want them trained as well as possible so they can be strong in the future.”

Originally, the program included four $500 grants that were split so one elementary school, one middle school, one high school and one special education class each received a grant.

Last year though, the chamber bumped up its efforts to increase the number of grants to have one for each of the local schools as well as one for special education.

The 10 area schools include Cash Elementary, Kernersville Elementary, Piney Grove Elementary, Sedge Garden Elementary, Union Cross Elementary, East Forsyth Middle, Kernersville Middle, Southeast Middle, East Forsyth High and Glenn High schools.
“This gives local teachers a way to expand the way they teach,” Boyer said. “The only other way would be to buy the supplies on their own. Most teachers end up investing their own money back into their students, but it is usually not on equipment. This will help something to happen in our classrooms that wouldn’t otherwise.”
Boyer said the Chamber usually receives 40 - 50 applications for the grants.

This year’s applications were sent to the local principals and are also available on the Chamber’s Web site: www.kernersvillenc.com.
On the applications, the teachers must provide the number of children that will be able to participate in the project and a small description of what the project entails.

“At the beginning of the school year teachers have a lot to do so we don’t want them laboring over a long application,” Boyer said. “We just need them to give us enough information so we can decide on a winner.”

The grants are typically used for equipment and resources that enable learning opportunities through projects not funded by the school district.

The Chamber is interested in hands-on lessons that benefit a large number of students from a unique learning experience.
Individuals from education, local business owners as well as former teachers chooses the grant recipients.

The grants are typically presented by a surprise patrol, equipped with balloons and an oversized check, at the end of September.
The surprise patrol includes Education Committee members, the school principal, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Martin and Kernersville’s mayor.
“We try to present the check to each teacher in front of their students,” Boyer said. “That way they can share in the excitement.”
Cathy Musci teaches French and Introduction to World Languages at Kernersville and East Forsyth middle schools. Musci received a grant from the Chamber two years ago to purchase music and multiple intelligence materials for her classroom, including game show buzzers for in-class learning competitions.

“I found that over 60 percent of students can be reached using music and kinesthetic exercises, like movement, noises and activities,” Musci said. “Their memory is enhanced when they can attach learning to something other than writing and worksheets. Kids learn better if you have more current music.”

Musci said the materials she bought with the grant have made a difference in her students.

“When they take tests, I hear them humming the songs,” she said. “I thank the Chamber whole-heartedly. I know my students have benefited from it.”

Throughout the years, Boyer said everyone from local businesses to Sunday school classes and individual community members have contributed to the grant.

Martin said the community support of teachers through projects like the Camber grants are wonderful.

“I think the teachers feel validated when the business community encourages their ideas and shows they care about supporting them,” he said. “I want to thank all the contributors because education for a child takes a whole lot of people. The schools, family, churches and community all play a role and grants like these say education is important and we are here to help make these kids successful.”
Contributions to the grant fund can be made in any amount and may be designated to a particular school, although designation does not increase the support of any school.

Anyone interested in supporting the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Education Grants should contact the Chamber at (336) 993-4521.