PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Teachers receive ...

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Teachers receive $43,000 in Classroom Cash Awards

From Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union

Clinton Township, MI ¨C Oct. 28, 2014: Thanks to more than $40,000 in special grants from Michigan Schools

and Government Credit Union (MSGCU), teachers across Metro Detroit will be now be able to implement

innovative projects and learning experiences in their classrooms.

The credit union¡¯s annual Classroom Cash Grant program awards up to $750 to educators seeking extra

funding for their learning plans. In honor of MSGCU¡¯s upcoming 60th anniversary, 60 projects were awarded

grants of up to $750 each.

¡°MSGCU serves educators, and we strongly believe in the power of education. We are continually amazed by

how much energy, creativity and passion teachers bring to their students,¡± said President and CEO Peter

Gates.

¡°With cuts in classroom funding, it becomes difficult for teachers to provide out-of-the-box learning

experiences for students. That¡¯s why it is our honor to assist these devoted teachers in reaching their

educational goals. We enjoy reading their stories and are thrilled to help them enrich their students¡¯ lives.¡±

More than 124,000 votes were received from supporters¨C including students, parents, colleagues, friends and

family, who were able to cast votes online during a 15-day voting period (Oct. 7-21) for the proposals.

MSGCU¡¯s Classroom Cash Grant Program was open to all teachers in the eight-county region served by

MSGCU: Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

Educators in public, private, parochial and charter schools were eligible

For more information about the Classroom Cash Grant program and the winning grant recipients, visit

.

About Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union:

Named one of the Top Workplaces in Michigan by the Detroit Free Press in 2014 and 2013, Michigan Schools

and Government Credit Union has been providing quality financial services to its members for almost 60 years.

With 11 offices located throughout Macomb and Oakland counties, MSGCU has more than 95,000 members,

$1.5 billion in assets and 270 employees. For more than 20 years, the Credit Union has earned five stars, the

highest possible rating, as reported by BauerFinancial. In addition, MSGCU has earned high member satisfaction

ratings, scoring 97% or higher for more than 10 years.

Founded by a small group of teachers, principals, and other school employees in 1954, MSGCU offers a full

range of loan, savings and checking products and financial services for consumers and businesses. For more

information, visit or call 586.263.8800 or 1.866.MSGCU4U.

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Attachment: Classroom Cash Winners and Project Highlights

Do Not Print: For more information about the Classroom Cash Grant program, please contact Samantha Franz,

Marketing Specialist, at 586.263.8800, ext. 463.

Teachers receive $43,000 in Classroom Cash Awards

From Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union

Winning Project Proposals Included:

Preschool Musical Garden

¡°Music is an integral part of early childhood. Children can feel excited, competent, silly and comforted

while listening and playing music. What better way for children to experience music on a large scale

than to create an outdoor musical venue - a Musical Garden! The garden has been cleared and prepped,

flowers planted, and it is now our goal to furnish it with different genres of instruments.

Our preschool musical garden will allow our special needs students, many of whom have autism or

speech and language delays to be able to communicate through the international language of music!

Our grant money would purchase a large steel Whale Drum to be permanently installed in the garden.

With limited budget funds, the possibility of being able to buy these types of group instruments lies

within donations and grant monies from our generous foundations and organizations.¡±

--Barbara Ball, Nile Early Education Center, Troy Public Schools

The Charger Laundry Depot Employability Skills Program

¡°The Charger Laundry Depot is an employability skills and self-determination program which gives

students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other disabilities opportunities to increase/enhance

their employment soft skills, as well as learn how to operate a cash register, receive goods to be

serviced, process customer orders, follow cleaning instructions, electronically maintain paperwork, as

well as interact with non-disabled peers and other members of the school community and beyond.

These skills will give students business related experiences and open up the pathway of thinking of how

to pilot their own business and/or make informed decisions on a future career. Skills obtained will give

students the ability to carry out real life job related responsibilities, interact with community, practice

socially appropriate work habits, and enhance work ethics which will ultimately prepare them for the

'world of work.'¡±

--Levqual Robinson, Southfield-Lathrup High School

Creating Lifelong Readers

¡°My classroom library is the most important tool I have in helping my students become lifelong readers.

It is only one month into the school year, and I am already starting to run low on high interest reading

materials for my students, so we need more books! The resources I would purchase with this grant

would provide my students with more choice in their reading and help to create lifelong readers.

Studies show that reading widely not only improves students' literacy skills but also improves their lives.

Readers are more empathetic to the experiences and challenges faced by others. Turning a non-reader

into a voracious reader is one of the most significant and rewarding things I do as an educator but in

order to do this, I need be able to put books into the hands of my students.¡±

--Julie Martinez, Lamphere High School

For a complete listing of winning projects and stories, visit .

2014 Classroom Cash Grants, in alphabetical order by school district. The number specifies the amount

of grants each district received.

?

Anchor Bay School District (3)

Ryan Zerkel & Anne Harms, Anchor Bay High School

Lisa Bartnik, Naldrett Elementary School

?

Archdiocese of Detroit (1)

Andrea Lenz, St. Anne Catholic Grade School (Warren)

?

Blue Water Catholic Schools (1)

Kelly Loria, Cardinal Mooney Catholic (Marine City)

?

Chippewa Valley Schools (3):

Jessica Thoel, Wyandot Middle School

Brian Hadfield, Seneca Middle School

Sheila Majask, Dakota High School

?

Clawson Public Schools (1)

Debbie Smith, Paul A. Schalm Elementary School

?

Huron Academy (3)

Michelle Ager, Jennifer Casbar & Carol Schrage

?

International Academy East (1)

Peter Majask

?

L'Anse Creuse Public Schools (1)

Kellie Reimer, Lobbestael Elementary School

?

Lakeview Public Schools (5):

Michelle Rossi & Julie McHugh, Ardmore Elementary School

Jennifer Ferri, Wheat Early Childhood Center

Julie Demers, Harmon Elementary School

Katherine Greig, Princeton Elementary School

?

Lamphere Public Schools (2)

Lisa Haubert, Lessenger Elementary School

Julie Martinez, Lamphere High School

?

Lutheran High School Association (1)

Deborah Teaney, Lutheran High School North (Macomb Twp.)

?

Madison District Public Schools (3)

Beth Pollatz, Edison Elementary School

Stephanie Smith, Madison Early Childhood Center

Danielle Sulfridge, Madison Elementary School

?

Macomb Intermediate School District (1)

Marina Garcia, Bozymowski Elementary School

?

New Haven Community Schools (1)

Jill Majewski, New Haven Elementary School

?

Rochester Community Schools (1)

Elisabeth Newman, Van Hoosen Middle School

?

Romeo Community Schools (1)

Holly Loose, Indian Hills Elementary School

?

Roseville Community Schools (3)

Tracy Wilson & Cheryl Robisch, Kaiser Elementary School

Amy Bourgeois, Roseville High School

?

Southfield Public Schools (5)

Hank Lewandowski, Glen W. Levey Middle School

Denise Bush, Thompson K-8 International Academy

Torrie Mass, University High School Academy

Lisa Winston, Vandenberg World Cultures Academy

Levqual Robinson, Southfield-Lathrup High School

?

Troy Public Schools (5)

Kitty Schmidt, Baker Middle School

Tonia Romancheck, Hamilton Elementary School

Barbara Ball & Elizabeth Beuville, Niles Early Education Center

Jason Fawcett, Larson Middle School

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