The Lake Forest Community Education Foundation honored the town of Felton with its 2024 Spartan Hero Award and announced awards totaling $15,428.44 to 21 classroom and school projects at the board's Jan. 23 meeting.

Mary Voshel and Donna Sharp of the foundation presented the award and grant summaries. "The town of Felton is receiving this award for its consistent and enduring dedication and service to high quality public education for Lake Forest students," a foundation representative read when presenting the Spartan Hero citation.

The presentation highlighted the foundation's Gobble Wobble 5K, now in its eighth year, as the primary fundraiser. Foundation staff said the event had 407 registrations, approximately 375 attendees and about 175 participating students, with net grant proceeds of a little more than $9,000 after expenses. The foundation reported generating more than $17,000 in gross income and noted increased sponsorship revenue from new sponsors.

Grant recipients ranged from early-literacy supports and phonics materials to science tanks and field-trip transportation. Examples the foundation read into the record included a $979.33 grant for "Advancing Phonics Word Work Materials" at Lake Forest Central Elementary, a $1,000 grant to support bus transportation for a high school French trip to France, and a $962.19 grant to fund an after-school LEGO club at Lake Forest North Elementary.

Donna Sharp summarized the awards: "We are putting these proceeds and the district's endowment all towards the work. We are not holding back, and we're proud to come together tonight to present $15,428.44 among the 21 grants." The grants also included smaller awards for counseling programs, classroom interventions, reading programs in Spanish and funding for inclusive student experiences.

Why it matters: The foundation's grants pay for one-time materials, trips and pilot projects that the district said will support students across grade levels, with several projects explicitly targeted at struggling readers, multilingual learners and students needing social-emotional supports.

Board members thanked the foundation for the work. Superintendent Dr. Owens and board members noted the partnership's role in the district's broader community engagement efforts.

No formal board action was required for the presentations; the board accepted the report and recognized foundation volunteers on the record.

Ending: Foundation leaders urged teachers and school leaders to claim awarded funds through the district's administrative process and thanked volunteers and sponsors for supporting the Gobble Wobble event.