A new year has begun, and we have not yet left these worrisome economic times behind.  As we struggle to find ways to fund our schools and municipal services, we at CEEF would like to update our supporters about important achievements from the last year:

• In what most of us would agree was a year of bleak economic outlook, CEEF successfully raised approximately $120,000 through our annual campaign and events;
• The response to our “targeted giving” has been positive; we received several hundred dollars earmarked for certain categories of grants, as well as a $10,000 matching grant for outdoor programs that will go toward the 6^th grade week-long Chewonki experience over the next three years;
• Our board believes that our mission remains our guiding force; though pressures exist to fund budgeted programs in jeopardy, we will continue to focus our grant-making on innovative programs, initiatives and professional development that will be an injection of energy in these hard times and an investment in our schools’ future;
• As a board we have concluded that information about the state of education and our role in it is important, but we do not wish to risk alienating community members with perceived political advocacy; our plans for 2010 include a revamped regular e-publication to inform the community on issues relating to Cape schools, education in Maine, and in the nation;
• We have a volunteer actively working on grant-writing for CEEF in partnership with the school district; while in its early stages, we believe that this arm of CEEF’s potential grant making will be an important piece of the whole funding puzzle in years to come;
• We funded over $70,000 in grants to the schools this year, bringing the foundation’s total to over $759,000 awarded since 2002. 

We thank all of our donors for continuing to entrust CEEF with your contribution, and we will work hard in 2010 to keep your trust and put your donation to great use within Cape schools.  The programs that CEEF funds today will help retain our excellent teachers, help motivate our children to achieve more, and fortify our schools, made strong through our community’s commitment to education.

On another note – the Cape Elizabeth High School Alumni Directory was recently published and distributed to those who purchased it.  The publishers of the directory, Harris Connect, erroneously stated that CEEF provided the information found within.  CEEF does not share its donor information with anyone or any entity, and as such did not provide Harris Connect with any information of any kind.  The Cape Elizabeth School District provided Harris Connect with its alumni listings, and Harris used those listings to complete its research for the directory.

Harris Connect will send a letter to each recipient of the CE directory to explain the error in their claim and a disclaimer will accompany any future sales of the directory.