The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina has awarded a pair of grants to Polk County schools from the Learning Links grant program.

The grants provide local teachers with funding for activities designed to make required coursework engaging and relevant for their students.

Two Learning Links grants, totaling $1,213, were made to classrooms in Polk County Middle School and Sunny View Elementary School. Funds will support a yoga program and a gardening project.

“Since the Learning Links grant program awarded its first grants in 1995, the need to support teachers and students has increased as public funds for education continue to decline,” said CFWNC President Elizabeth Brazas.  “We are grateful to the generous people who created the endowments, and donors who add additional funds, that together provide field trips, hands-on experiments, STEM projects and more that support the work of teachers and benefit students across western North Carolina.”

Learning Links offers grants up to $800 per teacher to public school teachers in Avery, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and Swain counties to provide experiential learning projects for students. The goal is to increase students’ enthusiasm for learning and school.

The grants are made possible by the Ben W. and Dixie Glenn Farthing Charitable Fund, the Cherokee County Schools Endowment Fund and the Dr. Robert J. and Kimberly S. Reynolds Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

This year, 70 grants were awarded, totaling $95,736.

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina inspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to enrich lives and communities in 18 counties in western North Carolina, representatives said. Last year, the foundation facilitated $18 million in charitable giving.

Those interested in learning more may contact The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina at 828-254-4960 or may visit cfwnc.org.

– Submitted article