My Nonprofit Reviews

In 2023, I was trying to think of an additional PBL for my multilingual learners. After consulting with them as to what they would like to learn, it was decided. We would have a fundraising "club". It wasn't technically a club, it was my planning time converted into an additional ESOL pull out time. The difference from their regular pull out time is that it would be open to third through fifth grade students to learn financial literacy and the technical academic language that accompanies the topic. I engaged parents by having them sign a "permission slip" for their child to be in the club. It was really just a notification of this additional pull-out time and informed parents that it was voluntary and not mandatory.

Nonetheless, we set two goals in this club. We aimed to raise money for a buddy bench and a Little Free Library. At the time, I only knew the Education Foundation because of the Exchangeree and had no idea about the Little Free Library grant. They kids got to work on thinking of ideas for raising funds and presented them to our administration. They really put the work into making smart goals, learning financial vocabulary, and assigning tasks for the 13 students who joined the "club". It was so student-led that I really felt like an advisor. I didn't think it was possible at the elementary level. These kids really speak to the Funds of Knowledge that multilingual learners bring to school. It really blows out the water any stereotypes about so-called Limited English Proficiency. They used translanguaging and created something beautiful.

Then I came across an email about the Read in Color Grant. I got so excited that we could win a Little Free Library. The club had been going for months and although the students were learning a lot, they hadn't raised any money. This was an aspect of the club I hadn't really thought through. So I presented the proposal to the students that we shift to just learning about fundraising and not actually trying to do it. Furthermore I told them, I'd gather a team of staff members and apply for the Read In Color Grant so that we may actually still get a Little Free Library for our community.

Fast Forward our LFL-RIC grant writing team met and worked to apply for the grant. The Education Foundation was so supportive every step of the way. We were beyond excited when we found out we were one of the grant recipients. The students and I celebrated and of course we planned for them to be there for the ribbon cutting in June 2024. I would like to thank the Education Foundation of Baltimore County for all of their continued support. I'd like to thank the 23-24 Woodmoor Fundraising Club for their inspiration. Finally I'd like to thank the Woodmoor LFL-RIC grant writing team. For those reading this thank you and please support this nonprofit. They are really helping schools like Woodmoor Elementary Magnet Community School and subsequently out entire community who now benefit from the Little Free Library we planted.