A Champion for Education: How CFHV Grants Empower Teachers and Transform Students’ Lives

Orville Todd Middle School science teacher Elyse Joy vividly remembers receiving a grant as a new teacher in the late 1990s. With just four microscopes for her classes of 28 students, she was eager to expand the lab equipment in her classroom. That first grant allowed her to purchase eight additional microscopes, and remarkably, she still uses them in her classroom today.

This initial grant was just the beginning. Joy has since received numerous grants from the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV), which have significantly enriched her teaching environment. Today, she estimates that 50 percent of the equipment in her classroom was funded through CFHV grants. From fish tanks where her classes raise trout to a fully operational greenhouse, a speaker system that projects lessons to the back of the room, and a nature trail on school property, the impact of CFHV’s support is profound and far-reaching.

Joy’s creativity in utilizing grant funds extends beyond traditional classroom resources. She established a Sign Language Club at the school with books and CDs acquired through a CFHV grant, fostering communication among all students. Another grant enabled her to purchase Rubik’s Cubes for students facing behavioral challenges during detention. Joy discovered that these iconic puzzles helped the students develop problem-solving skills while boosting their confidence.

For many of her students from families that can’t afford vacations, field trips provide invaluable opportunities to explore the world beyond their immediate surroundings. Over the past two decades, thanks to CFHV grants, Joy’s students have sailed the Hudson River on the Sloop Clearwater and gone fishing in Esopus Creek. An estimated 135 students have participated in these enriching experiences, many of whom would not have ventured into nature otherwise.

CFHV’s Fund for Excellence in Education has empowered Joy to extend her students’ learning into the community, enhancing the quality of life for residents of all ages. Initiatives like yoga classes and a community garden at Vassar College have made a tangible impact. Joy partnered with Taconic Resources for Independence to offer yoga sessions accessible to the deaf community, ensuring inclusivity. The garden, cultivated by students during the school year, was tended by 11 families over the summer, allowing them to enjoy fresh produce and fostering community bonds.

In recent years, CFHV grant funding fully supported a multi-school Esports competition for Spackenkill Union Free School District students. This initiative has been a game-changer for many students who don’t participate in traditional sports or academic clubs. Esports competitions provide students with a sense of belonging and help them develop emotional regulation and teamwork skills.

When a donation is made to support CFHV, it creates a ripple effect of positive change. It fosters connections, bridges gaps, and funds projects that improve lives today while paving the way for a brighter tomorrow. Elyse Joy’s journey illustrates how CFHV grants empower educators to go the extra mile for their students, making a lasting impact in the community.