The Lewiston Education Fund recently elected Adam Lee and Darlene Cadorette-Levesque to its board of directors. “Both Adam and Darlene will be such tremendous assets for the Lewiston Education Fund,” said Amie Parker, President of the Fund. “Both have a passion and commitment to quality education.”

Darlene Cadorette-Levesque is returning to the board having served as a member in the past. “I am very pleased to be able to renew my relationship with the Lewiston Education Fund,” said Levesque. She is currently the Director of Human Resource at White Rock Distilleries in Lewiston where she has worked since January 2006. Prior to White Rock Distilleries, Darlene worked for a number of years at Loring Job Corps Center in Limestone, Maine. She has formerly worked in health care, education and most recently in manufacturing. Darlene earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Husson College with high honors and is currently enrolled in their MBA program.

Adam Lee is an attorney at Skelton, Taintor and Abbott. “Education, particularly creativity and innovation in education, are of paramount importance to me,” says Lee. “My mother was an Ed tech and worked with the English as Second Language program in my elementary school in Manchester, New Hampshire and my fiancé, Heidi McCarthy, is an elementary music educator.” Lee graduated with a B.A. in History from the University of Texas in 2002 where he was an All-American member of the Debate team. After college he taught communications and coached the Debate team at the University of Rochester, in New York. Lee attended Vermont Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. He lives in Auburn and is committed to the development of a vibrant, diverse and intellectually and artistically enriched Lewiston and Auburn where he can build a life and family.

Dear Friends,

The Lewiston Education Fund board would like to extend a warm thank you to all of the community members and businesses who supported our 7th Annual SuperBowling Saturday on February 4, 2012.  Income from the event will support grants to support creative and innovative projects in the Lewiston Public Schools.  Additionally, a portion of the proceeds will be used to further fund our endowment.  While we are still awaiting final numbers we estimate the total revenues from this event to exceed $6,000.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our hospitality sponsor, Martin’s Point Healthcare and to our lane sponsors:  Bangor Savings Bank, Carbonite, Central ME Community College, Champoux Financial Services Champoux Insurance, Fish Bones American Grill, Geiger, the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at Bates College, Kaplan University, Lewiston-Auburn Film Festival, Maine Family Federal Credit Union, Procter and Gamble, Skelton Taintor and Abbott, Strainrite and USM-LAC.

And now, for the news  you’ve all been waiting for–the announcement of the winners!  We’re pleased to announce that Team Geiger was the overall winner of the tournament.  Congratulations to Michelle Gravel, Alan Groudle, Amanda Gray, Chris Camp and Beverly MacNeill from Geiger!  Second place was taken by the B Well Bowlers from Bates College and third place went to The Gifted Grants from Grants Bakery.  A complete list of winners is posted on the Lewiston Education Fund website at: www.lewistoneducationfund.org

We’re already excited at the prospect of hosting this event again next year and hope that you will join us in supporting the Lewiston Education Fund at next year’s event and throughout the coming year.

Best wishes,
Amie Parker
President, Lewiston Education Fund

SuperBowling Saturday
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Noon – 5 p.m.
Sparetime Recreation, 24 Mollison Way, Lewiston

It’s about education and building a legacy for the future. SuperBowling Saturday is a great way to make a positive difference in our community. This fundraising event brings hundreds of people together for a day of excitement, fun and laughter.  Registration and Sponsorship information is available on the Lewiston Education Fund homepage.

Nearly 80 people shared a sumptious meal and fun evening at the Lewiston Education Fund’s second harvest reception hosted by Fishbones American Grill.   A special thank you to Paul Landry and his employees for preparing a delicious meal and providing the restaurant for the evening.

Thank you to our sponsors of the event and the many area businesses that donoted items for the silent auction.  The event raised over $10,000 to fund innovation and raise aspirations in Lewiston’s Public Schools.

Androscoggin Savings Bank – Androscoggin Bank Colisee – Bangor Savings Bank – Berube’s Complete Auto Care – Bill Webster, Superintendent – BJ’s Wholesale – Brann & Isaacson – Cassiel’s Salon & Spa – Clyde Bergmann Bachmann Industries, Inc – Chip Morrison – Community Little Theater – David Pease – Day’s Jewelers – DNA Photography – Drapeau’s Costumes of Maine – F.X. Marcotte Furniture – Fishbones American Grill – Franco American Heritage Center – Grant’s Bakery – Hip Fitness – Ingersoll Arena – Italian Bakery – L/A Film Festival – L/A Magazine – Landscape World – Lewiston Adult Education – Lewiston High School Athletics – Lost Valley – LoveLarisa Jewelry Designs – Maine Gourment Chocolates – Maine Music Society – Maine State Music Theatre – Mr. Bernard’s School of Hair Fashion – Pampered Chef, Diane Jordan  – Pampered Chef, Shannon Ordione-Vishe – Portland Dine Around – Provencher’s Landscaping – Red Claws – Red Sox – Roopers – Sabattus Disc Golf – Sam’s Italian Restaurant – Scentsy, Jenny Randall – Spring Meadows Golf Club – Studio Fit – Sun Journal – The Bread Shack – The Green Ladle – The Music Connection – The Public Theatre – The Theater at Monmouth – Triangle Service Center – University of Maine Athletics – Vac Shak – White Rock Distilleries

Tickets are on sale now! 

The Lewiston Education Fund is pleased to invite the community to the 2nd annual Best of L/A Harvest Party to be held on October 25, 2011 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Fishbones American Grill.  Highlighting our best and brightest; the food, products and people we are proud to call our own.

• Reception featuring local foods
• Silent Auction featuring  local products and services
• A tribute to teachers of Lewiston Public Schools

Tickets are $75 per person and available by emailing lef@lewistonpublicschools.org or calling 795-4100
All proceeds to benefit the Lewiston Education Fund.

The Geiger School Garden, funded by the Lewiston Education Fund (LEF), is flourishing in the summer sun.  Geiger Elementary School Teacher, Ms. Carla Gill, recently invited LEF board members to her outdoor classroom garden, located on the Geiger School grounds.  Students have decorated signs with their names to mark their garden plots and vegetables and flowers are growing at an astonishing pace given the abundance of rain and sunshine in the past few weeks.

Work will continue on the garden through the summer and harvest will provide another way for Ms. Gill to incorporate the garden learning into her curriculum.  The Geiger School Garden is the creative child of Ms. Gill, who is a 2011 LEF Grant Recipient. 

The Lewiston Education Fund (LEF) is pleased to announce that it recently awarded $13,750 in grant funds to Lewiston Public School teachers.  Funds support creative and innovative projects that promote student engagement and diversity in learning.

This year’s grants included projects that promote various disciplines, including math, science, language arts, art, ecology, health and nutrition, economics and physical education, among others.  In keeping with the organization’s mission, the LEF selected projects that foster creativity and provide a path to academic excellence.

A signature project from this year’s slate includes a submission from Anita Miles, Geiger Elementary School.  Funds for Anita’s “Gulf of Maine Research Institute-Vital Signs Program” will be used to supply students with cameras and GPS units in order to become part of the Gulf of Maine Research Institutes junior scientists as part of its Vital Signs Program.  Students will take pictures of and plot invasive species of plants and animals.  They will use longitude and latitude, learn how to read maps and plot courses in their environments and write and use scientific investigations.

Amie Parker, LEF President, indicates that “support of such projects is instrumental in providing unique learning opportunities for children.  Engaging students in hands on projects in the sciences promotes real connections to curriculum.”

Funding for the LEF grant programs is provided by individual and corporate donors who are passionate about education and supporting youth in the Lewiston Community.

2010 Lewiston Education Fund grant recipient, Chris Henry, music teacher at Martel Elementary School, hosted an in-school performance on March 29th allowing students, administrators and guests to experience first-hand the music skills gained this year.  LEF board member, Crystal Ward, was in attendance and noted that the students “did a very good job” and “sure were proud of themselves.”  Music has long been used as a medium to instill confidence in young people and it would seem that Mr. Henry has figured out how to tap into the power of music at the elementary level.

The Lewiston Education Fund recently awarded the 3rd grade students and teachers at Montello Elementary School $600 towards the cost of a field trip to the Maine Wildlife Park.  Although standard grants do not provide funds for transportation, the LEF received donations from individuals that were interested in supporting this project and were able to honor the 3rd grade teachers request for assistance.  The trip will occur at the conclusion of the class unit on animal habitats and provides students with hands-on experience in a natural wildlife habitat.  Third grade teacher, Marc Lavoie, is excited about the project and indicates that the teachers can now “begin to schedule, plan and pre-teach in earnest!”

The LEF would like to extend a special thank you to Kevin McHugh and other employees at Bates College who donated funds in support of this project.

Beth Gaudet (left), Executive Director of the LEF and Christine Bosse, Bangor Savings Bank- Lisbon Street, Lewiston

The Lewiston Education Fund was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from Bangor Savings Foundation. Since 2002, the Lewiston Education Fund has allocated up to $20,000 per year toward supplemental “mini-grants” to the Lewiston Public Schools.  Projects are chosen based on level of student impact, potential for independent sustainability, and content. Past grants have promoted cultural awareness, supported reading as lifestyle and encouraged physical fitness and civic participation. The Grant process is designed to create opportunities for teachers to add depth and diversity to their year-round curricula.   For more information about the Lewiston Education Fund or volunteer opportunities, please email Beth Gaudet at lef@lewistonpublicschools.org or contact her at 795-4100 Ext #249.