Fir Grove Elementary students will once again experience the joy of music thanks to a series of upcoming musical instrument distribution events. This amazing collaborative effort to bring a musical instrument to every student was made possible through a team of proactive parents and educators combined with critical support from BEF.
Earlier this year Fir Grove’s Music Teacher, Jennifer Mohr Colett, set her sights on purchasing instruments for all of her 350+ students to continue music education during distance learning. The recorders, xylophones, and kazoos cost $5,000, far exceeding the school’s music budget. Fir Grove’s Parent Teacher Organization was able to commit an additional $1,000, but that still left the music department short of the funds they needed.
That is when they turned to BEF. The initiative was a perfect fit for the organization’s crowd funding website, Beaverton’s Choice. Colett and BEF worked to pull the pieces together and in short time launched A Musical Instrument for Every Student. Thanks to a BEF matching grant and individual contributions, the campaign quickly funded.
Over the years, the music room at Fir Grove has been a source of joy and motivation for students, but with the COVID-19 pandemic the students had been cut off for months from one of their favorite things about school, playing instruments.
When Fir Grove students learned they were receiving instruments to use at home, they were ecstatic. One exclaimed, “Wait, you mean we get an instrument even if we didn’t pay money?”
As a Title I school, Fir Grove serves a population of students who navigate tough circumstances every day. More than 50% of Fir Grove’s students live below the federal poverty line, this includes students in foster care, students experiencing homelessness, students identified for special education, and students who are English language learners.
“Children thrive when learning is playful and hands-on,” explained Colett. “I am overjoyed that we can give the gift of music during distance learning to this group of very deserving children. This could not have happened without our partnership with BEF.”
BEF gives teachers, parent teacher organizations and student support groups the ability to say “Yes!” to big projects, providing students in all of Beaverton’s public schools with the timely and meaningful resources necessary to thrive.
With more than three decades of experience supporting Beaverton’s schools, BEF is expertly positioned to leverage contributions from local partners and generous community supporters. These critical relationships and resources are cultivated for the sole purpose to support Beaverton’s teachers and provide access to greater resources – resulting in a larger impact and quick implementation. Additionally, BEF-supported projects posted to our Beaverton’s Choice crowd funding site are funded quickly, without fees and often garner dollar-for-dollar matches.
“This is one of the many projects BEF has helped happen,” said BEF Executive Director, Kristine Baggett. “BEF is continually seeking new and creative ways to engage and share our work with the community to better serve all of Beaverton’s public schools.”
