Lafayette Education Foundation promotes and supports excellence in education by developing supportive relationships between the private sector and the Lafayette Parish public school system, providing sector support to launch creative education initiatives, implementing strategies to stimulate optimism and inspiration among educators, parents and students, and encouraging and facilitating lifelong learning initiatives.
LEF History
LEF was conceived in 1988 by Lafayette citizens committed to providing positive energy and funding to the Parish’s public school system. We’ve been a driving force for excellence ever since.
1988 - A group of concerned citizens organized to create a trust fund for quality public education in Lafayette Parish.
1989 - With the support of Lafayette Citizens for Public Education (CPED) and the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Lafayette Education Foundation was chartered as a
501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
1989 - The first Board of Directors was named. Funds were raised for the first mini-grants for teachers and 12 grants were awarded.
1990 - Executive Director employed.
1991 - Endowment fund campaign announced.
1992 - LEF named Friend of Education by the Louisiana Association of Educators.
1994 - Full-time Director employed to manage LEF programs.
1995 - Charter membership campaign implemented.
1996 - The number of dollars awarded in grants tripled.
1998 - Programs Director employed and LEF’s mission expanded to include lifelong learning.
1999 - Premiered the LEF Teacher Awards to honor and recognize special teachers who have made a difference in someone's life.
2001 - Piloted successful lifelong learning projects in local middle schools.
2002 - LEF recognized all Teacher Awards nominees with commemorative pins presented by the Pin Patrol to each teacher at his/her school.
2003 - Awarded $125,000 in grants, 26% more than any other single year. The average total amount awarded over the last 5 years: $73,025.
2004 - First Book Bug Drive, 5000 books collected and donated to public schools.
2005 - Reading Jamboree to be held September 19.
2006 - Implementation of Model Grants sponsored by Chase Bank, and Woman’s Foundation
Community Membership Drive Announced
2007 - LEF Teacher Awards Finalists were notified by the Finalist Pin Patrol at his/her school.
Implementation of Capital One Reading Initiative and Career Connections Expo
FUNDING
LEF’s operating budget is funded by United Way, membership dues, Copy & Camera Golf Tournament, and unrestricted contributions. Initially, LEF’s operating expenses were covered by a grant from the ARCO Foundation.
LEF grant programs are funded with interest from the endowment, grants from partners such as Marathon, Woman’s Foundation, BellSouth, Wilkinson Family Foundation, Chevron Corp., and Beaver Club. Since 1989, LEF has awarded more than $914,589 for 877 classroom projects in the public schools of Lafayette Parish, affecting more than 119,000 students.
Funding for additional school projects has been provided by grants awarded to LEF including the DeWitt Wallace Reader’s Digest Fund grant of $20,000 in 1991, BellSouth Foundation grants of $35,500 in 1992 and $33,000 in 1994, and Community Coffee grant of $10,500 in 1998.