Fall marks the beginning of school for many students. It’s also an exciting time for Community Focus and its Cash for Class program, which supports Downriver teachers.

The Cash for Class program is central to supporting Community Focus’s mission of building stronger communities. It was established in 2014 to provide local Downriver teachers with opportunities to secure funding for special projects, classroom resources and equipment. Over the years, Community Focus has sponsored 21 projects in 18 schools, impacting over 3,522 students in nine different school districts Downriver.

Teachers have a lot of flexibility in determining how to use the grant. Cash for Class applications range from requests to fund whiteboards, art supplies and books to STEM projects and sensory room equipment. The need for additional funding comes primarily from K-5 and special education and spans the entire curriculum.

While most of the grant-funded proposals are implemented inside the classroom, some projects benefit the community. For example, Madison Center in Wyandotte used the Cash for Class grant to create an authentic work experience for adult students with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. With the grant funding they were able to purchase a concession cart to sell snacks and other goodies at their high school’s baseball games.

It was very rewarding to see the students engage in a real-life, age-appropriate experience that enriched their vocational, social and communication skills.

Community Focus will open the next Cash for Class application window from October 1 through October 18. All applications will be reviewed by the Community Focus internal committee and the selections will be made by October 25. Three Cash for Class recipients will each be awarded a $500 grant.

For more information on the Cash for Class grant please visit www.communityfocusfcu.org/cashforclass or contact Community Focus at (734) 281-3900.