Tompkins Weekly

IPEI, community, ISCD, Cornell: networking-plus



The Ithaca Public Education Initiative is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to support Ithaca City School District. Photo provided.

The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) grew out of a challenge established in the Ithaca City School District Strategic Plan of 1996, calling for help in finding the extra resources required for the success of all students. IPEI was formed as a not-for-profit corporation and is a recognized, tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, with the following mission and purpose.

IPEI facilitates community connections and support for students and teachers of the Ithaca City School District through engagement, collaboration, gifts and grants.

IPEI believes the education of every student in the Ithaca City School District is enhanced through community connections and support.

IPEI is proud to have a long-time partner in Cornell University, as we work to support innovation in Ithaca’s public school classrooms, alongside facilitating community engagement and creating collaborations. Below are just a few of our recent supportive connections with Cornell.

Students in the new Moral Psychology program volunteered to meet with teachers and students who are the recipients of IPEI funding to learn about the impact of this funding on their experience, as well as invite feedback on how IPEI might make their processes smoother for applicants.

“This monitoring and evaluation work is critical to our growth as a funder in our decision making and our processes,” said Joyce Putnam, IPEI’s vice president and grants committee chair.

Cornell has been an ongoing sponsor of IPEI’s fundraising events, which refill the pool of funds available to ICSD teachers and schools. This year, Cornell is serving as one of the event sponsors for the IPEI downtown Scavenger Hunt (ipei.org/about/scavenger-hunt-2022/) being held April 23 and 24. This is an everyone-friendly event highlighting Ithaca’s history and culture!

Cornell’s master of public health program provided training and financial support for Ithaca’s elementary teachers who wanted to engage their students with learning outdoors. These teachers are able to apply for grants via IPEI to continue their students’ engagement.

Multiple student groups, from sports teams to Alpha Delta Phi, support IPEI with gifts of time, talent and treasure, serving as volunteers for IPEI’s Adult Spelling Bee and donors of the proceeds from Victory Club, a 100-year-old black-tie affair.

Raising funds and maintaining engagement during a pandemic has not been easy. Neither has teaching or keeping schools open and safe. IPEI is proud to support those who are doing the latter by working hard at the former. And we’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing various support from our friends on East Hill.

Steve Manley is executive director of the IPEI, a 501(c)3 non-profit raising funds to support teacher innovation and meet immediate needs while facilitating engagement and collaboration with and for the Ithaca City School District. Learn more at ipei.org. East Hill Notes are published the first and third Wednesdays of each month in Tompkins Weekly.

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