This past spring the Calallen Education Foundation awarded our spring grants by video. Basically, we recorded a video of a Board member holding a big check and talking about the winner and what the grant was for. We then emailed the video to the winner as well as their teaching team. The videos were also placed on social media. Each Board member that wanted to participate was able to record at least one video. This also gave our Board members some extra exposure.

In May, when we could not present grant checks in person, we adapted to virtual check presentations via ZOOM or GOOGLE. Our campus principals were very helpful in facilitating this with the grant recipient and tried their best to surprise the recipient. In many cases the entire campus faculty participated in the meeting since we could just jump on their weekly staff meeting. This was the silver lining. We've rarely had the full campus staff as an audience for our in-person check presentations. It was a great opportunity for the campus faculty to be reminded of the support coming from the Education Foundation. We had very few technical issues as well.

Many of our Board Members participated virtually as well. There was a bit of a learning curve for a few but overall, it worked well.

@rlewallyn, I love that idea! We did the same, and I agree that it's a rare opportunity for the entire faculty to share in the celebration.

We also name grants "in honor of" specific donors when they reach a cumulative gift of $5,000, $10,00, etc. and we were able to get these people in on the meeting as well. They were able to say congratulations to the teachers and see the excitement firsthand the same way they did when we went on the Prize Posse in previous years.

Looks like we will be continuing this virtual tradition this coming fall, at least.....