New Brunswick Education Foundation Inc

THE NEW BRUNSWICK EDUCATION FOUNDATION (NBEF) IS A NONPROFIT 501 (C) (3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP INSPIRE, EQUIP, AND EMPOWER NEW BRUNSWICK PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SUCCEED. NBEF PARTNERS WITH INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE AND CUTTING-EDGE INITIATIVES FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE GENERALLY NOT COVERED BY THE SCHOOL BUDGET. A KEY OBJECTIVE OF THE NEW BRUNSWICK EDUCATION FOUNDATION (NBEF)IS TO HELP THE NEW BRUNSWICK PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ENHANCE ITS PROGRAMS IN TECHNOLOGY, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER NON-CORE CURRICULUM AREAS THAT INSPIRE, EQUIP, AND EMPOWER STUDENTS TO EXCEL IN EDUCATION AND IN LIFE.

STEM / ROBOTICS PROGRAM SINCE 2011, THE ORGANIZATION HAS HAD A ROBOTICS INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO INSPIRE NEW BRUNSWICK PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BETTER CONNECT WITH MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RELATED DISCIPLINES AS WELL AS IGNITE THEIR ASPIRATIONS TO PURSUE CAREERS AS SCIENTISTS, INVENTORS, ENGINEERS AND EVEN STEM RELATED EDUCATORS. THIS STEM PROJECT HAS PROVIDED 6TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON AND INQUIRY BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ENTAILS DESIGNING, BUILDING AND PROGRAMMING ROBOTICS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ENTERED THE NEW BRUNSWICK MIDDLE SCHOOL ROBTICS TEAM IN FIRST LEGO LEAGUE(FLL)COMPETITIONS THE PAST THREE YEARS RESULTING IN HIGH ACHIEVEMENTS AND RECOGNITION. INNOVATIVE TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM SINCE 2008, NBEF HAS PROVIDED OVER 100,000 FOR NEW BRUNSWICK PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS TO IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES IN CLASSROOMS AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THIS SPECIAL COLLABORATION HAS INVOLVED MORE THAN 50 EDUCATORS AND HAS IMPACTED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS RANGING FROM PRE- KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 IN AREAS SUCH AS READING & LITERACY, PERFORMING ARTS, STEM, ETC. THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH TEACHERS SUBMITTING GRANT PROPOSALS THAT OFFER NOVEL CONCEPTS AND STRATEGIES WHICH RESULT IN DYNAMIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 100 ENRICHMENT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED (BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOMS)THROUGH THE NBEF TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

THE ORGANIZATION AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING ALMOST 80K TO COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS FROM NEW BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL AND NEW BRUNSWICK HEALTH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL DURING THE YEAR ENDED 12/31/23. NBEF HAS AWARDED AND ADMINISTERED SCHOLARSHIPS OF 951,050 IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE 2007. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE ASSISTED RECIPIENTS TO ATTEND INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, SETON HALL UNIVERSITY, ETC. MANY OF THESE STUDENTS HAVE FURTHERED THEIR EDUCATION AND HAVE MATRICULATED IN GRADUATE & DOCTORAL PROGRAMS.

THE NBEF COLLEGE NETWORK COMPONENT OFFERS PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEW BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL AND NEW BRUNSWICK HEALTH SCIENCES TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI WHO ARE ATTENDING COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND VOCATIONAL TRADE INSTITUTIONS. THIS SPECIAL INITIATIVE PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH CAREER DEVELOPMENT COACHING, RESUME WRITING ASSISTANCE, AND INTERVIEW TRAINING. IN ADDITION, THE COLLEGE NETWORK FACILITATES TWO SPECIAL GATHERINGS PER YEAR (DURING STUDENTS SCHOOL WINTER/SUMMER BREAKS), WHICH INCLUDES WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, EMENTORING AND NETWORKING EVENTS. THE COLLEGE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONAL NETWORK ENABLES NBEF TO STAY CONNECTED WITH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. THIS PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2011 WITH 11 STUDENTS AND HAS GROWN TO OVER 700 PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,COLLEGE/GRAD SCHOOL STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. NBEF'S COLLEGE NETWORK PROGRAM PROVIDES ANOTHER TOOL TO HELP NEW GRADUATES ADOPT THE MINDSET, METHODS AND HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGIES TO DETERMINE THEIR CAREER DIRECTION AND SUCCESS. THE COLLEGE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONAL NETWORK COMPONENT ENABLES THE ORGANIZATION TO STAY CONNECTED WITH NBEF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND TRACK THEIR PROGRESS (ALONG WITH NUMEROUS OTHER NBHS AND NBHSTHS GRADUATES PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION), WHILE PROVIDING THEM WITH PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO EQUIP THEM TO COMPETE IN OUR GLOBAL SOCIETY. NBEF LAUNCHED THEIR FIRST PREP FOR SUCCESS VIRTUAL PLATFORM IN JANUARY 2021. IT WAS A MAJOR CONFERENCE STYLE PLATFORM WITH OVER 300 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS PARTICIPATING. THE PLATFORM SHOWCASED DYNAMIC WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, FIRESIDE CHATS AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR ANNUAL ACTIVITIES SUMMER ENRICHMENT AND HOLIDAY "PREP FOR SUCCESS" EVENTS. THESE CONFERENCE STYLE GATHERINGS HELD IN AUGUST AND LATE DECEMBER INCLUDE NETWORKING ACTIVITIES, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS, AND WORKSHOPS COVERING KEY AREAS SUCH AS CAREER EXPLORATION, RESUME AND COVER LETTER WRITING, TIME/STRESS MANAGEMENT, MOCK INTERVIEW SKILLS, ELEVATOR PITCH, DRESS FOR SUCCESS AND DINING ETIQUETTE TIPS, COLLEGE/WORKPLACE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, ETC. ATTENDANCE HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED IN RECENT YEARS, NOW ATTRACTING OVER 100 NEW BRUNSWICK YOUTH AT EACH EVENT. NBEF ALSO ADMINISTERS A MENTAL HEALTH PLATFORM WITH EMPOWERMENT SPEAKERS AND RESOURCES; CAREER CLUSTER WORKSHOPS IN STEM, BUSINESS/COMMUNICATIONS, NURSING AND SOCIAL WORK/PSYCHOLOGY; A PUBLIC SPEAKERS INSTITUTE; AND A PATHWAYS TO LAW SCHOOL SEMINAR.