Classroom Cash Grants
Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union was founded by teachers 70 years ago. The Classroom Cash Grants Program is one of our favorite ways we honor our education heritage and contribute to the communities we serve. Each year, we fund important classroom projects. Over the years, we've funded nearly 1,200 projects totaling close to $670,000 in grant funding.
How it Works
1.
Submit your project. Fill out our online application and tell us about your project that needs a Classroom Cash Grant. Submissions are accepted from September 3 through October 4, 2024, at 5 p.m.
2.
Spread the word. Promote your project through email, social media, and word of mouth when voting begins.
3.
Vote, vote, vote. In mid-October, encourage everyone you know to vote for your project. The applications with the most votes will receive a Classroom Cash Grant!
Previous Winners
Mr. Lewan makes history come alive (metaphorically, of course). He used his Classroom Cash Grant to purchase historical artifacts that transform Social Studies from an abstract concept to a tangible experience. Students held uncleaned Roman coins when learning about archaeology and the spread of the Roman Empire. They tried on reproduction Greek hoplite armor when learning about the Greek phalanx. And they handled remnants of the Berlin Wall along with Soviet military hats when learning about the fall of the Soviet Union.
"Historical artifacts can bring content to life in a way video clips and textbooks can never hope to match." - Mr. Lewan
Ms. Danilowicz brings words to life for her students who are blind and visually impaired. She used her Classroom Cash Grant to create braille story boxes for her students that cannot access words or pictures in books. During early literacy, accessing pictures is important because it encourages engagement with the story. Plus, children use pictures as contextual clues to decipher words as a pre-reading strategy. This lack of accessibility poses an enormous problem when it comes to low vision students. Her braille story boxes help solve the problem by making the book a tangible experience. The boxes include a printed picture book, clear braille labels which correspond to the printed page, and real-life objects relating to the main idea of the story. With the boxes, every reader is able to experience the joy and wonder of books!
"We completed our braille and tactile book boxes from a grant we received from MSGCU. Thank you to those who voted! We can now put these accessible stories into parents', teachers', and students' hands." - Ms. Danilowicz
Mr. Simmons knows that children learn best when they’re comfortable. He used his Classroom Cash Grant to purchase flexible seating options for his 1st grade class. It can be hard for students to sit still for extended periods of time. By giving his students more comfortable seating options, a better learning experience will be had by all.
"This is what our “budget” flexible seating looks like. My goal is to give my students a greater variety of seating options that are more comfortable." - Mr. Simmons
Ms. Faycurry wants her students to feel welcome in their new environment. That's why she used her Classroom Cash Grant to create the English Learners Experiencing American Culture Program for her ESL students. Her students range from kindergarten through 5th grade and are settling into a new country. For her students who have never had an opportunity to experience the American culture, she provides books and field trips to ease the transition.
"Thanks to this grant, I'll be able to give my students their own American cultural experience! I'm grateful to our parents for voting and to MSGCU for supporting teachers." - Ms. Faycurry
