WJBC Forum: Beyond the Books

Fourth-grade students read books in the elementary school library. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Recently we have been privy to a deluge of negative stories in the media that tell the sad story of non-profits that have gone awry.

Organizations that have worked tirelessly for years to gain the trust of constituents and their dollars, and then sadly in the blink of an eye, lose it. This is a textbook example of what happens when leadership loses sight of its mission, and instead imposes personal agendas.

Today, in lieu of telling sad stories of failed strategies and pointing to organizations that have clearly lost their way, I am giving you some good news- a success story of sorts, and a well deserved pat on the back.

Today I’ll tell the story about an organization who, for 20 years, has kept an eye on its mission, and operates each and every day with a regard to its vision… The Beyond the Books Educational Foundation.

Beyond the books educational foundation’s mission is to fund innovative enrichment programs for the students of McLean County Unit 5 and Bloomington District 87 public schools. Since 1992, the Foundation has funded 542 grants totaling $366,566.

Grant topics run the gamut, from supplies for unique art programs to Podcast and GPS technology to training for disability awareness in the classroom. The Foundation offer three types of grants- mini, standard, and the mega $10,000 Beyond the Box grant.

This year, Beyond the Books Educational Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary. And for these 20 years, the foundation has been has been managed by an all volunteer board with backgrounds as varied as the grant requests they receive.

Grants are funded through an endowment and educator contributions. Each year the Foundation works hard to generate even more dollars for the endowment, looking to individuals, businesses and organizations who share a passion for education, innovation, and the hopes for a well-prepared 21st century workforce.

The Beyond the Books Educational Foundation will mark its 20th anniversary throughout the year, culminating in a celebration event in November. To learn more, visit their website at www.BeyondtheBooksBN.org.

And by the way, grant applications are currently being accepted for the 2012-13 school year. If you know an educator who could benefit from extra dollars in their classroom, please tell them about this exciting opportunity.

This is Heather Young, for the WJBC Forum.

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Heather Young is the public affairs coordinator for the Children’s Discovery Museum, where she has worked since 2002. When she’s not sounding off about the Museum and the Power of Play, she keeps herself busy as a board member of The Beyond the Books Educational Foundation and is an active member of the McLean County Wellness Coalition and Leadership Illinois. Heather is married to Jeff (we just celebrated 15 years- holy cow!) and mother to Andy. Heather has a keen interest in all things fitness, and loves attending classes and lifting weights at her neighborhood gym. Her secret goal in the not too distant future is to be a fitness instructor.

The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Townsquare Media.