For the 13th consecutive year, the Anderson Family Fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands has awarded grants to teachers in the public schools throughout the Virgin Islands, according to CFVI. Since 2002, the Anderson family has awarded more than $275,000 to public school teachers. Locally the Anderson family owns Topa Properties, Topa Insurance, Dorchester Insurance, Bellows International and West Indies Corporation.
John Anderson Jr., chairman of the TOPA group of companies, said in a statement that his father attributed his financial success to his education. “My father believed in the values of hard work and education. He was valedictorian of his high school class in Minnesota before accepting a scholarship to UCLA in 1936.”
“He later earned an MBA from Harvard,” Anderson continued, “a law degree from Loyola and passed his CPA exam while serving in World War II. Along with his many business pursuits, he was also a teacher. Given this background, it gives our family great pleasure to help public school educators with the annual teacher grants.”
Recipients of this year’s grants included 14 teachers and professionals working with 11 schools throughout the territory. The grants range from $500 to $5,000 each and are intended to enhance learning opportunities for students. A total of $22,000 was awarded this year.
Several schools asked for help in purchasing technology needs, according to CFVI. Other requests included assistance with school publications, including a literary magazine and school newspaper; gardening materials to start school gardens; and funds to enable students to continue exploring cultural and environmental adventures.
“Once again we received an impressive number of applications for the Anderson Teacher Grants and the selection process was difficult,” said CFVI’s president, Dee Baecher-Brown, in the organization’s statement.
“The committee tried to select those requests that had the most creative strategies to promote student learning and would have the greatest impact on the students.”
The Anderson Family Fund was established at CFVI in 2002 to support a wide range of educational enrichment programs for the students of the V.I. public schools that are unavailable as part of the regular school curriculum. For almost 25 years, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands has been bringing positive changes in the territory through programs committed to youth, learning, family support and the environment. CFVI operates or funds close to 50 community programs including The Family Connection, Kids Count, scholarships, teacher grants, emergency grants to families and elderly residents of the USVI. CFVI is a registered nonprofit entirely supported by individual donors, grants, trusts, corporate donations and estate planning.
Projects funded this year include:
– Juanita F. Gardine Elementary Bookopoly – An Interactive Project to Encourage Students’ Reading;
– Charles H. Emanuel – CHEES Young Journalist;
– Charlotte Amalie High School – Chemistry Laboratory Computers;
– Lockhart Elementary School – Science Club;
– Arthur A. Richards Junior High School – Continuing the Tradition: Stepping Out & Exploring St. Croix through Art Field Trips;
– Ulla F. Muller Elementary – My Plate: The New Food Guide Musical;
– Alexander Henderson School – Museum Fun;
– Herbert Lockhart Elementary – Primary Science Explorers;
– Charles H. Emanuel – Read Around the World in 8 Months;
– Ricardo Richards Elementary School – RRES Edible School Yard/ Slow Food Project;
– Ulla F. Muller Elementary -Serious Minds- A Mentorship Program for Boys;
– Ivanna Eudora Kean High School – The Benefits of a Literary Magazine;
– St. Croix Central High School -The Carib Tribune Newspaper;
– Ivanna Eudora Kean High School – IEKHS Algebra Lab.
