A Worthy Project - A New Urgency

Beginning in 2014, the "UCAA" decides to bring new value to the school via the "Teacher Grant Program." Over the years, the program becomes a morale booster for teachers and the source of over 150 projects that help the school establish itself as a leader in installing STEM-based curricula, K-12.

Fast-moving trends in public education made it clear that more can be done, but major dollars will be needed. We learn that we are not alone, as a small school organization attempting to provide support dollars for its school. The 21st Century organization structure is the Education Foundation, providing the infrastructure for in-perpetuity management of incoming donations, sound funds management, and distribution to high impact school projects.

  -  In 2020, we successfully create a Foundation, using the 501(c)(3) IRS approval attained in 2012. 

  -  UCAA continues full operation as a committee in the expanded-vision 501c3 organization.

Slowed by COVID, but with much to do, we begin a planning and infrastructure-build that includes INAPEF's  47 guidelines for a sound Education Foundation. INAPEF is the Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations,  We are its 70th member foundation. 

      We create a separate website to coordinate communication:  https:UnionCityEducationFoundation.org and establish the shortcut www.uc-ef.org  -  a direct link is in the top menu here.

The INAPEF experience makes us more fully aware of the history and trends in public school education that make the road ahead extremely challenging for small town public education -- vastly different from Union City students circa 1985 and before.  

• Greatly expanded scholarship support to address the skyrocketing college costs that have created the national student debt crisis. 
• Support of technology that has replaced textbooks as a primary teaching tool. 
• Greater support of teacher moral and retention to help address a national teacher shortage crisis that threatens public education as we have known it.
• Improved Guidance and financial support for graduates not seeking a 4-year degree

In a small town such as Union City -- one of many Indiana towns devastated by the plant-closing era, the alumni are the last remaining resource for major support, through time. 

        We hope to make alumni aware of the need and opportunity that might inspire planned giving that Remembers. Reaches Back. And Makes a Difference. for students who have dreams a lot like ours, but whose obstacles on the road to success are far greater than ours. 

       It's a long term project vs. our annual giving to Alumni ACTION FUND -- still important, of course. We hope you will become aware and consider dialog that might lead to engagement. That prior dialog is crucial because the needs are broader, but so are the avenues to support your own passion in supporting the students, teachers or school as a whole. 

Visit the Foundation Site and click LEARN (top menu). Invest 15 minutes including viewing some Melissa Adelsperger "Spotlight Videos" to become more familiar with the reasons for this more urgent appeal for awareness and consideration of timely support. 'tis a good work we do, and there is life balance in the idea of paying back for benefits we received while our lives were shaped by our hometown and the teachers and mentors in the school.   www.uc-ef.org