POMONA HOST LIONS CLUB GIVES MINI-GRANTS TO TEACHERS

Recently, at its 10th annual Teachers Mini-Grant Presentation, the Pomona Host Lions presented $5,000 in mini-grants to Pomona Unified School District classroom teachers for instructional enrichment. The event was held at the Associated Pomona Teachers office. Leading the event were Lions Mini-Grant chairperson Morgan Brown and Lions President Ricky Ortiz. Ortiz shared, “I want to thank all the teachers in our community for the great job that they do, and I also want to thank the people in our community who help us raise funds.”

According to Lions members at the event, they want to honor the teachers with these mini-grants because teachers frequently give of their personal time and money in order to make the classroom experience richer and more successful for the students. The Lions hope that the mini-grants will ease that burden in a small way.

Single-teacher grant recipients each received up to $250. Multiple-teacher grants recipients each got up to $500. Teachers from elementary, middle and high schools received grants. At the event, teachers described how the instructional materials purchased with the Lions money helped the students learn better and with more enthusiasm.

Teachers receiving single-teacher grants and their schools were:

· Cesaria Pullman from Alcott

· Joanne Hathaway from Allison

· Christina Romero from Armstrong

· Olga Zapata-Reynolds from Barfield

· Corinne McIntire from Diamond Point

· Jesus Monarrez from Harrison

· Yesenia Brockett from La Verne

· Katherine Rogers from Roosevelt

· Jason Fox from Fremont

· Rebecca Binch from Lorbeer

· Emily Campos from Simons

· Anne Marie Gariador from Garey

· Anna Higaki from Garey

Multiple-teacher grants went to:

· Rachel Gossman, Annette Grijalva and Josephine Tangsouvan from Philadelphia

· Melissa Hansen and Amber Dahline from San Jose

· Teresa Patel and Roneice Parchment from Vejar

· Monica Merrill and Elizabeth Gonzales from Westmont

Among the mini-grant purchases were Accelerated Reading books; manipulatives for math, language arts and writing; interactive software for Smart Boards and for computers on such topics as life and physical science, vocabulary, phonemic awareness; and teaching units to improve reading and critical thinking. Among others were audio books, sturdy kindergarten read-aloud books, learning center supplies, kindness and social skills teaching materials, supplies for a class garden.

Westmont’s Monica Merrill and Elizabeth Gonzalez explained how they used their Lions mini-grant, “ We were able to buy picture books for our classrooms. The students were absolutely THRILLED to see these colorful stories. Because of the state of the economy, we haven’t been able to purchase new books in years. Thank you, Lions!” La Verne’s Yesenia Brockett said, “Being able to purchase hands-on activities for my students with special needs has been so beneficial in continuing to foster their academic success. Thank you Pomona Host Lions!”

Other teachers expressed their gratitude and described their mini-grant purchases. For example, Teresa Patel and Roneice Parchment of Vejar exclaimed, “Our students will have a systematic method of increasing their social skills. How great is that!” “Third graders at Diamond Point are thrilled to receive brand new series of AR [Accelerated Reader] Books for their classroom,” shared Corinne McIntire, and finally, San Jose’s Melissa Hansen and Amber Dahline said, “Thanks to the Pomona Host Lions, we have been able to purchase two wireless learning centers for our classrooms. This enables our kindergarteners to hear fluent, strong reading throughout the school week.”

For more information, find the Pomona Host Lions on Facebook or email the club at pomonahostlions@gmail.com.