REF Reaches Milestone in Grant Fundraising

By Jennifer Ersalesi

The Rutherford Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that was created to help fund educational programs in the Rutherford public schools. The REF holds a number of different fundraising events throughout the year to raise money for these important grants. This past year they reached an amazing milestone and This is Rutherford interviewed the President of the REF, Maggie McGill to learn more about how this was achieved and the REF's upcoming events.

TIR: Recently the Rutherford Education Foundation surpassed $1 million in grants for the Rutherford schools. How do you think the REF was able to reach this milestone?

Maggie McGill: I think it really comes down to the incredible community we have here in Rutherford. The REF has been around since 2003, and reaching $1 million certainly didn't happen overnight. It's taken years of dedication from past and present board members, volunteers, local businesses, families, and supporters who believe in investing in our schools.

We're fortunate to live in a community where people genuinely care about our kids and are willing to support the work we're doing. Whether it's a business sponsoring an event, a family purchasing raffle tickets, or someone volunteering their time, it all adds up.

To think that we've now awarded 551 grants totaling over $1 million is pretty amazing. I'm so proud of what this organization has accomplished, and I think it's a testament to what can happen when a community comes together for something that matters.

TIR: The fundraisers that the REF holds throughout the year help fund the grants that Rutherford educators apply for each year. Can you tell us about some of the fundraisers you have planned for the remainder of this year and early next year?

MM: We have some really exciting events coming up! Our Casino Night is Friday, November 13th at Westmount Country Club. It's one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and such a fun night out. We have casino games, great food and drinks, raffle baskets, and a silent auction. Our committee puts an incredible amount of work into this event, and we're really hoping to see the community come out and support it. Click this LINK to purchase tickets.

We also have our Holiday Cash Raffle, with the drawing on December 5th. Tickets are $25, and three lucky winners split 50% of the proceeds. It's a fun and easy way for people to support the REF and possibly win some holiday spending money! Click this LINK to purchase raffle tickets.

Then in February, we're hosting The Big Playground Bash Gala at The Venetian. This is an especially important fundraiser because we're raising money to help replace the playgrounds at the Kindergarten Center and Lincoln School. These are significant projects that will benefit Rutherford children for years to come, and we're hoping for a tremendous

show of community support. Click this LINK to sponsor or purchase tickets for this event.

And looking a little further ahead, we're planning our Ladies Lunch at Elia in June! It's another fun opportunity to bring people together, enjoy a great afternoon, and raise money to support our schools.

One thing I always try to remind people is that when you attend one of our fundraisers, you're doing more than just enjoying a night out. You're directly helping us bring new opportunities and resources into our schools. We try to create events that people genuinely look forward to attending while supporting a really great cause.

TIR: How have the REF grants helped educators in the district?

MM: This is probably the part of our story that I'd love more people to know about!

Our educators have some incredible ideas, and the REF gives them an opportunity to bring those ideas to life through funding that might not otherwise be available.

What's really special is the variety of projects we're able to support. We've helped provide communication devices for nonverbal students, sensory equipment for special education classrooms, books and audiobooks to encourage reading, and microscopes, calculators, and technology that bring hands-on learning into the classroom.

We've also funded major improvements, including upgrades to the Rutherford High School auditorium's lighting and sound systems, new marching band uniforms, athletic equipment, and playground improvements.

And then there are programs like Heroes & Cool Kids, where high school students mentor younger students, and Women in STEM, which encourages girls to explore opportunities in science and technology.

I love that we're able to support so many different areas of education. It's not just academics. It's the arts, athletics, social and emotional learning, special education, and experiences that help children develop confidence and discover new interests.

Just this year, we awarded $74,968 across 29 grants! Some grants are a few hundred dollars, while others are much larger projects. But every one of them represents an educator who saw an opportunity to make something better for their students. To me, that's what makes the REF so important. We're helping turn those ideas into something that can actually happen.

TIR: What else would you like us to know about the REF?

MM: I would really love for more people in Rutherford to understand just how much the REF does for our schools. I think people recognize our name or have attended one of our fundraisers, but they may not realize how many things their own children have benefited from because of the grants we've funded over the years.

If your child attends Rutherford Public Schools, chances are they've benefited from something the REF has funded. And that's something I don't think enough people realize.

The REF is a volunteer organization, and our board works incredibly hard to raise money that goes right back into supporting educational opportunities for Rutherford students. We have an amazing group of people who dedicate countless hours to planning events, securing sponsorships, and making sure we can continue funding these grants year after year.

I would also love to see more families and businesses get involved. There are so many ways to help, whether it's attending an event, sponsoring a fundraiser, making a donation, or volunteering. Every bit of support makes a difference.

And one of the things I'm most excited about going forward is doing a better job of showing the community what their support makes possible. I'd love for people to actually see the grants in action, hear from the teachers receiving them, and understand that their contributions are making a difference right here in Rutherford.

We've reached an incredible milestone with $1 million in grants, but there's still so much more we want to accomplish! We're incredibly proud of what we've accomplished, and I hope the community is proud of it too. At the end of the day, this is Rutherford supporting Rutherford, and that's what makes it so special.