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New Educator Grants 2026
Each new educator at the Columbia Public Schools (CPS) received a $100 gift card to use as they need to help establish their classroom. In total, the Foundation is expected to give out about 225 gift cards to new educators, or about $22,500.
$22,500
New Educator Grants 2025
Each new educator at the Columbia Public Schools (CPS) received a $100 gift card to use as they need to help establish their classroom. In total, the Foundation is expected to give out about 200 gift cards to new educators, or about $20,000.
$20,000
Lunch for Learners
CPSF donated $50,000 to the Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Lunch for Learners fund to help pay off student lunch debt. The Lunch for Learners fund was started in 2010 by then-Superintendent and current Interim Superintendent Chris Belcher and Laina Fullum, director of Nutrition Services, with a $5,000 donation from Heart of Missouri United Way. The fund was created to assist families who don’t qualify for free or reduced-price lunch but need additional support because of temporary circumstances. The Foundation is also challenging the community to donate $50,000 to assist in paying off the debt.
$50,000
New Educator Grants 2024
Each new educator at the Columbia Public Schools (CPS) received a $100 gift card to use as they need to help establish their classroom. In total, the Foundation is expected to give out about 300 gift cards to new educators, or about $30,000. Thanks to our partnership with Central Bank of Boone County, the gift cards have zero fees, which means the teachers will receive the full $100 to spend on setting up their classrooms and buying any needed supplies.
$30,000
Authors in Schools: Alan Gratz visit
The grant for the Authors in Schools program brought award-winning author Alan Gratz to Columbia for a special event with CPS middle school students in April. The Foundation’s grant provided a copy of a Gratz book for each fifth and seventh grade CPS student. Gratz is a New York Times bestselling author of 20 novels and graphic novels for young readers. The grant also provided funding for bus transportation to the event and for the author visit and talk by Gratz. The keynote at Missouri Theater was part of a partnership with the Unbound Book Festival.
$22,500
Esports at Battle & Rock Bridge High Schools
The Esports Gaming Room provides funding for both Battle High School and Rock Bridge High School. In 2019, the Foundation provided a grant to establish an esports room at Hickman High School. The esports team at Hickman continues to grow and build success, including the first CPS student to receive an esports scholarship in 2022. Now, by establishing esports rooms at Battle and Rock Bridge, the Foundation can provide an equitable gaming facility across the three high schools to enhance the student experience. The grant provides $18,478 for a room at each school, including gaming computers, gaming chairs and any infrastructure needed to upgrade electrical and equipment.
$36,956
New Educator Grants
Each new educator at the Columbia Public Schools (CPS) received a $100 gift card to use as they need to help establish their classroom. In total, the Foundation is expected to give out about 300 gift cards to new educators, or about $30,000. Thanks to our partnership with Central Bank of Boone County, the gift cards have zero fees, which means the teachers will receive the full $100 to spend on setting up their classrooms and buying any needed supplies.
$30,000
Career Center Digital Media
The Columbia Area Career Center (CACC) received grant funds to purchase t-shirt printers and heat presses for the digital media department. Digital media students currently design t-shirts as part of their curriculum, and the process of printing their creations will give them relevant industry experience with potential for cross-collaboration with the CACC marketing department. Part of the Columbia Public Schools community, CACC also serves the community through a variety of Career and Technical Education programs and courses for all ages.
$12,215
Planetarium Sound & Lighting
The Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Planetarium received a grant to upgrade the facility’s sound and lighting. The Planetarium features a full-dome projection system presenting an ever-growing library of entertaining and educational shows while treating visitors to a unique view of the universe in which we live. Since its opening in 1974, the Planetarium has hosted school children in kindergarten through 12th grade from all over mid-Missouri, as well as regular events for the whole community.
$3,361
Show-Me Careers Educator Experience
Show-Me Careers Educator Experience, a program of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, provided CPS educators with firsthand experience to learn about the workforce skills needed to be successful in today’s workplace. The program’s goal is to expose students to career opportunities by bringing teachers, counselors and administrators into advanced manufacturing, technology, healthcare and other targeted job sites where employers have identified a need to develop a career pipeline for area youth.
$12,500
