SEF’s Classroom Innovation Grant program annually serves approximately 4,000 students across St. Louis County. SSD educators develop innovative ideas, and the grants turn them into reality to help their students.
Last month, SEF and our Classroom Innovation Grants were among 15 local St. Louis nonprofits to receive grant funding from Sign of the Arrow.
Sign of the Arrow is a needlepoint shop in Ladue. It was established in 1966 by the St. Louis Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi to provide philanthropic support to the community. The shop is staffed by over 80 community volunteers who give over 22,000 hours annually to help run Sign of the Arrow.
All shop proceeds benefit area agencies. In addition to SEF, this year’s recipients included:
- Books for STL Kids
- Circle of Concern
- Epworth Children & Family Services
- Lifewise STL
- Pathways to Independence
- Pi Beta Phi Foundation
- Seed St. Louis
- Sneakers With Soul
- St. Louis Alumnae Panhellenic Association
- St. Louis Dancing Classrooms
- The Little Bit Foundation
- The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
- Welcome Neighbor St. Louis
- Wyman Center
Since its inception, Sign of the Arrow has donated over $4 million to more than 200 local charities.
Each grant recipient has a sponsor who is a Sign of the Arrow volunteer, and for SEF, it was Ellen Birch, an SSD teacher at Ackerman School.
Ellen is a true friend of SEF and a past Classroom Innovation Grant recipient. That’s Ellen (on the right) with SEF Executive Director Tim Eby and Grants Writer Mary Steinau in the photo above this story.
SEF is now accepting applications for 2024-25 Classroom Innovation Grants. SSD staff can apply here.
