Phone-a-thon is underway

Phones are ringing across the city this week as the Camas Educational Foundation has launched its annual “Phone-A-Thon” fundraising campaign.

The campaign, which began Monday, continues through Thursday. It features many student volunteers, who are calling households in Camas to get the word out about the work of CEF.

The fundraiser is in its 13th year and typically nets $15,000 to $20,000 annually in support of learning programs in schools that supplement district funding.

Earlier this year, CEF awarded $75,000 in major and mini grants to support teacher-sponsored programs in early learning, language, arts, science, math, social studies and history.

Phone donations will be combined with an end-of-year appeal to fund a spring 2015 major grant program. CEF will also reach out to Camas households with a mailed donation envelope, which arrives this week.

“What better way to get a child excited about learning than to offer opportunities that stretch their skills and imagination in new and creative ways,” said event coordinator Frank Hood. “CEF provides funds that allow our talented teachers to bring new materials into their classrooms and make learning fun.”

The money raised from prior phone-a-thons has also created “seed programs,” such as using computer tablets in the classroom. This led to broad-scale district funding during the past two years, Hood noted.

CEF is governed by a 15 member board of directors and several volunteers. For more information, visit www.cefcamas.org.