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Welcome to the
Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation
Website
TO APPLY FOR A GRANT
Our Mission Statement
Our Programs
Our mission is to support educators in developing environmental
curricula that integrate field activities and classroom teaching and
that incorporate basic ecological principles and problem solving.
Read Our 2008 Newsletter! PDF
The Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation was founded in April 1996 to continue the work of Melinda Gray Ardia.
Melinda
Ardia, a middle school science teacher in Newark, NY and a biologist
and environmental activist, died in an automobile accident in January
1996. Melinda's dedication, creativity and enthusiasm inspired her
family and colleagues to create the Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental
Foundation to continue her work.
How the Foundation Works:
We
are a Private Operating Foundation, run by a Board of Directors made up
of family members and environmental professionals that set both
financial and program policy. We have taken a conservative strategy on
both fronts. Financially, we have tried to grow our endowment
(currently about $75,000) so that we can continue to impact
environmental education for longer than any of our lifetimes. Our
disbursements to programs have been made from interest and income
generated from our investments and the sale of note cards and t-shirts.
Programmatically, we have tried to grow slowly so that we make each
decision thoughtfully with Melinda's ideals and the ability to make a
difference in mind. Through this conservative strategy we have ensured
that your donations build our endowment and will provide lasting
impacts beyond the face value of your gift.
Mission Statement:
To
facilitate learning and student empowerment, environmental curricula
should be holistic and strive to synthesize multiple levels of learning
(facts, concepts, principles), often including experiential integrated
learning and problem solving. We believe the strongest
curricula are founded on basic scientific principles, including
hypothesis testing and experimental design. A solid foundation
of ecology promotes thoughtful and appropriate analysis and
understanding of the natural world. Controversial issues should be
presented objectively stressing the development of individual student
opinions.
In summary, the Foundation supports curricula that empower and
encourage students to become involved in solving environmental and
social problems as informed decision makers through the emphasis and
application of basic ecological principles.
The
Foundation seeks to facilitate the development and implementation of
holistic environmental curricula that incorporate basic ecological
principles and field environmental activities within a primary or
secondary school setting. Accordingly, the Foundation is interested in
contributing to the development, implementation and/or field testing of
curricula that are consistent with the mission of the Foundation. For
more information about the foundation, and to learn how to apply for a grant.
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