It didn’t take long for the laughter to begin.
With colleagues in tow and adult beverages in hand, teachers enjoyed snacks aplenty, camaraderie galore, and gratitude all around at the 2024 Gratitude Grants Happy Hour.
The one-of-a-kind educator party hosted by Chamberlin Education Foundation sealed the spring semester for West Contra Costa public school teachers reveling in recognition for their work with WCC students.
Educators arriving at Riggers Loft donned commemorative “teachers deserve gratitude” pins, grabbed complimentary drink tickets, and made merry with friends and colleagues from schools across the district.
And, once they found the photo booth, the smiles only widened.
The yearly event celebrated over 1,200 educators who received individual $300 Gratitude Grants from the Chamberlin Education Foundation this year. In total, the foundation delivered more than $370,000 in Gratitude Grant funds to eligible applicants this semester.
“Teaching is one of the toughest jobs out there, and it warrants year-long gratitude and celebration,” said Thomas Laymon, the foundation’s Program Officer, Talent. Laymon manages CEF’s grants and partnerships that increase and diversify professional advancement pathways for educators and aspiring administrators.
“Seeing the joy in people who work so hard to educate our children is what makes this event so special,” Laymon said.
The 2024 Gratitude Grants covered a broad range of materials, tools, and resources for classroom teachers and specialists who work full-time supporting West Contra Costa students in K-12 public schools.
“White boards and markers are used every single day in phonics, writing, and math instruction,” said a teacher from Chavez Elementary in her grant application. “The white boards create a low stress and fun way for students to practice without the fear of making a mistake,” she added.
Beyond classroom essentials, Gratitude Grants supported purchases for curriculum & instruction materials, student well-being and inclusion, outdoor learning, and arts and enrichment projects.
Since its founding in 2015, the foundation’s Gratitude Grants program has delivered over $1.9 million directly to educators across West Contra Costa. The program is CEF’s largest direct-to-educator funding initiative.
To culminate the Gratitude Grant season, the foundation hosts teachers and guests at the largest celebratory gathering of West Contra Costa educators. The event marked the third since its suspension due to the pandemic’s restrictions in 2020.
This year, over 300 educators and friends filled Riggers Loft to enjoy wine selections from on-site producer RB Cellars, locally brewed East Brother beer, complementary snacks from Chef Frank Miller, and carried away prints of colorful souvenir photos that one veteran educator described as “a great way to build community.”
Despite the inevitable challenges they faced throughout the year, the outpouring of gratitude for West Contra Costa teachers encouraged more than a few smiles.
About the Chamberlin Education Foundation
The Chamberlin Education Foundation supports initiatives that advance education equity and academic excellence in West Contra Costa public schools. CEF’s grants and programs support effective education leadership, high-quality curriculum and instruction, educator talent pipelines, and help create and sustain a student-centered public education ecosystem.
Click here for more about our team, our vision, and our foundation’s guiding principles.
