
Huge Thanks to this Issue’s Sponsors:
THIRSTy (OFFER ENCLOSED)
Are you THIRSTy? Do you like fresh baked beignets or soft buttery pretzel bites?! Well, Thirst has you covered! Thirst takes soda shops to a whole new level to help make event planning a breeze! Thirst is here to help maximize holiday parties, teacher appreciation and staff meetings! Make Thirst apart of your next event with our flexible catering options to serve any crowd! Ask how you can get our $3 deal for teachers and staff with free delivery to your school!
LAKESHORE LEARNING IN MURRAY!
Empower your classroom with Lakeshore Learning, your one-stop destination for innovative and engaging educational resources. From hands-on materials to comprehensive curriculum tools, Lakeshore Learning offers everything you need to create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. Designed by educators for educators, our products inspire creativity, foster critical thinking, and support students at every level. Visit us in Murray at 5480 S 900 E, or virtually at: https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/
GET AWAY TODAY!
Get Away Today is delighted to present your school with the latest Get Away Today vacation magazines. These magazines are being delivered to Murray schools as soon as January 13, 2025. These have been approved by the foundation and district to be distributed. Inside you’ll find the best vacation deals and what’s new at the Disneyland® Resort.
Here are a couple of ways partnership with Get Away Today benefits your school:
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Vacations = Donations! A portion of each vacation purchased by your students’ families is donated to benefit the children of your district. Get Away Today is so committed to helping children that they’ve donated over $4.5 million to help kids!
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Get Away Today provides cash and in-kind donations for fundraisers held by your school foundation — again, benefitting the students of your district.
Additionally, Get Away Today would like to offer each employee of our district an additional discount as a thank you for our partnership. Please let your employees know to use promocode: SCHOOLS50 for an additional $50 off any 2-night or longer Southern California vacation (must include hotel and at least two tickets) for travel now through December 31, 2025. Go here to see different promotions you can take advantage of or share with your community.
MEF’s Giving Campaign: A Community Triumph
The Murray Education Foundation’s 2024 giving campaign extended beyond it’s traditional Angel Tree, bringing the community together in an outpouring of generosity that raised an estimated $33,000 in cash and donated goods from companies and individuals.
Go here to read more about the entire effort and support we received.

MEF CALENDAR…
- Dec. 2 – Jan. 31: Pinnacle Award Nominations Open
- Feb. 21-Mar. 21: Laura Baker Continuing Education Grant Submissions Open
- Feb. 21-Mar. 21: MEF Endorsements Grant Submissions Open (Gifted and Talented Endorsement)
- Mar. 20 : Pinnacle Awards Gala
- Mar. (TBD): MEF Student Scholarship Submissions Open
- April (TBD): MEF Pickleball Fundraiser (for Unified Sports and Special Education Grants )
- May (Entire Month): MEF Footwear Donation Drive (for the 2025-26 School Year)
OTHER BITS AND PIECES
Laura Baker Professional Learning Grants: MEF will open the Laura Baker Professional Learning Grant submissions February 21 to March 21. A Selection Committee will review the applications and awardees will be contacted in April. These are for professional learning opportunities between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026. We will send a message out to teachers when that application opens.
MEF Gifted and Talented Endorsement Grant: MEF is pleased to announce we have funding for one (possibly more) licensed teachers to apply and receive professional endorsement grant in the area of Gifted and Talented Endorsement. Like the Baker grant, submissions will be open February 21 to March 21. A Selection Committee will review the applications and awardees will be contacted in April. We will send a message out to teachers when that application opens.
Pinnacle Awards Nominations and Sponsors Sought: MEF opened nominations for its Annual Pinnacle Awards in December. These will continue through January. Go here for more details about how to nominate a Murray Educator, and for sponsorship opportunities we could use help with.
Sponsors and Participants Sought for Pickleball Fundraiser: MEF continues to progress in its plans to launch an annual Pickleball Tournament fundraiser in April to support special education teachers and students, and the Unified Sports program for our special education athletes at Murray High School. Go here you are interested in sponsoring or participating.
Murray Matters Launch: We are excited to announce our partnership with Murray City School District to launch the new Murray Matters e-mail newsletter beginning this month. This publication will replace the District’s use of PeachJar to provide the Murray community non-school related announcements. But it will also localize the effort so that sponsor funding of the publication will go directly to the Foundation. Go here you are interested in learning more about this new publication.
Scholarship Programs Coming Soon: MEF is pleased to announce it will be offering multiple student scholarships to Murray High School seniors this year. We expect to finalize the application process and prepare details ahead of the scholarship application season this Spring. If you are interested in contributing to these, please go here or share this link with those who might be.
MEF Website Giving Donors MORE Options: With some help from Dane Bradshaw at Family Wealth Advisors, the Murray Education Foundation has undergone a bit of a facelift to optimize giving opportunities for donors. The site now features many different donation opportunities for legacy donors seeking tax advantages, along with directed giving options for those who have specific areas of need they would like to target in Murray. Go here to see the transformation.
Teacher Grants in the Fall: Teacher Grants will continue with the same schedule as this past year (August 1-31 Requests; September 8 Awards); This past fall we gave out $73,000+ in grants and nearly 100% of requests were granted
Thank you for all you do! If you have suggestions or comments, want to help out the Foundation in some way, we welcome your input and referrals. A strong education foundation makes for a strong education experience at Murray. Together, we are “empowering the next generation of Murray learners and leaders.”