Every town needs their own superhero, and it seems that Fluvanna does indeed have one. The Fluvanna Education Foundation (FEF) works hard every year to raise and donate thousands of dollars for Fluvanna Public Schools. But like many superheroes, despite doing such great deeds, the people behind FEF tend to go unnoticed for their generous works.

FEF was created in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for the purpose of furthering the educational opportunities for administrators, teachers and students  by supporting innovative educational programs.  One of their main goals is to build business and community partnerships that support the development of Fluvanna County schools. One recent example is the FCHS Homecoming Parade and Float Contest which was held prior to the Homecoming football game in October. Working alongside students from the FCHS Student Government Association, FEF members obtained donor funds for prizes from local business such as Van der Linde Recycling, Cuppa Joe, and Virginia Community Bank. The result was that over $1600 was awarded to FCHS student groups (such as the Interact Club and French Club) to support their club goals.

The foundation has also been instrumental in helping local students achieve their college dreams. Since 2002, FEF has awarded yearly scholarships and grants, provided funding for core curriculum and co-curricular activities. Examples include helping underwrite the cost of the FCHS Literary Magazine and the FCHS Prom, as well as helping Fluvanna Destination Imagination teams attend the global competition for the last several years.

In addition, they have provided grants to support professional development for teachers (such as attending VSBA seminars on Foundation) for Fluvanna County Public Schools. Finally, FEF provides scholarships for Fluvanna students seeking higher education. This year, FEF has five scholarships available ranging from $250-$1000.

Each year, FEF also sponsors two major events that promote community involvement in our schools instead of simply fundraising. The first is the Homecoming Parade contest and the second is the Scripps Spelling Bee.  This year the event will be held at the FCHS Auditorium on Jan. 22. Kayla Corredera-Wells, who won the Fluvanna Middle School spelling bee a number of years ago and went as far as the State level, now volunteers for FEF as one of the judges for the Spelling Bee.

FEF is even raising up a whole new generation of superheroes. In the summer of 2012, the Students for Teachers (SFT) became affiliated with FEF.  Any donations received by SFT are also tax deductible. The SFT raise funds for the purchase of school equipment that many teachers have in the past paid for out of their own pockets.

So where do the funds come from to support all these great deeds? The funds all come from donations from local businesses and fundraisers, such as the Vera Bradley Bingo that takes place at the Fire Department.

Like all superheroes, FEF does have a weakness: they need more members. Currently they have eight members on their board including Bri VanTassel, Cindy Corbin, Kara Nelson, Jeremy Sechler, Scott Marshall, Kaitlyn Duvalois, Samantha Lewis, and Clint Estes. “Our goal is to have 15 or more members [and] I’d like to attract more young people,” said FEF President Bri Van Tassel. “People should join because FEF plays an important part in the educational process of Fluvanna County students.” For more information about FEF or how to get involved you can go to their website at www.fluvannaeducationfoundation.org or call them at 434-207-2305.