During its 20-year history, FMPS has invested one million dollars in the Marblehead School District, thanks to the generosity of loyal donors.

“FMPS was founded on the belief that students deserve the benefit of enrichment opportunities not afforded by the general curriculum,” said Beezee Honan, the organization’s president.  “We feel that teachers deserve more than the basic books and tools they’re given to reach and inspire their students.”

This year, FMPS is challenging both school administrators and teachers to produce exciting and interesting grant applications.  With the money raised through the 20th Anniversary Campaign, the organization will fund those that best meet FMPS criteria.

Grants funded by FMPS – including Responsive Classroom, Project Adventure, Best Buddies, and Creative Classroom  – have become signature programs at many of the district’s schools. These programs were launched in Marblehead as pilot projects funded by FMPS, and became part of the school budget after successful initial implementation. Students often refer to programs funded by FMPS as memorable highlights of their Marblehead Public School experience.

Every year FMPS has to deny funding to almost half the grant applications it receives. With budgets getting tighter and fixed expenses on the rise, private funding through FMPS is a valuable resource for teachers who want to bring new ideas and programs to students in Marblehead.

“When we’re dealing with a level-funded budget we try our best not to let teachers go by cutting back on professional development and innovative programs… but it’s the innovative programs that make the kids excited to come to school,” said Veterans School Principal Libby Moore.  “FMPS fills in that gap. It’s important to emphasize that we’re not talking about the fluff.  We’re talking about the actual teaching instruction in the classroom that needs to go way beyond books.”

To engage the community on a personal level, FMPS will be hosting 15 cocktail parties this fall. “Our goal is to educate event attendees so that they understand what we do and how we do it,” said Honan. Attendees will have the opportunity to converse with past grant recipients, whose table-top exhibits will help bring their FMPS-funded projects to life.  An entertaining DVD will tell attendees the story of FMPS and its impact in the Marblehead Public Schools over the last two decades.

Composed primarily of current and past parents of Marblehead School District students, FMPS’s 20th Anniversary Campaign Committee has already collectively contributed $20,000 to the campaign in advance of the cocktail parties.

“I wish I could do much more for FMPS; it’s always been my favorite group in town to support,” said local businessman George Shube.  “[FMPS] is one of the few organizations in town that can actually claim to affect — directly or indirectly — the life of almost everyone in town.”

20th Anniversary Committee
Lillie Lombardi & Meryl Thompson - Co-Chairs
Sue Baylow
Mary Bongiorno
Tinabeth Burton
Bernadette Butterfield
Rebecca Ehrhardt
Helaine Hazlett
Beezee Honan
Judy Jacobi
Libby Moore
Tracy Orloff
Val Rice
Dana Rieckelman
Lydia Smyers