A note from our president

It’s difficult to think of anything more

important to the quality of life in a

community and to its long-term vitality

than education. A community that

values its young people and cares

about their well-being and their potential

invests wisely and happily in

education. Schools, organizations and

initiatives that teach and inspire children,

families and adults are essential

to a civil and sustainable society.

It was with this conviction that a

small group of local partisans formed

The Lyme-Old Lyme Education

Foundation five years ago. Its purpose,

quite simply, is “to promote and

enhance education in our towns via

support of schools, organizations and

initiatives that offer innovative and

effective learning opportunities for

students of all ages.” Our goal is to

encourage the creation, continuation

or enhancement of ideas, programs

and curricula above and beyond those

traditionally provided by schools and

other institutions constrained by

mandates and finite budgets.

The first years of the foundation’s

grantmaking were funded by a small

number of donors that make gifts to

the LOLEF, a public charity. Less

than one hundred donors combined

gifts of many sizes to fund the foundation’s

initial grants.

Because of the impressive impact

these grants are having on our schools

and communities, the foundation is

expanding its efforts to attract

broader support from a larger crosssection

of the residents of Lyme and

Old Lyme.

Richard Korsmeyer