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