What happens when a child wants to play an instrument not offered in the school system or when a teacher would love to create a garden for her students, but there aren't enough funds to permit the project? Usually, the answer would be nothing at all. However, in Clinton there's a foundation dedicated to funding select projects of teachers and students that enhance education. The Clinton Education Foundation (CEF) provides mini-grants to teachers who teach any grade level and to students in grades 3 to 12.

"Our mission is to enhance the public education in Clinton," said Maribeth Breen, past CEF president and director of the Henry Carter Hull Library. "We've been able to do that through funding these mini-grants."

The volunteer businesspeople, parents, educators, and others who serve on the CEF Board of Directors choose projects from proposals submitted by teachers and students. Each year, four projects are chosen and awarded up to $500 each.

"It's not a lot, but it's enough to make a difference," said Breen.

Founded in the spring of 2006 through the initiative of former superintendent Al Coviello and founding president Bill Calvert, the organization instituted grants for teachers in 2007. Last year, CEF began awarding grants to students, too. CEF also manages the Brett Renfrew Memorial Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to high school students who display strong leadership and dedication to community service.

The funds provided by CEF have purchased everything from equipment for Project Adventure at Joel School to software for the math department at The Morgan School. They've also enabled students to attend an Amnesty International program at Yale University, an architecture camp at Carnegie Mellon University, and an adventure service camp in California that combined outdoor recreation with volunteer work. One project called The Art of Folk Songs enabled the creation of books as a final project for students in grades K to 3.

Another notable project was a Giving Garden created at Joel School. Students helped plant a garden that provided food for the Glenhaven Senior Housing Project near the school and also for local soup kitchens.

"They involved the kids and did some curriculum around growing and gave some of their food away to the Glenhaven Senior Housing Project," said Breen. "They were charitable with it."

An annual golf fundraiser provides most of CEF's funding; next year's is set for Aug. 15. Grant money also comes from individual donors and companies, including Unilever.

The funds can be used for almost any purpose, so long as it enhances educational opportunities.

"It runs the gamut," Breen said. "We bought a saxophone for a boy last year who was very interested in it and loved the music, but his parents couldn't afford to purchase it for him."

"We contributed to students who are in the United Girls' Choir in New Haven," added CEF President Susan Schreck. "We had two girls who received grants this year for the girls' choir."

At CEF's recent annual meeting, students and teachers who were granted funds showed how they'd put the money to good use. Presentations ranged from a slideshow of one student's work with Habitat for Humanity to a presentation by a girl in grade 7 who participated in a nationwide dance competition in Texas.

"It's been great," Breen commented. "The kids come back and tell us about their experiences."

Schreck and Breen both emphasized that CEF is seeking community support and funding to continue its goal of creating educational opportunities in town beyond those afforded by the school budget.

"We're interested in having people who are supportive in enhancing the public education in Clinton join us on the board or in fundraisers," said Schreck.

"We're trying to make a difference and we think we are," Breen added. "If you could see these kids and how excited [they are] about the help they've gotten pursuing their dreams, it makes it all worth it."

To donate to CEF or for more info, visit www.clintonpublic.org/cef.