Mill Creek Cluster Education Foundation Looking for Business Partners

After a very positive experience with the Mill Creek Cluster Education Foundation (MCCEF), Susan Lawrence is trying to spread the word about the foundation’s work.

Last fall, Lawrence bid on an item during a silent auction at the MCCEF fundraising gala. Lawrence won the item -- the chance for her kindergarten-age child to spend a day as a Mill Creek cheerleader -- and was very pleased with the outcome.

“The high school kids just embraced her and were good role models,” Lawrence said. “She just loved the attention that they gave to her.”

That experience motivated Lawrence, a MCCEF board of trustee member and Puckett’s Mill PTA president, to seek ways to help the foundation succeed with this year’s gala.

“They are trying to get the word out because they want to make it a bigger event,” she said.

The MCCEF raises money in order to give grants to teachers within the Mill Creek cluster. According to the MCCEF website, the foundation has awarded more than $75,000 to Mill Creek cluster schools since 2006. Last year, the foundation awarded $19,000. Lawrence said six of the nine Mill Creek cluster schools received at least one grant and a math institute grant was awarded to each of the six elementary schools in the cluster.

“The money is only used for the teachers in the cluster. It doesn’t go to anybody outside the cluster,” Lawrence said.

According to Lawrence, the foundation raises money primarily in two ways: by requesting contributions from parents during school registration and through the foundation’s annual gala.

Lawrence said the foundation hopes to hold a larger event in 2012 and is currently seeking business sponsors. Donations of goods, services and money are welcomed and needed.

“It could be a donation of a gift card to their store, it could be anything,” she explained.

While the foundation has enjoyed the support of several local business partners, Lawrence said fundraising remains a challenge.

“The hardest thing for the Mill Creek cluster is that we don’t have a town. We have Buford, Dacula and Hoschton all within the Mill Creek cluster,” she said.

Lawrence added that the Mill Creek cluster is the only one in Gwinnett County that does not have a downtown area.

“It’s very hard for us to fundraise for the foundation because we don’t have one town that supports our cluster,” she said.

Fellow MCCEF board of trustees member Kelley Mautz hopes more people will get involved with the foundation for the benefit of local students.

“We’re trying to raise funds to do more,” she said. “I think it is something a lot of people don’t even realize is here.”

Mautz said any individual or business interested in making a donation or joining the MCCEF board of trustees should contact Debbi Rice at 770-363-5202 or Steve Agee at 678-714-3181 or wsa2law@yahoo.com. 

More information is also available on the Mill Creek Cluster Education Foundation website.