COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee (December 20, 2022) – During the month of December, Collierville Schools teachers received $175,000—an all-time record—in grants from the Collierville Education Foundation and its sponsorship partners to assist them with enhancements to their classrooms. To date, CEF has issued over $1.8 million in grants to Collierville Schools.

“From all of us at Collierville Schools, I cannot thank the Collierville Education Foundation enough for the time and dedication invested to provide the largest sum of grant money ever distributed to our schools this year,” said Dr. Gary Lilly, Director of Schools. “The generosity of local sponsors is just another reason Collierville Schools is one of the best districts in the state, and our teachers cannot wait to use this grant money to enhance their classroom experiences for our children. We are anxious to see all of the grants come to life in the classroom.”

Each year, teachers in the district submit applications for desired grants for their classrooms. Once submitted, names and schools are redacted and submitted to the CEF Board for review.

“What got me started in trying to help the schools is that they are the main reason people move to Collierville,” said John Green, CEF Founder and Lifetime CEF Member. “I believe that we may have the number one school district in the state of Tennessee due in part to the $1.8 million in grants the Collierville Education Foundation has given since 1996, and we intend on increasing that five-fold in the coming years. It is our hope to raise over $500,000 for grants each year, allowing for us to achieve our goal of providing every eligible teacher a grant.”

The Collierville Education Foundation (CEF) was founded in June 1996 with the primary purpose of championing educational excellence in the Collierville public schools through fundraising that would provide grants to teachers for educational enrichment. Through the efforts of Mr. Green, CEF received its 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit in December 1997.

For more information about the Collierville Education Foundation, visit the Collierville Education Foundation page.