Recent Teacher Creativity Grants
*Updated with every new cycle - Recent cycle 2026
The Wells County Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors recently approved grants totaling $11,402.92 for the 2026 Teacher Creativity grant cycle. A total of 7 grants were awarded as follows:
Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School - $4,000.00 - This grant will provide funding for the purchase of musical sensory squares for the pre-school. Through musical exploration, children will strengthen fine and gross motor skills as they tap, shake, spin, and press different instruments. The sensory wall will also support language development as teachers encourage children to describe sounds, imitate rhythms, and connect music to ocean animals and movements. Grant made from the Virginia Gene Neuenschwander Youth Fund.
Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School - $560.00 - This grant will provide funding for the purchase of an Off-Makers Group kit. This kit will promote creative engineering and hands-on problem solving in the classroom. By working with real-life hardware, students will gain experience designing and building robotic models while developing creativity, curiosity, and innovation. Students K through grade four will use the kits in the Design and Innovation Studio, working individually, in pairs or small groups. Grant made from the Virginia Gene Neuenschwander Youth Fund.
Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School - $1,200.00 - This grant will provide funding the purchase of a Science Bowling Unit. Through this unit, third grade students will participate in a hands-on activity to engage them in science concepts. This unit will cover a multitude of Science Standards in the Domain of Motion and Stability in addition to science and engineering practices including identifying the effects of balance and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object, identifying that objects in contact exert forces on one another, learn to make observations, measurements and predictions of a pattern based on an object’s motion, following the eight practices that scientists use to investigate and build models and theories and learn to measure, collect, organize, interpret and share data in a scaled bar graph or pictograph. Grant made from the Virginia Gene Neuenschwander Youth Fund.
Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School - $1,500.00 - This grant will provide funding for the purchase of equipment which will be utilized for hands-on student growth in the Early Learning Center. This equipment will facilitate the establishment of a grocery store and veterinary clinic learning centers in the classrooms. Through these centers, students will receive vocabulary instruction, modeled conversations, and guided role-play. Vocabulary and language skills will be reinforced through ongoing lessons, structured activities, and student collaboration. Grant made from the Virginia Gene Neuenschwander Youth Fund.
Bluffton-Harrison Middle School - $3,179.00 - This grant will provide funding for the purchase of LEGO education kits. These kits will enhance STEM and computer science instruction for students in grades six through eight. By placing learning in students’ hands, these kits promote active participation and collaboration. Students will work in small groups to design, build, and problem-solve, strengthening essential skills such as critical thinking, innovation and teamwork. Grant made from the Elizabeth V. Patton Unrestricted Endowment Fund
Norwell High School - $883.96 - This grant will provide funding for the purchase of a 3D printer, 3D scanner, and casting slip. Students grades nine through twelve will explore the connections between art, design, and manufacturing by developing a digital concept and the means to mass produce it as a product for sale. The ability to turn virtual concepts into tangible and marketable objects is a valuable one that provides student insight into how industry produces ceramic objects and a career in ceramics outside of academia or studio art. Grant made from the Elizabeth V. Patton Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
Southern Wells Elementary School - $79.96 - This grant will provide funding for the purchase of four Wowels Phonics and Words Matching Games. Through these games, students in kindergarten and first grade will match vowel sounds, recognize phonics patters, and read short sight words. Grant made from the Virginia Gene Neuenschwander Youth Fund.
The Foundation considers grant proposals for the Teacher Creativity program once annually. Funding for these grants comes from the unrestricted funds which are administered by the Foundation. Donors with broad philanthropic interests find that an unrestricted fund in the community foundation is a simple and flexible way to accomplish their charitable objectives. Contributing to an established unrestricted fund, or creating a new unrestricted fund is an excellent way to provide resources for grantmaking and help make a positive difference for the ever-changing needs in Wells County.
The Wells County Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit public charity established in 1957 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Wells County forever. Grant proposals to be considered for the next Teacher Creativity grant cycle are due to the Foundation office by April 1, 2027.