The Trolley Car Teachers’ Fund expanded to include three public schools in Germantown in awarding some $25,000 to 53 teachers for the 2016-17 school year, the organization announced. 

TCTF provides grants of up to $500 to public school teachers to purchase educational materials and create positive classroom experiences that would otherwise be unavailable to their students.

Teachers from AB Day, Emlen, Henry, Houston, Lingelbach, McCloskey and Parkway Northwest in Mt. Airy, Jenks in Chestnut Hill, Mifflin in East Falls and Kelly, Roosevelt, and Fitler in Germantown received grants for projects ranging from playground paint and cookbooks for autistic support to a “Revolution Shakespeare” workshop and field trip to the African-American Museum.

“Every year I am overwhelmed with the impact that an extra $500 can have in a classroom,” said TCTF coordinator and former Masterman teacher Amy Cohen. The projects were chosen from 68 applications by a committee of teachers, administrators, parents and active community members.

Since 2008, TCTF has been mostly supported by Trolley Car Diner in Mt. Airy and Trolley Car Café in East Falls, which contributes $10,000 annually through its Trolley Car Helping Hands nonprofit. Others looking to contribute to the fund may do so at:

www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/trolley-car-teachers-fund--2. 

These tax-deductible contributions will go entirely to teachers’ grants because administrative costs are covered by Trolley Car.

“We are excited to add Germantown to our mix of schools this year,” said Trolley Car owner and TCTF founder Ken Weinstein. “With additional financial contributions from the community, we look forward to increasing our support for the public schools in Philadelphia every year.” 

For more information about the Trolley Car Teachers Fund, contact Jane Walsh at 215-247-5555, ext. 201, or jane@trolleycardiner.com.