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ALPENA – Alpena Public Schools recently received a $100,000 grant from the Alpena Public Schools Endowment Fund, held at the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM), to purchase and implement a new math curriculum for elementary school students throughout the district, according to a press release Tuesday from CFNEM.

Contributions from the school district, local businesses, and community members who believe in the future of Alpena students have been invested over time, creating a lasting source of support for Alpena Public Schools, the release stated

“Navigating the unpredictability and rigidity of the state budget presents a continuous challenge for our schools, which is why the support from these endowment funds is so critical. This isn’t just financial assistance; it is funding provided by those who know our district’s needs the best: our community,” David Rabbideau, superintendent of Alpena Public Schools, said in the release. “We are deeply grateful for our community’s ongoing generosity and for the Community Foundation’s careful stewardship of these resources. Their partnership allows us to step outside of traditional budget constraints to address immediate opportunities and invest in special projects, like our new elementary math curriculum, that are truly and completely centered on the success of our students.”

Alpena Public Schools holds other endowment funds with CFNEM that support a variety of district needs, according to the release. An additional $7,000 was distributed from the Alpena Public Schools Extracurricular Endowment Fund to help upgrade equipment in the Alpena High School weight room, benefiting student-athletes who use the facility throughout the year.

CFNEM also recently distributed $40,000 from the Granum Family Alpena Board of Education Fund to support the loan payment toward previous improvements to the Alpena High School primary athletic field, the release stated. Over the past seven years, that fund has distributed $280,000 to support Alpena Public Schools.

“Endowment funds are one of the most powerful ways organizations can plan for the future,” Christine Hitch, CFNEM development and marketing director, said in the release. “Charitable gifts are invested and grow over time, creating a permanent source of support. That means nonprofits like Alpena Public Schools can respond to opportunities and needs for years to come without relying solely on annual fundraising or budget cycles.”

An endowment works much like a savings account for an organization’s future, CFNEM explained. Gifts made to the fund are invested, and a portion of the earnings is distributed annually, or allowed to accumulate, to support the organization’s priorities while preserving the principal for future generations.