April 19, 2007

To: All Buffalo Teachers

From: Philip Rumore, President

RE: Make A Dream Come True Scholarships

We have just worked through all the legal and technical issues surrounding the creation of the Make A Dream Come True Scholarships.

We decided that even though there would be a short time line, rather than wait until next year to begin awarding the scholarships, we would start this year and have scholarships awarded for the 2007-08 school year and every year thereafter.

Under the guidelines, five (5) $500 scholarships will be awarded to the children of Buffalo teachers, i.e teachers who work for the Buffalo Public Schools. These awards can apply to students not enrolled in the Buffalo Public School District.

Children of Buffalo teachers who are enrolled in the Buffalo Public School District are also eligible for one of the fifteen (15) $500 scholarships that will be awarded to students enrolled in the Buffalo Public School District.

To apply, go to www.cfgb.org --> Grants & Scholarships --> Scholarships. After reading the important information on this page, scroll to the bottom and then click “Apply Now” to create your account and begin the application process. Please be aware that there are scholarship support materials in addition to the online application that must to be received by June 1.

Teachers’ student dependents who apply online by May 1, 2007 will be eligible for all scholarships administered by CFGB for which they qualify. Most are based upon need. This includes the five (5) Make A Dream Come True Scholarships that are only available to dependents of teachers employed by BPS.

If the May deadline is impossible for students who are BTF member dependents, a special application is available from your delegate chair and more are available at BTF headquarters, 271 Porter Ave, Buffalo, NY 14201. Completion of these special green applications must be delivered to BTF headquarters by 5:00 pm May 15.

Students must have at least a “B” (85-89) average as indicated on a report card showing at least two (2) marking periods of their senior year of study from the appropriate school district.

Awards will be determined by the Community Foundation for Great Buffalo and will be prioritized to those students in each of the two groups (BPS students/BPS teacher’s dependents) based first upon highest GPAs and then upon need. A complete copy of the Policy Guidelines are on the BTF website, www.btfny.org, under “Announcements” and “What’s New”.

YES, THIS IS SHORT NOTICE BUT RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR WE FELT THAT WE SHOULD MAKE THEM AVAILABLE THIS YEAR. WE COULD HAVE WAITED AND HAD LESS OF A RUSH BUT FELT WE SHOULD PROVIDE THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU KNOW A BUFFALO TEACHER WHO MIGHT MISS THIS, PLEASE GIVE THEM A CALL.