Maggie & Amos Foundation accepting applications for educator grants

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CHANA — The Maggie & Amos Foundation is currently accepting applications for its annual educator grants.  This year’s theme, “Your Year to Shine” Grants for Educators offers grants for local schools up to the amount of $500 to fund projects and materials for unique and engaging learning opportunities.  To date, over $50,000 has been donated to local educators, libraries, and community enhancement opportunities through grants and scholarships.  Funds are raised to support these giving projects at the organization’s annual Infinity Event in Memory of Maggie and Amos.  The annual event boasts a 5K trail run, bags tournament, children’s activities, live music, and more on the grounds of the Rochelle Conservation Club.  This year’s event is scheduled for June 14, 2025 and promises fun for the whole family with live performances by The Killer B’s, Burn n’ Bush, and The Vodka Boys.  

The Maggie and Amos Foundation was formed following the deaths of Maggie and Amos (Rosko) Meyer in a house fire on Oct. 19th, 2016.  Maggie’s friends and co-workers at Chana Education Center established the non-profit to carry on the legacies of these two loved individuals.  Maggie was a special education teacher at Chana Education Center and always kept her students guessing with whimsical and creative projects.  She incorporated her love for music, art, and activity into her daily lessons and students knew to always be prepared for an adventure each day.  Amos, only three years old at the time of his death, had a love for the outdoors, animals, and farming.  

“These past eight years have not necessarily made things easier,” Lynn Kalnins, co-founder of The Maggie & Amos Foundation, said.  “Maggie and Amos are still missed daily by those who loved and knew them.  However, we have learned through the challenging circumstances surrounding their loss that we can do so much good in their names.  Our foundation has provided musical instruments for kids to play, robotics kits for kids to build, outdoor classrooms for kids to imagine in, and so much more.  With each sponsored grant, we feel like we cast a little spark of Maggie’s creativity into the receiving classroom and its students.   Situations like these can make those left behind feel very powerless, but with each spark we ignite, we know that we are keeping the memory of Maggie and Amos alive.”

Applications for the “Your Year to Shine Grant” can be found at: https://forms.gle/msh6fXBJBTJfQWdr8.  For more information on The Maggie & Amos Foundation, follow their Facebook page at: facebook.com/maggieandamos.