Pender Education Partnership offers HOPE to Pender Educators

BURGAW – Pender Education Partnership (PEP), a non-profit foundation established to enhance educational opportunities and assist public school educators, presented $10,800 to 27 Pender County staff and teachers who were impacted by Hurricane Florence.

“PEP agreed we needed to help our educators,” said Tammie Parris, interim treasurer of PEP. “We established a fund online and Dave Stipe, our president, spread the word about the great need in our school system.”

“Hurricane Florence left more than 80 Pender County staff displaced,” said Dr. Steven Hill, superintendent of Pender County Schools. “This community came together for a worthy cause to assist our staff and students.”

PEP’s fundraiser was named HOPE, Help Our Pender Educators. PEP’s goal of raising $10,000 was exceeded, thanks to the generosity of residents, businesses, and organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island and the Wilmington Kiwanis Club.

“Several directors on the PEP board were impacted by Hurricane Florence,” said Parris. “We understand the recovery process is hard. Our goal with this gift is to show our support and appreciation for our Pender County School educators and staff and to make their holiday a little brighter.”

PEP hosts the annual April Spelling Bee at Heide Trask High School, a fun-filled evening that pits good-natured competition between local businesses, teachers, and civic organizations. This year PEP will sponsor the first State of Education and Economy program on Jan. 31, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Mojo Tone in Burgaw.

Pender Education Partnership is a 501 (c) 3 foundation with a mission of providing educator mini-grants and senior scholarships. For more information visit their webpage or Facebook page or contact a board member.

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