IN THE PRESS
School Views: Too many to thank at Thanksgiving
We are extremely fortunate to work with community partners that provide an unyielding amount of resources for our district. While that list starts with the Education Foundation of Eagle County, an organization that goes beyond advocating for our schools with events like Wild West Days and Project Funway and supports our teachers with their Apple Awards and classroom grants...
Vail Daily
November 20, 2024
Spa Anjali & Athletic Club at The Westin support EFEC, ECSD staff members this September
Spa Anjali and The Athletic Club at The Westin are excited to once again support the dedicated staff of the Eagle County School District this September with discounts on spa treatments and a community benefit class for the Education Foundation of Eagle County.
Real Vail
September 5, 2024
Project Funway Fashion Show Supports Education Through Fundraiser
Thirteen years ago, Project Funway made its debut. Since 2016, they have raised over $4 million in support of the Education Foundation of Eagle County (EFEC). Before a fashion show, it was a way to bring together friends and show off everyone’s creations.
303 Magazine
April 9, 2024
EFEC’s Project Funway is fashioning the Future of Education in Eagle County
Since 2012, EFEC has been a powerhouse non-profit enriching local education and supporting educators and staff with Distinguished Teacher Scholarship Awards, monetary Apple Awards, and recognition celebrating educators’ unwavering commitment and excellence.
Vail Daily
March 7, 2024
What Eagle County students want from behavioral health programming
As mental and behavioral health challenges continue to persist for students, an Eagle County coalition of nonprofits is bringing youth voices into the conversation to find solutions.
As part of a series of community partner presentations for the Eagle County School District Board of Education, at the board’s Jan. 10 meeting, B.E. Partners shared insight from local students in the areas of mental health, substance use, maturation and more.
Vail Daily
January 23, 2024
School Views: Thank you to our Board of Education
January is Board of Education Recognition Month. Our seven Board of Education members volunteer their time, which means they are not compensated. If you know any of these folks or see them out in our community, please be sure to show them your appreciation. The work they do is important to our entire community, and most importantly our youth.
Vail Daily
January 17, 2024
Eagle County School district voters split on bond issue, mill levy increase
Eagle County School District voters were split in their opinions about a pair of ballot questions, 5A and 5B, on Tuesday’s ballot. As of 9 p.m., 5A, a mill levy override, was trailing, while 5B, a bond issue, was leading.
Vail Daily
November 8, 2023
Where campaigns for and against Eagle County School District’s ballot initiatives are getting funding
As the Eagle County School District seeks to pass two separate ballot initiatives, two primary citizen issue committees have formed — one to support the measures and the other to oppose them.
Vail Daily
November 5, 2023
Mikaela Shiffrin answers students’ questions about mental health, rebounding from failure
Olympic ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin took time out of her busy preseason training schedule on Tuesday to address the community at the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon. The Westin Riverfront teamed up with the Education Foundation of Eagle County to host a discussion entitled “Innovation & Success” in a packed lobby full of Shiffrin’s fans of all ages.
Aspen Times
September 28, 2023
Mikaela Gives Boost to Education Foundation of Eagle County
Mikaela Shiffrin gave the parents and schoolkids of Eagle County a boost yesterday when she answered questions about life, challenges, failure, success, and the bigger pictures in life in a Q&A session at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley.
Powder Magazine
September 27, 2023
Education Foundation of Eagle County to continue fundraising efforts for Wild West Day without event
For more than 30 years, Wild West Day has been a fall highlight for local children and families who look forward to spending a crisp, fall day at 4 Eagle Ranch enjoying games, food, horse-drawn wagon rides and more.
Vail Daily
September 25, 2023
The Education Foundation of Eagle County aims to raise $160,000 at Wild West Day
The Education Foundation of Eagle County is gearing up for the 33rd year of one of its largest fundraisers, Wild West Day. The event will take place Sunday, Sept. 24, at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott with the goal of bringing in $160,000 to support Eagle County School District’s eight elementary schools and preschools.
Vail Daily
September 22, 2023
School Views: Reflecting on a great school year
The Education Foundation of Eagle County awarded many of our local educators with Apple Awards, which are $500 endowments given to staff that exemplify EFEC’s mission of supporting the intellectual and emotional growth of our students.
Vail Daily
May 24, 2023
Project Funway Fashion Show Raises Money for Education
For 12 years, the Education Foundation of Eagle County (Efec) has hosted Project Funway, one of the largest fundraising shows in Vail. This generates support for local schools by raising money for in school programs, mental health support and recognizing teachers. Over 40 designers participate where every look is made from “anything but fabric,” and judged by six judges — one being Project Runway runner up Mondo Guerra.
303 Magazine
April 7, 2023
Project Funway Event
Come enjoy a imaginative, brilliant, one-of-a-kind fashion designs of “anything but fabric” parade the runway in this unique fundraising event. No single runway look is ever the same! The show celebrates and supports creativity, art, and design along with raising money to support the Education Foundation of Eagle County.
Discover Vail
April 1, 2023
Eagle County School District’s accountability committee: Proactive measures needed for top challenges like teacher retention, student behavior
The Eagle County School District each year is required by the state to convene an accountability committee to evaluate its top challenges and give recommendations for creative solutions.
Vaily Daily
March 29, 2023
The runway to Project Funway: Eagle County schools host their own spin-offs before the main event
While the Education Foundation of Eagle County’s Project Funway has been a predominant event in the valley for over a decade, in recent years local schools have begun to duplicate it, bringing fashion design into their curriculum.
Vail Daily
March 18, 2023
The Education Foundation of Eagle County’s Wild West Day fundraiser returns Sunday
For over 30 years, Wild West Day has been a fall highlight for local children and families who look forward to spending a crisp fall day at 4 Eagle Ranch enjoying games, food, horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, crafts and more.
Vail Daily
September 23, 2022
Proposed education funding measure falls short of November ballot
Petitioners and volunteers across the state — including members of the local Education Foundation of Eagle County — were working to get an education funding measure on the November ballot, but that effort fell short of the required 125,000 signatures necessary for it to reach voters in November.
Vail Daily
August 10, 2022
EFEC collects signatures for new education funding initiative
The Education Foundation of Eagle County is currently collecting signatures to get an initiative on the November ballot. As proposed, Initiative 63 would help channel an additional nearly $900 million, without raising taxes, to K-12 schools in Colorado.
Vail Daily
May 26, 2022
Meet the Project Funway judges
The 11th Annual Project Funway fundraiser for the Education Foundation of Eagle County is taking place this Saturday evening at the Dobson Ice Arena in Lionshead. The runway competition features outfits crafted by 65 local designers of all ages and skill levels, who have each been challenged to create a one-of-a-kind clothing design for the catwalk. The catch: no fabric can be used in the making of these outfits.
Vail Daily
March 4, 2022
Project Funway celebrates 10 years of creativity and raising money for Eagle County public schools
It’s hard to believe how a little idea to do a fashion show for charity has blossomed into an event that typically gathers hundreds of people and last year raised over $220,000. Project Funway celebrates 10 years of fashion, fun and fundraising efforts to help the Education Foundation of Eagle County with its virtual event Saturday at 7 p.m.
Vail Daily
April 9, 2021
Letter: Thanks for ensuring quality learning for our kids
As we enter the holiday season amid the turmoil of COVID-19, the Education Foundation of Eagle County would like to extend our deepest gratitude to this community for continuing to make education a top priority. Local support passed the 5B ballot issue with 72% approval, according to Eagle County precinct reports, ensuring consistent funding for our schools, teachers, staff and students for decades into the future despite what happens with education funding at the state level.
Vail Daily
November 27, 2020
Education Foundation of Eagle County secures grant for prevention and resiliency programs in schools
Education Foundation of Eagle County, a nonprofit that helps fill the funding gaps in Eagle County education, was recently awarded $277,200 over the span of two years by the Colorado Health Foundation for prevention and resiliency programming in local schools. The funding will facilitate capacity growth of p
Vail Daily
October 30, 2019
Education Foundation of Eagle County celebrates 25th ‘Evening of Stars’ event
The evening of May 18 may have seen snow dumping on our winter-fatigued community, but that didn’t stop an outpouring of appreciation for local teachers, school support staff and volunteers in Eagle County Schools.
Vail Daily
June 14, 2019
Project Funway benefits mental health in Eagle County schools
Now that the glue guns, duct tape and dust have settled, the Education Foundation of Eagle County’s Project Funway has once again impressed a growing audience with the creativity, talent and generosity that flows throughout this mountain resort community. The Saturday, Feb. 9, event, hosted at Dobson Ice Arena in Vail, featured an evening of fashion, food and fun, grossing approximately $160,000 in support of efforts to put a therapist in every school in Eagle County.
Vail Daily
February 18, 2019
Education Foundation of Eagle County announces new mission, new board members
The Education Foundation of Eagle County has announced a new mission and focus for the organization, along with four new board members. A fundraising campaign in support of these new initiatives launches Tuesday, Aug. 28.
Vail Daily
August 24, 2018
Project Funway raises $100,000 for local schools
For the seventh year in a row, Education Foundation of Eagle County’s Project Funway event provided a spark of creativity and an evening of fashion, food and fun, all in the name of raising money for teacher and classroom support throughout Eagle County.
Vail Daily
February 14, 2018
Education Foundation of Eagle County awards equity grants to local schools
The Education Foundation of Eagle County Board of Trustees recently announced 2017-18 school year grant awards in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); equity and staffing; and arts and music benefiting students at seven Eagle County Schools and district wide.
Vail Daily
December 9, 2017
Vail Daily letter: Local money supporting local jobs
Thank you for your school budget transparency story (“New school budget includes bond dollars,” Tuesday, June 20). As an advocate for education in our community, I’m extremely impressed with how our local citizens stepped up to support a living wage for our teachers. Seeing as how Eagle County Schools is the second largest employer in Eagle County, if we want our community to continue to thrive, then this is the responsible approach to make it happen — local money supporting local jobs.
Vail Daily
July 7, 2017
High Altitude Society column: Project Funway raises funds for Eagle County Schools
On Saturday, April 8, Dobson Ice Arena in Vail was transformed into a festive venue for the 2017 Project Funway fashion event. There were huge magenta orbs illuminating the arena and a handmade bar built by Karl Krueger. The space was a far departure from the chilly ice rink and held hundreds of fans of fashion and education. The designers, models and hair and makeup talent worked throughout the afternoon and early evening to prepare for yet another amazing show.
Vail Daily
April 23, 2017
Education Foundation of Eagle County announces grant awards
The Education Foundation of Eagle County exists to support the creation and delivery of an excellent learning experience for Eagle County Public School students. Since 2011, after a failed mill levy and tremendous losses in state funding to our public schools, the Foundation has invested more than $500,000 in grants, teacher scholarships, community organizing and legislative advocacy in support of Eagle County public schools.
Vail Daily
February 22, 2016
Education Foundation of Eagle County gaining momentum
A new foundation launched to offset education funding cuts is gaining momentum and message, its leaders say.
The Education Foundation of Eagle County’s goal is to help offset some of the funding cuts the school district over the last year.
Vail Daily
June 19, 2012