Benefit concert to support classroom grants for local teachers

WENATCHEE — The North Central Education Foundation is inviting the community to a July 12 benefit concert supporting classroom grants that help teachers bring innovative learning opportunities to students across the region.

The concert will feature the vocal group GladSong and begins at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 12, at Columbia Grove Covenant Church in Wenatchee. Proceeds will support the foundation's teacher grant program, which helps educators fund classroom projects that often fall outside traditional school budgets.

During the 2025-26 school year, the foundation awarded classroom grants to 253 teachers across Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties. The grants supported projects in cultural awareness and history, financial education, wellness and social-emotional learning, literacy, music and the arts, and STEM education, benefiting more than 17,000 students.

"We are so inspired by teachers in our region who continue to make the extra effort to innovate and help their students reach their potential," NCEF President Jeff Kimbell said in a news release. "We work hard to secure funding needed to support teachers."

Kimbell said community support helps the foundation create opportunities that enrich classroom learning and expand educational experiences for students throughout the North Central Educational Service District region.

The North Central Education Foundation is in its 16th year of awarding teacher grants.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media