DOWNEY — At Downey Unified’s Board of Education meeting held last week, the Stauffer Foundation presented its 2021 Stauffer Foundation Grants for teachers and principals within the district.

These grants, which included 14 principal grants, 18 teacher grants and two robotics grants, totaled $220,450.

The principal grants were provided in honor of former Downey Unified Director, longtime Stauffer Foundation Board member and beloved community member Linda Kennedy.

Phil Davis, Stauffer Foundation board member, presented these grants to each recipient during the meeting.

“We would like to send our highest appreciation to the Mary R. Stauffer Foundation for the outpouring of continuous support,” expressed Downey Unified Superintendent Dr. John Garcia. “Even though Dr. Stauffer is no longer with us, she continues to support our Downey Unified family through her foundation, and for that, we are forever grateful.”

The Stauffer Foundation has presented these annual grants to the district for the last 21 years which provide teachers and principals additional funding for new innovative programs and creative projects, renewals of existing programs, and expanded program offerings to better prepare students for their college and career endeavors.

This year’s robotics grants, which were provided to assist in the expansion of robotics related programs, were given to Downey Unified’s College and Career Readiness Department. These two grants, totaling $87,500, will be used to further expand robotics at the middle and high school levels.

The first robotics grant presented will be used to provide students with supplies for VEX robotics and drone racing competitions. Now that Measure O construction is complete, the second grant will be used in supporting the expansion of the robotics program at Sussman Middle School within the new two-story classroom building.

Stauffer Foundation presents grants totaling $220K