IECA Foundation

05/31/2026

FINAL HOURS. ⏰

We have just 12 hours left to hit our $30K goal — and every dollar you give will be DOUBLED through midnight.

This is your last chance to join the 30 for 30 challenge and make twice the impact for youth education.

Don't let your match expire. Link in bio to donate. 💙

05/31/2026

Here's how your donation works. 👇

When you give to the 30 for 30 Matching Challenge, your dollar is doubled — and it goes directly toward awarding grants to youth-serving organizations nationwide.

1️⃣ You donate
2️⃣ Your gift is matched
3️⃣ Grants are awarded in 2027
4️⃣ Youth organizations are empowered

It's that simple. Double your impact before midnight — link in bio.

Grant applications will open later this year, with awards distributed in 2027. Your donation today helps us reach more youth organizations when applications launch.

05/29/2026

Buy one, gift two. It’s the ultimate BOGO, but for a great cause!

For 30 years, the IECA Foundation has been fueling the next generation of education and youth programs. To celebrate this milestone, our Board of Directors and Emeritus Members have put up a massive $30,000 matching pool.

For every dollar you invest in our mission today, our leadership team matches it 100% to help expand our reach and fuel the next generation of our work supporting underserved youth across the country.

That means your donation is instantly doubled:

You give $100 ➡️ It becomes $200

You give $500 ➡️ It becomes $1,000

The clock is ticking! This matching opportunity ends this Sunday, May 31.

Join the challenge, double your impact, and help us smash this $30k goal in honor of 30 years of serving youth.

👉 Tap the link in our bio or donate directly here: https://www.iecafoundation.org/donation

05/27/2026

We are incredibly excited to honor Laura Seese as the 2026 Katz Award recipient! To learn more about H2O Planet, you can visit their website at https://h2o-planet.org/

To learn more about the Katz Award, please visit our website at https://www.iecafoundation.org/katz-award 🏆✨

Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients! The awards were presented during the IECA 2026 Annual Conference in Baltimore.

🌟 Lloyd Paradiso — Steven R. Antonoff Award for Professional Achievement, IECA’s highest recognition for demonstrated leadership and colleagueship.

🌟 Whitney Bruce — Mark H. Sklarow Excellence in Advocacy Award, honoring her advocacy for students, families, and the IEC profession.

🌟 Laura Seese — IECA Foundation's Irvin W. Katz Award, recognizing her significant charitable volunteer efforts on behalf of a nonprofit organization.

🌟 Caroline Bouffard, Emily Cutler, Christine Eischen, Sue Freeman, Rose Ellen Mocombe, and Donna Sakabu — Making a Difference Award, recognizing their exemplary and selfless volunteer service benefiting IECA members.

🌟 Bruce Epstein, Anne Holmdahl, Barbara Klein, and Kiki Steele — Mentorship Excellence Award, recognizing their significant impact on the professional growth of IEC mentees.

🌟 Caitlin Andersen, Steve Antonoff, Cheryl Chamberlain, Jyoti Jain, and Penny Klein — Service Award, honoring volunteer efforts that went above and beyond their designated leadership roles.

Thank you all for your incredible dedication and impact on both the association and the IEC profession.

05/27/2026

We absolutely loved seeing everyone embrace this year’s "Pearl" theme at the Pearls of Opportunity Gala! We challenged you to dress your best, and you certainly delivered.

While it was an incredibly tough decision, we were thrilled to award three attendees with their very own pearl piece to take home.

The Rare Find: For the person with the most unique style and a truly standout, one-of-a-kind look.
🏆 Congratulations to our winner, Melissa Mayes!

The Classic Pearl: For the person with a sharp, elegant look that reflected a classic white pearl.
🏆 Congratulations to our winner, Brittany Cohen!

The Lustrous Award: For the person with the most vibrant color, best shimmer, or stunning sequins.
🏆 Congratulations to our winner, Cynthia Flowers!

Thank you for showing off your creativity and joining us for a special evening celebrating our 30th anniversary! A huge thank you to Bella Kai Pearls for donating these wonderful pearl pieces. 🥂

05/26/2026

Did you know that right now, your generosity goes twice as far?

Thanks to our generous board and emeritus members, every dollar given to the Foundation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $30,000!

Here is how that incredible dollar-for-dollar match works:
🌱 A gift of $1,000 becomes $2,000—funding an entire microgrant.
🎓 A gift of $2,500 becomes $5,000—funding a full project grant.

These grants directly empower the programs working on the ground to open doors and guide underserved students toward a brighter future.

Whether you can chip in $100 (which becomes $200!) or help us fund a full grant, we need your help to fully unlock this $30,000 match while the window is open.

🔗 Double your impact here: https://www.iecafoundation.org/donation

05/22/2026

Looking back at Tuesday's IECA Conference luncheon, we are still incredibly inspired by the room's response to the official launch of our 30 for 30 Challenge.

This year marks a massive milestone for us: our 30th Anniversary. To celebrate three decades of community and impact, we wanted to do something bigger than ourselves.

That’s why we launched the Challenge. In honor of our 30th year, our Board of Directors and Emeritus Members are committing to match up to $30,000 in donations. Every single dollar you give will be instantly doubled by our leadership to help fuel the next generation of our work.

For those who couldn't make it to the luncheon on Tuesday, you haven't missed your chance to be part of this milestone history. Today, we are officially bringing the challenge to our entire digital network.

⏳ This matching opportunity from our Foundation leaders is only open for a limited time, so don't wait to double your impact.

👉 Join the challenge, donate today, and celebrate 30 years with us: https://www.iecafoundation.org/donation

05/19/2026

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Huge congratulations to Eric Endlich, the grand prize winner of our 'Purchase a Pearl' drawing at the Gala! 🥳✨ Eric now gets to kickstart next year by choosing between free registration for the 2027 IECA Conference or a $500 sponsorship credit and tickets to the 2027 Foundation Event!

To Eric and everyone who purchased a Pearl of Opportunity—thank you. You proved that when this community comes together, we create an unbreakable chain of impact for youth-serving organizations. 🤍

05/18/2026

Tonight is finally the night. ✨

Our vision board says it all: pearls, purpose, and celebration by the harbor. We have been looking forward to this evening for months, and we are so excited to share it with you at the Pearls of Opportunity Gala.

Get ready for a wonderful night of community, style, and coming together for a great cause.

🤍 Pearl-themed attire encouraged
⚠️ Note: IECA Conference attendance required.
🎟 Tickets available on our website: https://www.iecafoundation.org/upcoming-event-information