Verona Foundation for Educational Excellence (VFEE)

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Verona Foundation for Educational Excellence (VFEE)

The mission of VFEE is to maintain an extra margin of excellence by employing private resources to supplement traditional school funding.

VFEE works to improve the education of our children through grants that go directly into the classroom. The Foundation funds major projects, as well as enables faculty members to undertake a number of innovative classroom projects at all grade levels.

06/02/2026

“In a time when school budgets are stretched thin, VFEE is the bridge that allows us to dream bigger for our students.”
— Elissa Freda, Forest & Laning Library Media Specialist

That’s exactly why we do what we do. 💚

When Ms. Freda submitted her “Illuminating Innovation” grant, her goal was simple but powerful: turn library time from passive consumption into active creation. Because of VFEE donors, 450 students at Forest and Laning Avenue schools are about to experience a library that glows, builds, and puzzles alongside them.

A whole new generation will get to feel the thrill of collaborative problem-solving. Reluctant writers will find their voice on a neon lightboard. Young engineers will test gravity and balance with their own hands.

“I cannot wait to invite you in to see these tools in action.”

Neither can we, Ms. Freda. Neither can we. 🌟

05/26/2026

🌸 Seeds Planted in 2023, Still Blooming in 2026! 🥕

We love seeing the lasting impact of our grants! Check out the brand-new sign at the VHS-VFEE Pollinator & Vegetable Garden, honoring the 2023 grant that started it all.
Thanks to the dedication of Verona teachers like Kathleen Thomas, this garden has grown into a thriving, hands-on learning hub across multiple schools and seasons.

Here is how VFEE funding is growing student success:

👩‍🌾 VHS Life Skills Students: Gaining incredible hands-on experience planting, harvesting, laying w**d barriers, and using fresh herbs for cooking and international summer lunches.
🦋 HBW Speech-Language & Science Students: Partnering to care for the HBW pollinator garden and even fostering black swallowtail butterflies from chrysalis to emergence!
🌿 HBW Mandarin Club: Cultivating culturally diverse crops like bok choy and Chinese broccoli.
🌻 VHS Environmental Club: Growing beautiful Black-Eyed Susans, zinnias, and sunflowers for their annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale.From extended school year programming to regular science classrooms, this garden is a true community effort—bringing together students from VHS, HBW, and the Verona Community Garden.

“The garden has truly become a meaningful hands-on learning space for our students, and we are so grateful for VFEE’s support in making it possible.” — Kathleen Thomas,

VHS Teacher & Environmental Club AdvisorThank you to our amazing educators, hardworking students, and generous donors who make grants like this possible. Together, we are watching education bloom in Verona!

VeronaNJ SchoolGardens SustainableEducation

05/22/2026

🎵 From a VFEE-funded grant to a published piece of music! 🎶

We are thrilled to share an incredible success story highlighting the power of community support in our schools.

In the 2023/2024 school year, the HBW Music Department received a grant from VFEE to commission a brand-new concert band piece by local composer Peter Sciaino.

Today, we are incredibly proud to announce that the piece, titled “IRIDESCENCE,” has been officially picked up by a music publisher and will be released for purchase in the coming weeks! 🚀 https://rwsmusic.com/product/iridescence/

In the words of the composer, Peter Sciaino: “IRIDESCENCE reflects on the enduring nature of a school community... The music invites listeners to consider how we navigate an ever-changing world with a commitment to lifelong learning, empathy, and compassion. That is precisely what arts education provides for students. Programs like the one at HBW do far more than teach notes and rhythms...they foster creativity, connection, discipline, curiosity, and humanity.”

This is exactly what VFEE grants are all about—sparking creativity that starts in a Verona classroom and grows to make a lasting impact on the wider world.

A massive thank you to Mr. Michalowski for investing in our students and the arts! ✨

👉 Swipe to see a preview of the first two pages of the score!

05/06/2026

🍎 One week isn’t enough. Verona’s teachers deserve to be celebrated 365 days a year. 💚

Support VFEE and help us fund the classroom grants that make a difference all year long — not just this week.

🎓 Link in bio to donate!

05/03/2026

Ms. Freda is a dedicated Verona Public Schools teacher who is consistently thinking about ways to transform learning experiences for our students. By applying for a VFEE grant, she was able to get new tools to support teaching & learning.

🌳 These products transform library instruction from passive listening into active, multisensory application. Instead of simply reading about engineering or narrative structure, students can use the Magnetic Cubes to physically test architectural concepts or the Lightboards to map out story arcs and visualize character development in real-time.
🌳 The Mosaic Boards reinforce the pattern recognition skills necessary for library organization and coding, while the Breakout EDU expansions turn research skills into a high-stakes collaborative game.
🌳 By integrating these tools into lessons, we move beyond “checking out books” to checking for understanding, allowing students to demonstrate their comprehension through design, problem-solving, and tangible creation.

04/26/2026

Nadia Anzalone, English/Public Speaking teacher, Newspaper Advisor, and Junior Class Advisor applied for a VFEE grant to support students at VHS in hosting an official TedX event!

“These students will serve as the speakers for the TEDx event. Because this is an officially licensed TEDx program, participating students will be recognized as TED speakers for life. Their talks will be published on the TED platform, providing a permanent, globally accessible record of their work and an exceptional credential they can include on college and professional resumes.”

04/14/2026

"He's Setting the Bar High"
🌳Luigi has been a dedicated member of the Verona Board of Education since 2013, serving as the Head Custodian at Laning Elementary School.

🌳He is responsible for routine building repairs, preventative maintenance, and managing inventory and supply requisitions.

🌳He is currently further enhancing his expertise by pursuing a Rutgers/NJSBGA Certificate in Educational Facility Management.

04/09/2026

💚 The event is sold out — but your impact doesn’t have to stop there.

VFEE has been funding extraordinary grants for Verona students and teachers for 20 years. Every dollar donated goes directly back into our schools — no overhead, all impact.
Here’s what your generosity makes possible:
🎵 Guest artists & clinicians in the classroom
📚 Teacher grants for bold new ideas
🌟 Student opportunities beyond the school day
🤝 Community programs that connect us all

Whether it’s $25 or $500, every gift helps us say “yes” to the next great grant application.

👉 Donate at the link in our bio — and it’s fully tax deductible.
Thank you for 20 incredible years, Verona. Here’s to 20 more. 🌳

04/04/2026

🎉 We are officially SOLD OUT and our hearts are full. Thank you, Verona!

Every seat for the 10th Annual Inspiring Excellence Awards is filled. The outpouring of support for our honorees, our grant recipients, and our students means everything to us.
Can’t join us in person? You can still be part of the impact. 💚

Your donation helps VFEE award more grants to support teachers like Erik Lynch who bring NYC jazz musicians into our classrooms, and hundreds of other moments that change students’ lives.

👉 Donate at the link in our bio.

Address

682 Bloomfield Avenue PO Box 155
Verona, NJ
07044

Website

http://vfee.org/ways-to-give

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