Local Partnership Awards over $200,000 in First Year to Develop Nontraditional Educational Opportunities in Tarrant County
Miles Foundation is partnering with VELA Education Fund to support educational innovations led by and supporting Tarrant County families
December 9, 2022 — As the year comes to a close, the Miles Foundation and VELA Education Fund today announced a total of 26, 2022 grant recipients who will receive a total of $222,500 to support nontraditional education programs that serve Tarrant County families.
Micro grants of up to $10,000 each are being awarded to Tarrant County educational entrepreneurs who are providing a wide range of learning opportunities for families – from hybrid homeschooling models to outdoor forest schools to microschools supporting learners with disabilities.
“The Miles Foundation shares our belief in people and is helping to drive transformative change in education by supporting the local entrepreneurs and innovators who are stretching the canvas on how and where learning takes place,” shared Meredith Olson, VELA Education Fund’s President. “Their support has enabled more families to access learning opportunities that are aligned with their needs, beliefs, and values.”
These nontraditional education models are increasingly popular with families in Tarrant County. One of these entrepreneurs was Amber Okolo-Ebube from Leading Little Arrows. Her story was recently featured in Voyage Dallas.
Across the country, VELA has supported similar local partnerships in effort to address unique community needs. In Tarrant County, VELA has matched grant funds committed by The Miles Foundation to accelerate innovation throughout North Texas.
“VELA Education Fund has proven across the country that the desire to explore tailored educational options has never been higher,” said Grant Coates, CEO and President of The Miles Foundation. “We look forward to our second year of partnership as we seek to more robustly support unique school models that are responsive to diverse student needs.”
2022 marked the first of a multi-year, $1 million opportunity for Tarrant County-area programs. Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis from January through October and may be accessed through velaedfund.org/grant-opportunities. Interested applicants can sign up at velaedfund.org/connect to receive updates directly from VELA.
Grant Coates, CEO and President of the Miles Foundation, and Meredith Olson, President of VELA Education Fund, are available for interviews. If interested in pursuing a story, please contact Lindsay Kelly at lkelly@velaedfund.org
###
About The Miles Foundation:
The Miles Foundation, based in Fort Worth, Texas, endeavors to honor the legacy of its founder, Ellison Miles, through investments in education that promote the next generation’s success. Learn more at milesfdn.org.
About VELA Education Fund:
VELA is a national nonprofit fund that launched in 2020. VELA invests in everyday entrepreneurs – students, parents, educators, and community leaders – who are envisioning new approaches that meet learners’ and families’ needs. These models include homeschool co-ops, microschools, after-school programs, and much, much more. VELA does not dictate solutions to its grantees. Instead, VELA trusts grantees to identify what their communities need and how they can best meet those needs. To date, VELA has awarded more than 1,850 grants totaling over $18.3 million to support non-traditional education models. Recipients reside in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.