HEEF Awards $15,000 through Community Grant Program

In early March 2009, the Hopi Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) announced it would be accepting funding proposals from community programs and projects that provide educational programming to Hopi students. With $15,000 in available funding and following an intensive review by HEEF members and staff, the HEEF is pleased to announce that the following programs were selected to receive funding for the 2009 HEEF Community Grant Program:

Hopilavayi Summer Institute
With a $11,000 award, from the HEEF, the Hopilavayi Summer Institute seeks to increase the number of trained Hopi language teachers and teacher-trainers, provide training in the effective research-based approach to language teaching-the Oral immersion approach, and to address the critical need for school-based language curriculum and instructional materials. In addition the Hopilavayi Summer Institute intends to also offer Hopi literacy development and to distribute and provide effective utilization of the Hopi Children's Word Book.

The Hopilavayi Program is in its sixth year of existence and for more information on the program contact Dawa Taylor at 928-734-3622.

Hopitutukaiki Summer Arts Program - Hopi School, Inc.
In support of the Hopitutukaiki Summer Arts Program mission," to provide positive and developmental arts apprenticeships for students" the HEEF has awarded the program $4,000. In its fourth year, the Hopitutukaiki Summer Arts Program goals are to: Provide a developmental artistic program for students, enable students to successfully produce art work, encourage the maintenance, use and/or development of Hopi language, values and culture and enable students to develop a more holistic view of arts, culture and academics.

To find out how you can participate in the Hopitutukaiki Summer Arts program please contact Mr. Robert Rhodes at 928-734-2433.

As part of the RFP process, and in order to be considered for funding, a program had to demonstrate that they were a structured educational program, which would provide activities in support of the educational needs, goals and programs of the Hopi Tribe. HEEF Executive Director, LuAnn Leonard stated, "We are glad to once again commit HEEF resources to fund programs that will benefit the Hopi people. What's most exciting is that these programs were developed at the grassroots level thus ensuring that the needs of our communities were always at the forefront." She added, that through continued support of the HEEF, the goal will be to expand and continue to fund educational programs for Hopi people.