The Ames Education Foundation annually awards funding to teachers throughout the Ames Community School District to provide special projects in the classroom. Individual schools and teachers apply for the grants, which are reviewed by a committee comprised of Foundation trustees, teachers, and administrators. Funded projects promote reading, encourage science, enhance music, and bring social studies to life! The mini-grant program is one that the Foundation has supported since 1990 and has awarded over $100,000 for classroom projects.

There are two mini grant applications :

The Foundations Mini Grant and The Finn Milleman Mini Grant .

Q: Can you apply for both Mini-grants?
A: Yes, but it should be for different programs within your classroom.

Ames Education Foundation 2011 Mini-Grant Form

Finn/Milleman Mini-Grant
In Respectful Memory of… Katie (Finn) Milleman (’98) and John Milleman (’94)

Katie (Finn) and John Milleman were graduates of Ames High School. They were honor roll students, involved in athletics, fine arts, student government and mentoring younger students. Katie was employed as an attorney at Fulbright and Jaworski in Austin, Texas. John was a Resident Physician Urologist at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas. In September 2006, Katie and John lost their lives in a tragic car accident. Both the Finn and Milleman families have chosen to use the memorial funds donated to their respective families to provide an annual mini-grant to Ames Community Schools District. We wish to thank the Finn and Milleman families for contributing to the continued education of our Ames Community students.

Finn/Milleman Mini-Grant Guidlines       Finn/Milleman Mini-Grant Application

The AEF helps donors make scholarships possible for graduating seniors of Ames High School. The AEF administers both annual and endowed scholarships, which average over $25,000 in scholarships, awarded each year.

The Be Instrumental capital campaign raised over $110,000 to purchase new marching band uniforms for Ames High School students. The AHS Band Boosters worked hard to raise the funds needed. Financial support came from AHS alumni and the entire Ames community.

Our goal of having the entire Marching Band members (grades 9 through 12) showing off new matching uniforms at the 2002 VEISHEA parade was accomplished!

As part of the efforts to raise funds for the Paul R. Jones Fitness Center, individuals had an opportunity to have their name and history recorded on a brick or granite and permanently displayed near the Paul R. Jones Fitness Center at Ames High School. The Walk of Fame campaign was a success and the opportunity to purchase a brick or granite continues.

Parents and coaches set a goal to raise funds to purchase a fully automatic timing system. Many former AHS track participants and the entire community helped the effort and raised $25,000 - exceeding the $20,000 goal!

The system features multiple cameras, unlimited capture times (which can also be used for cross-country), and simultaneous image captures and results evaluation, (which generate results before the last finisher crosses the line). This system virtually eliminates inaccuracies in both timing and picking at the finish line.

The Foundation helped a group of interested parents raise $43,000 to upgrade swimming equipment at Ames High School. Funds raised purchased a new scoreboard and timing system.

The community's investment in this project helped strengthen the swimming programs that have demonstrated long-term success both in terms of accomplishments as well as the positive impact the sport has upon young people. Ames High School Swimming and Diving has held a long tradition of excellence in both girls and boys teams. High school swimmers and divers are disciplined and have been known to practice and swim over six miles a day in preparation for meets. These students are dedicated to their sport and their community.

The Ames Education Foundation teamed up with the Friends of Ames Tennis to raise private support to help construct the Ukena Family Tennis Complex, an eight-court tennis facility at Ames High School. Over $220,000 in private support was received from the community!

In addition the Ames Community School District provided the land and over $60,000 for the tennis court complex, and the City of Ames provided $100,000 in city funds to the project.

Together, with the Ames High School Athletic Booster Club and the Ames Community School District, the AEF helped raised over $250,000 to improve existing school facilities with an addition of a fitness center.

Our goal was reached thanks in large part to Paul R. Jones ('34), our lead donor. In addition to Paul's gift, the Ames High School Athletic Booster Club contributed over $20,000, and the Ames High Alumni Association contributed $15,000 which was used to purchase weight lifting equipment from Iowa State University. The equipment and the fitness center benefits every student at Ames High School through physical education courses, intramural activities, and various athletic events.

The Extra Edge Mentoring Program was the result of an individual in our community identifying a problem and looking for a solution. Bob Anderson is that individual. Bob came to the Ames Education Foundation in the fall of 1996 with an idea for a way to help students who needed something extra in their lives. Bob and his wife Janice wanted to find a way to “give back” to their community.

The Extra Edge Mentoring Program offered the opportunity for adults to make an important difference and become a special person in the life of a young person. Through this program, adults spent quality time with a young person and became a positive, role model.

When Youth and Shelter Services received a large federal grant to expand mentoring programs in the area, Bob Anderson, with permission from the donors redirected funds to benefit students at the Ames Middle School. Funds helped to purchase new band instruments and are being used to create a healthy learning environment at the Middle School.