The Live Like Mel Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to continue the legacy of Melanie Sutter who passed away February 2019 from glioblastoma brain cancer, is announcing the 2019 Educator Grants. In the inaugural year, the 2019 Live Like Mel Educator Grants will be offered to current teachers and para-professionals at Montpelier Exempted Village Schools in Montpelier, Ohio. One of the Foundation’s goals is to support and recognize current and future educators. Because Melanie was a Montpelier educator who passed away during the current school year, the Foundation felt it was important to recognize her colleagues at Montpelier Schools in the inaugural giving year.

Teachers and para-professionals at Montpelier Schools who have taught or have been employed for the full 2018-2019 school year are eligible to apply through an online application through Sunday, May 5th. Three teachers and/or para-professionals will be selected by the Foundation based on their ongoing commitment to the field of education and the students they impact.

The finalists will be announced on May 17th and each will receive $100 Educator Grants to be used for a project or for classroom supplies with the goal to improve the students’ education and overall experience. Each grant winner will be honored by the Live Like Mel Foundation at the Montpelier staff luncheon held at the school on May 24th. At the luncheon, one finalist will receive an additional $200 Grant. Furthermore, each grant winner will receive an ice cream party for their classroom of choice during the last week of the school year.

Soon after Melanie passed, the family raised funds for the Foundation with the hopes to offer scholarships and grants to future and current educators. It is the Foundation’s goal to not only recognize those who have a passion to earn an education degree and become future educators, but also support current educators and recognize the incredible work they perform each year.

Due to the timing of the Foundation’s creation and the end of the current school year, the officers of the Foundation were not able to offer a scholarship to a future educator during the 2018-2019 academic school year and is planning to offer a future educator scholarship next year. Therefore, the Foundation plans to offer two types of award opportunities each year in the future: current educator grants and future educator scholarships.

In the future, the Foundation is considering offering current educator grants to other schools outside of Montpelier Schools. Also, the Foundation is looking into non-traditional ways to award scholarships to future educators. Scholarships for individuals going back to school to receive an education degree years after graduating high school – just like Melanie did – or scholarships for college seniors who are about to graduate with an education degree to ensure the funds truly support a degree in education are options currently being discussed.

About The Live Like Mel Foundation

The Live Like Mel Foundation is a non-profit organization that continues the legacy of former Ohio educator, Melanie B. Sutter, who passed away on February 2019, from glioblastoma brain cancer. The purpose of The Live Like Mel Foundation is twofold: 1) to support the field of education by recognizing and providing financial assistance to future and current educators and 2) to support individuals and families impacted by glioblastoma by providing educational information and resources.

Note: The Live Like Mel Educator Grants are not administered or supported financially by the Montpelier Exempted Village School District Board of Education.

For any inquiries, please contact Cory Calvin at cory@livelikemel.org