Saddle River Day School Receives Match for Prestigious Edward E. Ford Foundation Grant

In June of 2022, Saddle River Day School was awarded a prestigious Edward E. Ford Foundation Grant to support its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). The $100,000 award came with a stipulation that the funds must be matched dollar for dollar by a donor within a year before disbursement.

Francis and Kristen Walsh, current Saddle River Day School parents and residents of Saddle River, have generously matched the $100,000 award. Thanks to the generosity of the Walsh family, the grant funds have been received and the school has been able to expand the innovative programming and academic offerings of its CIE.

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a newer initiative for SRDS. It encourages students to examine issues in the community and the world and see these issues as opportunities for innovation, design and entrepreneurship. It allows for more project-based, student-centered learning and cross-divisional collaboration in the classroom.

Applying for an E. E. Ford Foundation Grant and receiving placement on the Board Agenda is a detailed, rigorous and highly competitive process. Requirements for consideration include a proposal with supporting documents, meetings with the Head of School, campus visitations and interviews with faculty, staff and students.

Receiving an E.E. Ford Grant is quite an accomplishment. To provide some perspective, Saddle River Day School submitted 9 applications over the past 40 years. The only other grant received was in 1979, in the amount of $25,000.

The Saddle River Day School community has always been supportive of the school’s mission and vision, and its generosity continually funds exceptionalism across all areas of academia. SRDS is eternally grateful to the Walsh family for their philanthropy, knowing today’s students and those yet to come will greatly benefit from their gift. 

For further information on the Edward E. Ford program: https://www.eeford.org/