The Gloucester Education Foundation drives innovation, encourages creativity, expands student opportunities, and empowers educators to strengthen teaching and learning in the Gloucester Public School District. Since 2005, we have raised over $11 million to support thousands of students in the Gloucester Schools.

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O'Maley Courtyard

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GEF FY25 Impact Report celebrates hands-on learning!
GEF FY25 Impact Report celebrates hands-on learning!
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Arts Fest 2025: a grand success!
Arts Fest 2025: a grand success!

A recap of GEF and GPS’s annual celebration of arts and creativity!

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Power of Play 2025
Power of Play 2025

Everyone’s favorite “Day of Play” is back!

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2024 was a big year - check out some highlights!
2024 was a big year - check out some highlights!

Our annual Year-in-Review

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The LEGENDARY boxes of the build section. Raise your hand (✋) in the comments if you’ve ever donated, stored, built, assembled, or disassembled boxes for the Power of Play. Absolutely none of this would be possible without the immense support of our community. THANK YOU!
Help us thank the Cape Ann Savings Bank in the comments! @capeannsavingsbank
Ever wonder how the Power of Play came to be? Listen to the origin story straight from the founder, Aria McElhenny.
Hi 👋 This is Joana! I hope you’re enjoying this social media takeover. I was thrilled to be invited to take you behind the scenes of this incredible event! Coming up: we’ve got interviews, exclusive moments and unexpected surprises. Stay tuned for the full insider experience.
Today’s the big day: Power of Play 2026! When you come to the Field House today and see these three faces - that’s past Event Chairs Heather Widfeldt and Ingrid Conti, and current Event Chair Jessica Margiotta - please thank them, loudly
Today’s the big day: Power of Play 2026! When you come to the Field House today and see these three faces - that’s past Event Chairs Heather Widfeldt and Ingrid Conti, and current Event Chair Jessica Margiotta - please thank them, loudly and repeatedly! These three leaders, all busy working women with full-time jobs and full-time families, have devoted countless hours to Power of Play over the years. They are the heart and soul of this event, and GEF is in awe of their power AND their playfulness. Extra thanks to Jessica for taking on the big, complicated role of Event Chairs two years running. We could not do this without you. THANK YOU, Jess, Heather and Ingrid! 💙❤️💚💜🧡💛🩵
GEF’s annual “Day of Play” is back for an 8th year on Sunday, March 22, from 11am-2pm! This is a FREE community event. For this year’s activity schedule in English, Spanish and Portuguese: www.thinkthebest.org/pop Thank you to our lead sponsor and founding partner Cape Ann Savings Bank, and to sponsors Sawyer Free Library, Medeiros General Construction, and Seashore Comfort Solutions! Their continued support helps keep this event free and accessible to the entire community.
OBSESSED with these giant hand-drawn puzzles made by @gloucesterhigh.nahs for Power of Play! Come color them in at CREATE, then go put ‘em together at GAMES. Thank you to NAHS President and GEF student Advisor @myleetowne for recruiting the s
OBSESSED with these giant hand-drawn puzzles made by @gloucesterhigh.nahs for Power of Play! Come color them in at CREATE, then go put ‘em together at GAMES. Thank you to NAHS President and GEF student Advisor @myleetowne for recruiting the student artist to create these. See you Sunday!
We don't call it "Power of Play" for the cutesy alliteration or snazzy "PoP" acronym (although those are nice!). GEF and our partners really, truly believe that play is POWERFUL: a powerful teacher; a powerful connecter; a powerfu
We don't call it "Power of Play" for the cutesy alliteration or snazzy "PoP" acronym (although those are nice!). GEF and our partners really, truly believe that play is POWERFUL: a powerful teacher; a powerful connecter; a powerful force for good. Read about all the benefits of DISCOVER, TOUCH, WIGGLE, MOVE, BUILD, CREATE, and GAMES, and come play with us on Sunday!
Power of Play Countdown 2026 continues, with a big shout out to our wonderful sponsors. We could never pull off such a big, complex event - and keep it FREE to everyone! - without their support. Thank you, thank you! @capeanndsavingsbank has been o
Power of Play Countdown 2026 continues, with a big shout out to our wonderful sponsors. We could never pull off such a big, complex event - and keep it FREE to everyone! - without their support. Thank you, thank you! @capeanndsavingsbank has been our lead sponsor, founding partner, and concession stand team since the very first year of Power of Play back in 2016. We are so thankful for their commitment to creating this magical opportunity for play, connection, and community! @sawyerfreelibrary always steps up to sponsor the event and help out in other ways, too - like signing kids up for library cards right at the event and loaning us SO MANY LEGO for Build. @seashorecomfortsolutions, @medeirosgeneral, and Dr. David Harrison DMD have all supported PoP for multiple years now, and they've become great advocates for this event and for GEF! We encourage you to patronize and thank these businesses that invest in our community and its children year after year.
Power of Play is just ONE week away! Can you believe this amazing group of partners who are helping GEF bring our annual Day of Play to life? From leading activities to donating raffle baskets to running the concession stand to designing our posters
Power of Play is just ONE week away! Can you believe this amazing group of partners who are helping GEF bring our annual Day of Play to life? From leading activities to donating raffle baskets to running the concession stand to designing our posters to crafting our welcoming balloon arch, this is the best group of collaborators in town! We're so thankful for the creativity and commitment of this group of organizations and businesses, some of which are also event sponsors (more to come on that special group tomorrow...). @backyardgrowers @pathwaysforchildren @kindred_gardens @capeannymca @capeannsavingsbank @theopendoor @northshorekarateacademy @sawyerfreelibrary @gloucesterhsmusic @seaside_circus_cape_ann @gloucester_sea_cadets @blackearthcompost @magmagloucester @sassysq.marketing Beauport Financial Services @cedarwood.events @beauportfinancial
Yesterday was such a bustling day at the GEF office! Our Student Advisors had a workshop there (do you know we five awesome new advisors? more to come on them soon…), and then we had a big crew of Power of Play volunteers helping prep material
Yesterday was such a bustling day at the GEF office! Our Student Advisors had a workshop there (do you know we five awesome new advisors? more to come on them soon…), and then we had a big crew of Power of Play volunteers helping prep materials for the big day in 3/22. Including toddlers loading box donations into a truck, and kindergarteners making signage. Nothing better than days like this!
Power of Play 2026 Activity Alert! We're bringing back all the old faves and mixing in some exciting new ones, thanks to our incredible volunteers and partners. March 22nd, 11am-2pm in the GHS Field House. Be There or Be Bored. See link in bio for
Power of Play 2026 Activity Alert! We're bringing back all the old faves and mixing in some exciting new ones, thanks to our incredible volunteers and partners. March 22nd, 11am-2pm in the GHS Field House. Be There or Be Bored. See link in bio for Portuguese and Spanish versions!
Congratulations to the wonderful (and ENORMOUS!!) cast, crew and staff behind O’Maley’s production of High School Musical. What a show! You brought a lot of joy to our community the past two weekends. GEF is so proud to support O’Ma
Congratulations to the wonderful (and ENORMOUS!!) cast, crew and staff behind O’Maley’s production of High School Musical. What a show! You brought a lot of joy to our community the past two weekends. GEF is so proud to support O’Maley Academy and the drama program. Enjoy your cast party, kids!
Neither slush nor sleet nor freezing rain will keep GPS thespians from the stage tonight! "High School Musical" is ON at O’Maley at 6pm (plus a final matinee tomorrow at 1pm) and "Romeo & Juliet" is ON at GHS at 7pm. Pu
Neither slush nor sleet nor freezing rain will keep GPS thespians from the stage tonight! "High School Musical" is ON at O’Maley at 6pm (plus a final matinee tomorrow at 1pm) and "Romeo & Juliet" is ON at GHS at 7pm. Put on your galoshes and slickers and come out to support Gloucester's creative kids!
WE'RE HIRING! GEF is looking for a focused, creative Development Manager who is passionate about public education and community-driven philanthropy. The ideal candidate will bring strong fundraising experience, excellent communication skills, and com
WE'RE HIRING! GEF is looking for a focused, creative Development Manager who is passionate about public education and community-driven philanthropy. The ideal candidate will bring strong fundraising experience, excellent communication skills, and comfort working collaboratively in a small, flexible organization. Who do you know? Send them our way! Link in bio.
The LEGENDARY boxes of the build section. Raise your hand (✋) in the comments if you’ve ever donated, stored, built, assembled, or disassembled boxes for the Power of Play. Absolutely none of this would be possible without the immense support
Help us thank the Cape Ann Savings Bank in the comments! @capeannsavingsbank
Ever wonder how the Power of Play came to be? Listen to the origin story straight from the founder, Aria McElhenny.
Hi 👋 This is Joana! I hope you’re enjoying this social media takeover. I was thrilled to be invited to take you behind the scenes of this incredible event! Coming up: we’ve got interviews, exclusive moments and unexpected surprises. S
Today’s the big day: Power of Play 2026! When you come to the Field House today and see these three faces - that’s past Event Chairs Heather Widfeldt and Ingrid Conti, and current Event Chair Jessica Margiotta - please thank them, loudly
GEF’s annual “Day of Play” is back for an 8th year on Sunday, March 22, from 11am-2pm! This is a FREE community event. For this year’s activity schedule in English, Spanish and Portuguese: www.thinkthebest.org/pop Thank you
OBSESSED with these giant hand-drawn puzzles made by @gloucesterhigh.nahs for Power of Play! Come color them in at CREATE, then go put ‘em together at GAMES. Thank you to NAHS President and GEF student Advisor @myleetowne for recruiting the s We don't call it "Power of Play" for the cutesy alliteration or snazzy "PoP" acronym (although those are nice!). GEF and our partners really, truly believe that play is POWERFUL: a powerful teacher; a powerful connecter; a powerfu Power of Play Countdown 2026 continues, with a big shout out to our wonderful sponsors. We could never pull off such a big, complex event - and keep it FREE to everyone! - without their support. Thank you, thank you! @capeanndsavingsbank has been o Power of Play is just ONE week away! Can you believe this amazing group of partners who are helping GEF bring our annual Day of Play to life? From leading activities to donating raffle baskets to running the concession stand to designing our posters Yesterday was such a bustling day at the GEF office! Our Student Advisors had a workshop there (do you know we five awesome new advisors? more to come on them soon…), and then we had a big crew of Power of Play volunteers helping prep material Power of Play 2026 Activity Alert! We're bringing back all the old faves and mixing in some exciting new ones, thanks to our incredible volunteers and partners. March 22nd, 11am-2pm in the GHS Field House. Be There or Be Bored. See link in bio for Congratulations to the wonderful (and ENORMOUS!!) cast, crew and staff behind O’Maley’s production of High School Musical. What a show! You brought a lot of joy to our community the past two weekends. GEF is so proud to support O’Ma Neither slush nor sleet nor freezing rain will keep GPS thespians from the stage tonight! "High School Musical" is ON at O’Maley at 6pm (plus a final matinee tomorrow at 1pm) and "Romeo & Juliet" is ON at GHS at 7pm. Pu WE'RE HIRING! GEF is looking for a focused, creative Development Manager who is passionate about public education and community-driven philanthropy. The ideal candidate will bring strong fundraising experience, excellent communication skills, and com