Community Education Fund

Through communityearth's innovative programs and events, we promote education for a sustainable future. Our success makes a difference in the quality of life for scores of communities throughout the northern New Jersey region and effectively around the globe. Our collaborations with area schools, community groups, government agencies, businesses and other non-profit organizations help people better understand their responsibility for the economic, ecological and social equity principles of sustainability. 

The Community Education Fund helps communityearth provide practical education and guidance for people of all ages looking to take meaningful local actions that contribute towards positive global change. 

Unity Charter School - For everGREEN Expansion Campaign

Unity Charter School was founded by communityearth (formerly Unity Learning Environments) in 1998. Unity is tuition-free, K-8 public school.  Their mission focuses on sustainability education with innovative empowerment and character development programs, and an award winning, mostly organic, vegetarian-based lunch program.

Unity Charter school is excited to relocate to 1 Evergreen Place in September. The new facility will:

• Expand the educational experience in a building designed to enrich the learning environment and allow Unity to accept more students!
• Provide new educational and sustainability-related programs for the larger community. 
• Create opportunities for Unity, a leader in environmental education, to offer after-school programs and a summer camp teaching environmental, personal and social responsibility to community children.
• Provide a learning center for local educators; enriching their knowledge base on sustainability education - helping make environmental stewardship visible, relevant and meaningful in classrooms around New Jersey.

The current funding model
Charter schools operate with much less per pupil funding than district public schools. Although the Charter School Act calls for charters to be funded at 90% of the per pupil budget for their district counterparts, in reality they receive on average about 78%. When you consider that in New Jersey, charter schools pay for facilities out of their operating budgets, this number shrinks by another 15-20%.  

While Unity is working to minimize the impact of our relocation on our instructional budget, recent cuts at the state level have made their relocation even more challenging. At this time, Unity is seeking funding to cover the cost of essential items and start-up costs for the new facility that will minimize the impact on the learning environment for the students and staff.  

Unity’s wish list
Unless Unity can raise these items through their community fundraising, they will occupy the building in September without the following items. These items are considered essential for occupancy:

• 40 Stackable chairs for lower grade classrooms $25 each ($1,000)

• 4 Lunch Tables and Seating $800 each ($3,200)

• 4 Magnetic whiteboards for classrooms  $180 each ($720)

• Telephone System ($3,000)

• 5 Sets of Wood Cubbies for each of the lower school rooms $1,300 each ($6,500)

• 150 Stackable chairs for Assembly Room $25 each ($3,750)

If you haven’t yet made a donation, we hope you will do your part to help to support Unity Charter School. Even if you have contributed already, we hope you will consider making another donation to help ensure a smooth transition to their new location. 

The Unity Charter School - For everGREEN Expansion Campaign Fund will help to offset the ongoing expenses associated with the expansion of the school.

Where It's Needed Most

ULE and communityearth have been synonymous with quality educational programs for more than a decade and are always looking for new and creative ways to contribute towards a sustainable future. Having undesignated resources allows for the continued expansion of projects that favorably impact the local quality of life while providing our communities with the opportunity to contribute to the overall health of the planet.

The communityearth Special Projects Fund allows the organization's Trustees and staff to develop new innovative programs and projects in response to critical needs and opportunities as they arise.