Cranberry Educational Foundation
The Mission of the Cranberry Educational Foundation is to introduce the American cranberry, cranberry farming and its heritage to the communities, neighbors and visitors in our area.
About
The Cranberry Educational Foundation (CEF) is working hard to further the legacy of cranberries in Massachusetts and should be recognized.
Founded in 2007 to raise awareness of the cranberry heritage within the local communities, The Cranberry Educational Foundation (CEF) has provided scholarships to local students with preference to those majoring in agriculture or the environment. The Foundation also supports other educational endeavors such as local STEAM (science, technology, environment and math) fairs, as well as other community education programs.
CEF was originally organized to replace the gap in agricultural identity left by the closing of the Cranberry World Museum in Plymouth. At first, CEF explored establishing a new cranberry museum but found out that it was not the right time to partake in such a worthwhile yet challenging endeavor. In more recent years, CEF has brought their focus home to expand the local knowledge and appreciation of cranberry heritage, unique to southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket. Social awareness and community building within the many towns where cranberries are grown, processed and marketed, has become the number one priority.
CEF's mission is to introduce the American cranberry, cranberry farming and its heritage to the communities, neighbors and visitors in our area, with emphasis on community building. Cranberries have been an integral part of the fabric of southeastern Massachusetts for more than 200 years. With the efforts of CEF, the cranberry industry is working to continue that legacy through education, understanding and direct support of our community’s future, in particular, its students.
CEF board of directors is made up of 15 men and women representing the many layers of the cranberry community.
Cranberry Educational Foundation
265D South Meadow Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
craneducationalfund@gmail.com
Scholarship
CEF gives out between five and eight scholarships a year, depending on the fundraising efforts for the year. To-date, CEF has given out approximately $40,000 in scholarship funds. The annual scholarship form is usually released in March and due back in April. Follow CEF's Facebook page for more information.
Grumpy's Cranberry Harvest 5K Fundraiser
This major fundraising event to benefit CEF's scholarship fund is Grumpy's Cranberry Harvest 5K Trail Run or Walk, a unique family-friendly trail run/walk around the cranberry bogs during the harvest season. The ‘Grumpy 5K’ is named for Bob “Grumpy” Conway, who worked as a Makepeace foreman for many years and dedicated his life’s interest to environmental protection. It would please him to know that the proceeds from the race are given in scholarships to students within the growing region. It would even please him more to know that “the Grumpy” is not only a celebrated foot race but also an education day where runners (and walkers) and their families and community members who participate in the day can view the cranberry harvest as it is happening, and also the history in artifacts and pictures as displayed in the old ‘box mill’ barn. Bob’s collection of framed wildlife photography is displayed throughout the barn gallery.
Follow CEF's Facebook page for more information.