Albany Fund For Education

AFE helped fund a one-week Circus residency at Montessori Magnet School. Practicing circus arts helps students build strength, balance, and patience - and teaches the importance of teamwork and mutual support.

Congratulations to 518 Elevated and Tamara McCallum! In addition being the Executive Director at 518 Elevated, Tamara is also one of the Albany Fund For Education's newest Board Members. She brings a wealth of non-profit experience and education sector excellence to the AFE Board and we are thrilled to have her!

Please help our partner Albany Youth Soccer win a $5000 grant

Soccer Grant - Price Chopper - Market 32 As America celebrates a historic summer, we’re investing in the next generation of athletes — from local fields to the world stage! Now thru July 18, enter below for the […]

Our students deserve to go to the moon.

That's not possible with an AFE grant, but pretty much anything else is! Currently accepting grant applications for consideration in early June - for this year or next. Not sure if your project fits the bill? Call us!

https://albanyfundforeducation.org/grant-opportunities/

Eight talented Albany High art students―Vander Khan, Olive Carey, Julia Rosi, Eliza Schlesinger, Lucy Rathke-Cook, Sienna Stewart, Hailey Farrell and Alex Steuer―engaged their ingenuity, teamwork and creativity at the 44th Olympics of the Visual Arts (OVA) on April 30 in Saratoga Springs!

This is the first time a group of student-artists from Albany High have participated in OVA, and it was thrilling for our trailblazing artists to represent our school community with pride.

“Really being able to work together, collaborate, work out all the nuts and bolts for how it actually works for the competition was really cool,” shared senior Sienna Stewart. “I think we are all really proud of our products.”

For the competition, our Falcons embraced the theme of “natural connections” by crafting two incredible pieces: a table setting with an ocean theme for the design category and a large-scale illustration based on the children’s book “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen for the illustration category.

For the on-demand challenge, the theme was “celebration of life” and our Falcons loved getting down to the cellular level, unleashing an amazing biology-themed creation!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to guiding teacher Kristine Monahan, as well as Albany Fund for Education and Stewart’s Shops for providing funding to help make this enriching experience possible for our Falcon artists!

Find out more about what's at stake and where to vote!
https://www.albanyschools.org/business/budget/index
https://www.albanypubliclibrary.org/about/budget/

A few more of our favorite moments from Ada Twist, Scientist at the Palace Theatre (and Eagle Point Elementary School)

It was so moving to see 600+ City School District of Albany third graders streaming into the Palace Theatre to see the musical "Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends." This project started with an AFE grant application from Eagle Point Elementary School third grade teacher Mr. Dillon requesting funds to bring EPES third graders to see this show.

That application inspired us to reach out to the Touhey Family Foundation for support so that ALL district third graders could experience the joy of live theatre at one of out true Capital District treasures.

Ada Twist is a young African American scientist in training whose tremendous curiousity about the world around her gets her and her friends into some sticky situations - and ultimately helps them save the day! All third grade teachers also received copies of the book to share with their classes - and since Mr. Dillon's initial grant request was unnecessary, the EPES third graders got their own copies of the book to take home!

We're so grateful for the support of our friends and donors who make programs like this possible!

Thanks to Kiki Vassilakis for capturing all the fun at the 2026 AFE Gala

SEEN: Albany Fund for Education Gala 2026 Were you Seen at the Albany Fund for Education Gala on May 2, 2026, at The Love Albany Center?