Greater Newburyport Adult & Community Education
Greater Newburyport Adult & Community Education
Dear Friends,
Here at Greater Newburyport Adult & Community Education, we are passionate about the power of lifelong learning. We are on a mission to provide continuing educational opportunities for adults of all ages and believe our programs significantly contribute to the well-being of our community. Education has an enormous impact on everyone at any age and in many different ways. The value of adult education cannot be underestimated.
Connection. Our classes offer opportunities for groups of adults to connect and engage socially while pursuing an interest or exploring a new passion. Attending classes allows you to meet others with whom you might not otherwise. This togetherness, increases happiness and decreases loneliness and depression. We’ve seen lasting friendships formed.
Health & Wellness. Lifelong learning and brain health are inextricably linked. As we mature, learning something new sharpens memory and attention span. It may even ward off dementia by changing the way your brain processes information. Our diverse array of enrichment, academic, and exercise classes provides plenty of opportunities for exploration that lead to better health and well-being.
Workforce & Economic Development. Our Spanish and English (ESL) classes allow employees to learn new skills or sharpen their existing ones that can increase opportunities for professional advancement and upward mobility. This empowering program offers students a hand up. For employers, a more educated workforce means an increase in productivity, safety, retention, diversity, and employee morale.
Fun! Whether floral arranging, foraging for fungi, painting, cooking, stargazing, or discovering your roots, adult education can be just plain fun! And we can certainly all use some levity in our lives at the moment.
We’re proud to say that in the past two years we’ve seen a 25% increase in the number of classes offered annually. Student enrollments have risen by 20% totaling nearly 1,600 students, and we are thrilled to see a significant rise in first time enrollees. This is all the result of an engaging advisory committee, enthusiastic instructors, committed colleagues and the appreciative students who inspire us every day.
However, with this exciting growth comes increased expenses for upgrading computer systems and software, equipment, supplies, books, marketing, instructor fees, space rental fees, and associated costs with production, printing and mailing catalogues. Tuitions do not cover the cost of the program.
As an independent self-sustaining program, we rely on the financial support of individual and corporate donors to ensure our program will continue now and far into the future. And I hope you will support us. In this season of giving, I am asking if you will please consider making a donation. No gift is too small. If you have already given a gift, thank you very much! If you haven’t yet had a chance, there is still time to make a year-end, tax-deductible donation. You may do so by mail, online, or by scanning the QR code.
It is because of you that this little engine that could continues to chug along on our mission of building a vibrant community of lifelong learners.
For more information, please contact me at pstjohn@newburyport.k12.ma.us or 978-992-8060
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Ghandi
GNACE is a completely self-sustaining program that operates independently. We operate under the auspices of the Newburyport School System, but we receive no tax dollars from the city or school. We are funded primarily by class revenues, a few grants and “Friends of GNACE” who donate to our programs. This critical support is what keeps GNACE afloat and allows us to pay the small 2 person staff, supplies, website designer, equipment, design, print and mailing of 18,500 catalogues and the other myriad expenses related to running a small program that relies on the generosity of donors.
We are whole-heartedly dedicated to fulfilling our mission of providing stimulating, creative, intellectual, and fun life-long learning opportunities to everyone in the greater Newburyport community and beyond. But we need your help!
I hope you will support our valuable program by making a generous tax-deductible gift today to ensure that our programs will thrive, not just survive! Can we count on you?
For more information, please contact me at pstjohn@newburyport.k12.ma.us or 978-992-8060
