Breakfast and Bonding
B.Y. Funding provided a $100 micro grant through our B.Y. Granting program to teacher Faith at Wheatley Education Campus to host Breakfast and Bonding, an early-year family engagement morning. Title I schools are chronically under-resourced when it comes to discretionary programming, meaning these same engagement opportunities are often eliminated or unsupported by traditional funding streams). Micro grants exist to bridge that gap quickly and flexibly when teachers name a need and propose a solution.
Altered image from the Breakfast and Bonding event
Date: October 2025
B.Y. Funding Program: B.Y. Granting
Amount Funded: $100
Impact Reach: 70 students and their families
B.Y. Funding, through the B.Y. Granting program, awarded a microgrant to teacher Faith at Wheatley Education Campus to launch Breakfast and Bonding, a family engagement event led by an educator who identified a need, developed a plan, and requested responsive funding to bring it to life. This micro-grant came from our B.Y. Granting program, which exists to fund high-impact school experiences that move quickly, reduce teacher out-of-pocket spending, and strengthen conditions that sustain Title I funding.
This event was approved for funding because early engagement drives measurable, long-term outcomes. When families connect with schools early in the year, it strengthens communication and increases student participation in daily academic routines (Henderson & Mapp, 2002). Researchers emphasize that engagement tied to student routines and learning yields greater impact than generalized involvement alone (US Department of Education, SEDL, 2013). For Title I schools, attendance consistency doesn’t just support students' academic achievement; it also stabilizes enrollment and protects access to federal dollars tied to participation (Harvard GSE, 2015).
During the event, 4th and 5th-grade students and families gathered for:
Breakfast staples supported by grant dollars or in-kind partners
Schoolwide announcements that linked family participation to student routines and engagement outcomes
A morning meeting that students complete daily to build connection, collaboration, and shared accountability
Meals were intentionally funded through grant dollars or donations to preserve limited school budgets:
Breakfast items: supported through flexible micro-grant funds
Bagels: donated by Bullfrog Bagels
Table setup and event kits: included tablecloths and curated hosting supplies
This micro grant invested in systems, not extras. It ensured Wheatley EC did not have to choose between community engagement and classroom resources. Other Title I schools should never be priced out of experiences that strengthen attendance, communication, and student follow-through.
We fund early, we fund flexibly, and we fund what educators say matters most. Teacher Faith led with a plan, and B.Y. Funding backed it. These are the investments that ripple far beyond one morning.