Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Primer Microschools Foundation, fiscally sponsored by The Meaning Foundation
Legal Name (if Different): The Primer Foundation
Also Known As: Primer Microschools Foundation
Mailing Address: 720 NW 60th Street
City: Miami
State: Florida
Postal Code: 33127
Main Phone: 847-814-0123
Main Fax: n/a
Organization Website: https://primer.org/
Employer ID Number: 831707308
Organization Tax Status: Fiscally Sponsored Organization

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 2/5/2025
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Primer’s Pursuits
Project Description:

In Miami-Dade County, where the poverty rate is 7% higher than the national average, systemic social and economic challenges—such as limited access to enrichment opportunities and exposure to diverse career pathways—create significant barriers to success for youth. The saying “if you can’t see it, you can’t be it” holds true—students from low-income schools often lack opportunities to explore their interests and develop the skills necessary to break cycles of poverty.

With 37% of 8th graders performing below grade level in math in Miami-Dade (2022, NAEP), traditional education models are failing many students. This underscores the urgent need for more engaging and effective approaches to learning. Primer’s Pursuits Program uniquely addresses this gap by offering personalized, project-based learning (PBL) that connects academics to real-world applications.

Our approach is grounded in research. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Education and Learning found that PBL can significantly increase students’ learning motivation, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and communication skills. Moreover, PBL has also proven to be more effective in building STEM competencies as evidenced by the Iowa College of Education in 2024. Through focused STEM, entrepreneurship, and civic/community service projects, Pursuits provides students with the opportunity to engage deeply with their interests, helping students connect academic concepts to their passions while building real-world skills.

Pursuits engages students in 75-90 minutes of daily project based learning. It includes:
Studio Pursuits (grades K-8): Collaborative, whole-class projects focusing on science, civics, and other topics.
Independent Pursuits (grades 3-8): Student-driven explorations of self-selected topics, promoting deeper learning, goal setting, and progress monitoring

Primer requests funding to support the Pursuits program at our Liberty City and Health District campuses in Miami. With support from the Charles and Joan Hermanowski Foundation, we can empower students to break barriers, ignite their passions, and shape brighter futures.

Total Project Budget: $102,600

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Each student’s tuition allocates $600 toward Pursuits, covering supplies and existing activities. However, this amount does not provide the flexibility needed to develop new Pursuits. To expand our offerings, we must secure additional funding to invest in curriculum development. This initial investment has a lasting impact, as once the curriculum is created, it can be used across multiple campuses and for multiple years, significantly increasing the number of children served.

Project Duration: 2026-2027 School Year
Geographical Area Served: Miami, FL
Age Group To Be Served: K-8

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Lisa
Contact Last Name: Tarshis
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 847-814-0123
Contact Email: grants@primer.org