The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Education Foundation, Inc. held its sixth annual Beary Merry Christmas Market on Saturday, December 7, at LCM High School.

There were 60 vendors this year, with an amazing variety of items for sale. Entertainment was exceptional, with the joint fifth-grade choir of Little Cypress Intermediate and Mauriceville Elementary, the LCM High School Choir, The Orange Blossoms, Orange Jazz Company, LCM High School Color Guard, High School Cheer squad and Honey Bears.

One of the highlights again this year is Story Time with Mrs. Claus. Children sit around her chair while she reads a Christmas-themed story to them. Afterward, with the help of several elves, they have cookies and milk with Mrs. C and are given a copy of the book she read.

From there they visit Santa for the traditional Christmas photo. Mrs. Claus, AKA Theresa Henry, and Santa, AKA Glen Fisher, really become their characters, to the delight of the kids and their parents.

The funds raised through this and other projects of the Foundation are used to fund grants to teachers throughout the LCM District. Over $250,000.00 has been raised and distributed through the competitive grant program, Grants-to-Educators. These provide funding for programs to enhance the educational experiences of students in the LCM community.

The support of the Foundation’s sponsors is invaluable to the Foundation. Their generosity increases the impact of fundraising projects. Legacy Sponsors, who sponsor the organization’s events throughout the year, were on hand at the event.  These are the Golden Triangle Emergency Center and First State Bank of Texas. Dr. Brad Barton-GTEC and Damon Vacek-FSBT were on hand to thank shoppers for supporting the projects of the Education Foundation.

Diamond sponsors include Architects Inc., International Paper, Biskamp Electric, Inc. and S&T International, Inc. Platinum Sponsors are Sabine Federal Credit Union and Chadwick G. Robison. Gold Hey guys! 

Total Petrochemicals, Charles J. Giglio and Sabine River Ford. Silver Sponsor are First Financial Bank, Bellard Orthodontics, Dave S. Carpenter, DDS, Inc., Hoss Industrial, Cypress Bayou Industrial, Horizon Family Practice and Geriatrics, Phillip Saperstein-Edward Jones Investments, Studio Seventeen, Domino Pizza, Risinger and Nelson Orthodontics Specialist, Pot-O-Gold Rentals, LLC, Honda of Orange, and Gus and Sue Harris.

The next fundraising event will the Foundation’s Second Annual Legacy 5K Color Fun Run, on Saturday, May 2, 2020. For additional information, visit their website.