DAPHNE, Ala. — During Tuesday’s Supporting Educational Enrichment in Daphne’s Schools summit, City Councilwoman Cathy Barnette — on behalf of the Better Life Foundation — presented SEEDS President Ashley Hammond with a $10,000 donation. The funds were donated by Matt Roberts, lead guitarist for the rock band Three Doors Down, and a Daphne resident.

Barnette announced that Roberts is considering making the donation a continuous fund. She added that half the donation will help schools purchase office materials like paper products; the other half will fund education-enrichment programs.

In 2003, Three Doors Down members formed the Better Life Foundation with the mission of “changing the world, one life at a time.” Since its inception, the foundation has donated more than $2 million to local children’s charities and Hurricane Katrina victims.

Hammond was excited that Roberts stepped up to help the school system deal with the budget crisis.

“We were blown away by their offer to help address some of the major cutbacks our schools are dealing with,” she said. “Their gift demonstrates the power for good that can be achieved when community members step in to pick up the slack.”

Earlier in the meeting, the winners of SEEDS’ community writing project essay contest were asked to read their winning works. The contest called for students to express how the slumping economy has impacted their daily lives at school and at home.

Student winners are as follows: