Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation reaches $2 million milestone

source: The Almanac Online
url: http://www.almanacnews.com/story.php?story_id=4957

by Marjorie Mader

The Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation has lots of reasons to celebrate. Two million of them.

The foundation has reached its $2 million goal for the "Endowment for Excellence in Teaching." The endowment is designed to fund professional development programs that will attract, develop and retain exceptional teachers in the district's Laurel, Encinal and Oak Knoll elementary schools and Hillview Middle School.

"Reaching this $2 million mark demonstrates the commitment the community has for excellence in our local schools, and specifically for the support of our faculty in their continuing education and development," said Mark Box, the foundation's co-president.

About four years ago, foundation supporters envisioned establishing an endowment to help meet longer-term, strategic needs of the school district. Established in 2005, the endowment backers set a goal of raising $2 million. Earnings from the endowment would fund programs for teachers at the rate of 5 percent of the endowment, or $100,000, each year.

To celebrate this milestone, a garden reception will be held Thursday, Sept. 27, in Atherton to honor endowment charter donors and contributors.

Leading the endowment's fundraising are Charlot Singleton (chair), Carol Fields, Peg Phelps, Ted Schlein and Lynne Young.

The investment committee includes: Lynne Young (chair), David Breiner, Bob Burlinson, Doug Carlson, Jeff Child, Deborah Fitz, Russ Hall, Grand Lee, Alex Neville, Steve Peterson, Peg Phelps and Sue Sutherland.

Serving on the advisory committee are Dr. June Flora (chair), Terri Bailard, Floyd Gonella, Dr. Ann Lieberman, Dr. Raymond Pecheone, Jo Sauer Mitchell, Ken Ranella, Charlot Singleton and Terry Thygesen.

Other funds

The foundation is off to a busy year on its mission to raise other funds for district programs. Its record annual grant of $2 million, presented last June to the school district, is funding technology, library, science and teacher development programs in the schools. The $2 million represents 7.5 percent of the school district's budget.

This year's annual campaign is under way and will culminate with "Donation Day" on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Families may drop off their contributions in the symbolic red schoolhouse boxes when they bring their children to the schools. Volunteers will be on hand at each school to meet car pools and answer questions.

Volunteers are at work organizing the foundation's annual fundraiser, the auction and dinner, scheduled for Saturday, May 17, on the Menlo College campus. Co-chairs are Kim Guthrie, Janet Devereux and Polly Berquist.

The nonprofit foundation was founded 25 years ago to raise funds for the Menlo Park City School District. For more information about the foundation, visit www.mpaef.org or call Lois Giovacchini, executive director, at 325-0100.