The Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation, which is charged with raising $4 million annually for local public schools, has launched its annual Dollar A Day Campaign in which families are encouraged to contribute a dollar a day ($365) for every student in their household to invest in educational excellence.
In addition to family contributions, the Ed Foundation will be soliciting donations from past non-parent donors, corporations, foundations and community members.
The Ed Foundation was designated in November of 2011 by the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education to be the sole organization responsible for raising money for personnel and professional development at all schools. The centralized districtwide fundraising model is part of the school board's vision to meet students' individual learning needs by equipping all teachers with the knowledge and tools crucial to student success.
The districtwide fundraising model takes effect in the 2014-15 school year, but the fundraising campaign begins now.
Donors will be contributing to four areas to strengthen the district's vision:
• Educational excellence in reading and math: Donors' gifts will provide schools with reading and math coaches and the tools necessary to improve, challenge and accelerate all students.
• Investment in staff: Contributions to this area will make sure that teachers receive education and training that keeps them at the forefront of best practices and educational innovation.
• Instructional classroom assistants: Donors' gifts will provide academically-trained paraprofessionals to assist teachers in boosting student reading and math performance.
• School enrichment: A commitment to this area will ensure that schools continue to choose special programs that enrich students' education and are tailored to each school's environment.
The goal is to get 100 percent of families to participate. Every donor, no matter the size of the gift, will be recognized on the Education Foundation's "Honor Roll of Giving." Donors contributing $5,000 or more will join the Superintendent's Circle and enjoy membership benefits.
Donations can be made online at www.smmef.org or mailed to 1649 16th St., Santa Monica, Calif., 90404.
