The Save Our Schools (SOS) Campaign has neared the $900,000 fundraising mark this week by collaborating with local businesses to entice the community to support Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
More fundraisers in the coming week all across Santa Monica and Malibu will incorporate live music and celebrities, such as the iconic Dick Van Dyke, all at an impressive list of venues. With students rallying $20,000 by selling lemonade, local businesses have stepped up to the plate to encourage support.
“This is an act of kindness, but it’s also important to our local economy,” said Linda Gross, Executive Director of the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation in a press release. “We urge the public to support these businesses and our schools at the same time.”
The Education Foundation is a long-running fundraising organization that has expanded from targeted support for the arts to across the board support for the district in the wake of the failed $198-parcel tax this spring. SOS is committed to fundraising efforts through August 15 to help fund for elementary class size reduction, lower secondary class sizes, and restore music, library, and counseling programs for the next school year.
ZJ Boarding House, located at 2619 Main Street, will host a SOS fundraiser on Friday, July 30 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. as part of their regular Last Friday celebration on Main Street. This is a free event that will include free wine and food to the public.
Visitors can contribute through a live auction by vying for a surfboard signed by Rob Machado, a guitar signed by Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and a variety of dinner or surf packages. All proceeds will go directly to the cause, including 15 percent of the retail sales from the evening.
Barnes and Noble will host a book fair on the Third Street Promenade, from Sunday, Aug. 1 to Saturday, Aug. 7, to sponsor the school district. Patrons must mention Save Our Schools at the checkout to have a portion of the proceeds on a sliding scale donated to the campaign. Online shoppers can use Bookfair ID 10249506 during checkout to ensure that a portion of their sale supports the school district.
On Friday, Aug. 6 the Third Street Promenade Barnes and Noble will also host seven authors who will read from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to draw more crowds for the cause.
On Saturday, Aug. 7 the Malibu/Westlake Barnes and Noble will host the legendary Dick Van Dyke and Leslie Bixler who will perform songs from their new CD “Rhythm Train.”
“Back to school needs are covered and every penny they spend for books and clothes and supplies, that they already know that they need, the schools will be covered,” said Rebecca Kennerly, chair of Community for Excellent Public Schools.
Another sale in time for the upcoming school season is a weeklong agreement from Montana Avenue Merchants Association to donate eight percent of gross sales from Monday, Aug. 2 to Friday, Aug. 6. Shoppers will recognize donating stores by a lemon-slice flyer in shop windows.
“All of us appreciate and rely upon our local customers, so when the community needs our help, we do what we can to support them,” said Mark Wain, president of the Montana Avenue Merchants Association and owner of Caffe Luxxe.
For ongoing information on the Save Our Schools Campaign and upcoming events, visit www.smmef.org
