The Scott Family Charitable Fund will give the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation a $500,000 gift – the second-largest donation in the organization’s 30-year history.
The Scott family includes longtime Santa Monica residents who have matriculated through SMMUSD schools and been active both with PTAs and as teachers’ aides.
SMMEF Executive Director Linda Greenberg Gross announced the gift Wednesday.
She said the SMMUSD recently adopted the “Vision for Student Success,” a six-part initiative focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for every student in the District.
She said the Education Foundation’s annual fundraising goal in support of the Vision for Student Success is $4 million; the Scott Family gift will be allocated in full toward that goal for 2013-14, and specifically toward the provision of ongoing professional development for teachers and instructional aides in classrooms.
She said the family’s strong commitment to the District’s Vision for Student Success, coupled with the Education Foundation’s 31-year history of support for students throughout Santa Monica and Malibu schools, served as motivation for the gift.
“We are anxious to see the annual fundraising goal for the Vision for Student Success reached this year and every year, and we know the first year is the most challenging,” the Scott family stated. “We hope this gift will inspire parents and community members throughout the District to join us in providing enrichment opportunities for every student.”
Gross said the organization couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to accept this monumental gift
“This gift is the largest ever from one of our District families, and it serves as affirmation of the critical importance of the Vision for Student Success,” she said.
The Scott gift comes as the District implements a centralized fundraising model in which the Education Foundation broadens its focus from events and annual appeals to major and planned gifts that will create sustainability for important programs at schools throughout the District.
