In August 2014, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) asked the community to do something extraordinary – raise $4 million dollars annually to fund innovative education and enrichment programs for all children in the Santa Monica and Malibu public schools.
California continually ranks near the bottom in per pupil spending and these programs, funded through donations to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation (SMMEF), make the difference between a good education and an excellent education for Santa Monica-Malibu students.
Sunday, March 22, leaves 100 days until the deadline for donations. Raising $4 million by June 30, 2015 will enable the district to continue to fully fund these programs for the 2015-2016 school year.
This is the first year that a new set of SMMEF-funded programs have been implemented by SMMUSD across the district.
These programs contribute greatly to the district’s stated mission to provide extraordinary achievement for all students while simultaneously closing the achievement gap. SMMEF-funded programs include instructional assistants, literacy coaches, elementary arts education, additional secondary school faculty members, teacher training, and discretionary grants for enrichment programs at all 16 schools in the district.
“The $2 million raised thus far is a huge statement of support for all our students and these programs,” SMMUSD Superintendent Sandra Lyon said. “We are so grateful to SMMEF and all the donors who have helped us get this far. Raising $2 million is an amazing achievement, however, if we do not reach the $4 million goal, arts and enrichment programs in the district will potentially be cut for the next school year.”
Local businesses and community members continue to express their support. So far, more than half of the money contributed has come from community partners and businesses.
“With this tremendous community support, as well as gifts from our own SMMUSD families, we will be able to provide outstanding programs for our children next year,” said Kathleen Rawson, president of the SMMEF board of directors.
“We encourage all SMMUSD families and community members to continue to make meaningful donations to SMMEF, this year and every year. With 100 days to go, we need everyone to give what they can so that every child continues to benefit from these programs.”
For more information, go to www.smmef.org.
