The Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation (SMMEF) announced the inauguration of Pledge Days, a district-wide event to raise funds and awareness for SMMEF. As part of the event, an anonymous donor will match all donations to SMMEF, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000.
Starting Sept. 28, SMMEF and PTA representatives will be on each elementary campus in the district to thank donors and encourage others to support SMMEF-funded programs in Santa Monica and Malibu public schools. The full Pledge Days schedule is below.
“Pledge Days and the very generous $100,000 match will encourage district families to give early in the school year,” said SMMEF Executive Director Linda Greenberg. “High rates of district family giving allow us to show potential corporate and community donors how invested our parent community is in ensuring excellent educational opportunities for all our students.”
Proceeds from the event and the match will fund programs for every student and school in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. SMMEF-funded staff and programs include elementary arts education, instructional assistants, and enrichment grants for all 16 schools in the district. Many schools use these grants to provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) or visual and performing arts programs. Some schools also use these funds to hire additional health clerks, augment on-site counseling programs, or run other programs focused on student wellness.
Thanks to a generous donation from Pacific Park, one donor from each SMMUSD elementary school will win a family pass for four to the park. All donors from July 1, 2015 to October 9, 2015 will be eligible.
SMMUSD schools will hold Pledge Days on the following dates:
Juan Cabrillo Elementary School: September 28-30, during drop-off
Edison Language Academy: September 30, during drop-off and pick-up
Franklin Elementary School: September 30, during drop-off and pick-up
Grant Elementary School: September 28-October 2, during drop-off
McKinley Elementary School: Sept. 28, Sept. 30 & Oct. 2, during drop-off & pick-up
John Muir Elementary School: September 28-October 2, during drop-off
Pt. Dume Marine Science School: October 8, during drop-off and pick-up
Roosevelt Elementary School: October 5-9, during drop-off
Santa Monica Alternative School House: September 28-October 2, during drop-off
Webster Elementary School: September 28 & October 2, during drop-off
Will Rogers Learning Community: Sept. 28, Sept. 30 & Oct. 2, during drop-off & pick-up