The San Marino Schools Foundation held its first annual Foundation Week from April 18-22. The foundation used the event as a way to thank the San Marino community for their generosity.
Every year, parents and community members donate over $2 million to the foundation, which is then funneled to the San Marino Unified School District to close funding gaps.
Foundation staff and volunteers distributed goodie bags to students at all four district sites containing an informational paper about Foundation Week, a wristband with the writing “I Love SMSF,” and a Foundation pencil.
The foundation also held a recess event at Carver and Valentine Elementary Schools that gave students the opportunity to sign their names and place stickers on a “Thank You SMSF” banner.
“This is the event for the kids,” said Foundation Executive Director Christopher Kealey. “[The students] go home and say ‘hey, the San Marino Schools Foundation helps us have small class sizes and pay for our teacher.’”
Foundation Board Member Ellen Tsang thought this week would be an opportunity to build comradery between the four schools.
She said this week was about “asking all the parents to take part in supporting our schools and making [them] better and thank those who already have.”
Liz Quick, Development Director at the Foundation, was excited about the Foundation’s opportunity to be in the schools.
“The recess banner was a fun, interactive way for us to meet the kids and get them excited and get them aware of what the Schools Foundation is,” Quick said.
