Peninsula Education Foundation Announces Highest Goal Ever, New Programs To Be Funded. Plus, New President, New Trustees

The Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF) Board of Trustees voted to increase its fundraising goal to an unprecedented $3.4 million for the 2014-15 school year which will allow the school district to add a program and expand upon others.   Seven new members were also welcomed to the Board of Trustees at the Annual Board of Trustees meeting in June.   This year the PEF will celebrate their 35th anniversary of raising private funds to help the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District maintain outstanding programs as well as add additional staff and curriculum which state funding does not provide for. 

The increased grant from PEF will allow for the school district to add a new STEM/ Engineering program at all ten elementary schools, expand P.E. instruction, and provide for an additional counselor at each high school.  An American Honda Foundation grant of $75,000 provides substantial seed funding for the new Elementary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program, and supplemental funding for the program will need to be raised by PEF.  The new STEM program builds on the success of the district’s middle school and high school engineering programs, which are also funded with donations to PEF.   The expanded support for physical education was a response to requests from donors, and adds Kindergarten through 2nd grade to the 3rd through 5th grade program already funded by PEF.   An additional counselor at each high school will provide students with greater access to valuable guidance starting with outreach to middle school students and continuing through senior year.  “These are all important additions.  We hope our community will embrace them and help us raise more funds to meet this new goal,” said Andrea Sala, PEF’s executive director.

The Foundation’s grant will also continue to provide funding for the same key programs and staff as it has for many years, including the music program, physical education instruction for 3rd through 5th grade and library aides in elementary schools; Safe Schools Counselors and the engineering/ STEM programs in intermediate schools; and engineering and technology programs in high schools, plus, academic counselors and College & Career Center staff.  The Foundation’s pledge also includes $25,000 in funding for Chuck Miller teacher grants, available to all teachers in the district for projects and supplies that enhance classroom instruction.

PEF also has a new board president starting July 1, Roma Mistry.  Mistry, an attorney, has been a PEF trustee for three years and has been active in the PTA.  She and her husband have two children who attend PVPUSD schools. She noted that the PEF has more than doubled its fundraising efforts in the past six years from $1.5 million to $3.4 million.  “Thanks to our entire community who appreciate and know that great schools make a tremendous difference.  Donors, including parents, grandparents, small businesses and large corporations have consistently shown that they are invested in keeping our schools at a world-class level.” said Mistry.   “We look forward to that same community effort going into the 2014-2015 school year.”

Seven new members were added to PEF’s Board of Trustees:  Cathy Chang, Holly Corman, Nori Dempsey, Mark Meyerhoff, Ken Sanders, Sheri Shigenaga and Jill Surace.   

                To learn more about the Peninsula Education Foundation or to donate, please visit www.pvpef.org or call (310) 378-2278.