Partners in Education Foundation (PiE) Donates $5 Million to Palo Alto Public Schools
Parents and Community Unite to Support Excellence in PAUSD Schools
(March 4, 2014) PALO ALTO, CA – Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) announced it has presented a $5.0 million check to the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD). Thousands of Palo Alto parents and community members gave to PiE this year to ensure continued excellence in PAUSD schools.
The 2014 PiE donation will allow Palo Alto Unified to fund high impact programs [pullquote align=”right”]Download a PDF version of this press release.[/pullquote]and staff members for students in every grade, such as classroom aides, reading and math specialists, guidance counselors, college and career counselors, and electives including foreign language, music and robotics. Palo Alto principals use PiE funds, which are allocated to every PAUSD school on a per pupil basis, to tailor site-specific programs that meet the needs of their students.
“This check is evidence that the Palo Alto community values what PiE fundraising can do for our schools,” said Terry Godfrey, president of the PiE education foundation. “We are so grateful to the hundreds of parent volunteers and thousands of donors who have worked together to ensure high quality public education in Palo Alto despite the challenges of this year. The 2014 PiE donation will increase student engagement and provide essential programs such as hands on science, music, counseling, and electives that cannot be funded without this community support.”
“This year’s PiE donation is critical to PAUSD’s goals for academic and social development,” said Dr. Kevin Skelly, Superintendent of the PAUSD. “While the financial picture is better than in years past, there are still no new funds to replace the crucial resources that PiE donors provide for Palo Alto students.”
PiE Makes a Difference Kindergarten Through High School
The 2014 PiE donation will underwrite vital education staff and programs that improve students’ lives at each PAUSD school level.
In elementary schools, PiE dollars will fund classroom aides, instructional assistants, reading and math specialists, science enrichment programs, and music and arts instruction. In middle schools, gifts to PiE will support guidance counselors, extra academic support in writing and math, and electives including music, creative writing, arts, broadcast journalism, biotechnology and industrial technology. At the high school level, PiE funds will increase staffing for counseling, student guidance, and electives such as engineering, career, technology, media and the arts.
About Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE)
Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) is the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) education foundation dedicated to supporting all Palo Alto public schools. PiE works with parents, the school district, community members and businesses to raise funds that give all students in PAUSD the best education possible. Since its inception in 2004, PiE has donated almost $30 million to Palo Alto schools. Visit the PiE website to learn more.
Contact
Victoria Thorp, Palo Alto Partners in Education
victoriathorp@gmail.com
415-378-8687