Thanks to generous donations during the 2019-20 school year, the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation — with a boost of $380,000 from its endowment fund — will contribute more than $2.3 million to the La Cañada Unified School District this fall. That’s the Power of Community, and it’s a ray of inspiration in an otherwise gloomy fiscal and emotionally taxing year.
As LCF students return to learning, LCFEF remains dedicated to preserving the high-quality education this community expects. This is a resilient community; during the 2008 recession and over these past few months, increased donations poured in to support local schools. Because of your generosity and support, the school district can continue to strive even if faced with uncertain state and federal funding over the next few years.
The value of an exceptional public school education is critically apparent now. Students’
learning experiences may look different, but that doesn’t make them less rigorous than what this community has grown used to. The foundation needs support regardless of when students eventually return to campuses, or if they learn solely via distance or in a hybrid model.
At this time, it is uncertain whether LCFEF will be able to hold its spring gala or other fundraisers this year. By giving or pledging now, families and community members can help LCUSD retain some of the best teachers in the state, and ensure progress toward equity for all students and stronger programs across disciplines.
The chart shows how much the foundation depends on annual events for contributions, which typically generate more than 78% of the total funds raised every year, and underlines the importance of giving or pledging now when the foundation likely won’t be able to bring people together as it usually would.
With this community’s continued support, LCUSD will emerge stronger in spite of predictions of dire funding needs in coming years. The community will pivot, adapt and move forward with educating children.
This fall’s LCFEF gift to LCUSD will fund many of the district’s needs for personal protective equipment to promote a healthy and safe environment when students return to campuses. Some of these include digital “thermoscan” temperature technology, hand sanitizer, masks, face shields, cleaning supplies and more. Donations also are going toward technology infrastructure, Chromebooks, Wi-Fi hot spots and tech support for seamless learning. This is in addition to funding high school counselors, elementary fine arts and Spanish programs, LCHS 7/8 STEM offerings and more.
Even in the most challenging of times, LCF perseveres with the Power of Community.
