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It's been a beautiful stretch of sunny days here in the Puget Sound, cool and crisp but with spring in the air. (Of course, now that I've said that, it'll probably rain all day.) Speaking of spring, we still have a few openings for Table Captains at our annual spring lunch on March 28. If you've never been a Table Captain before, this is the year for you to raise your hand. Scilla Andreen, producer of the anxiety-awareness documentary "Angst," is delivering the keynote address, and we're offering screenings of her film in advance of the luncheon. Interested? You're invited to attend the Table Captain kick-off party on January 31. Just send us an email and let us know you'd like to get involved. What's February without our Wall of Love? If you know a teacher who deserves a smile on Valentine's Day, check out our Valentine's Day campaign for teachers. It's an easy way to show them you care, and they'll love knowing that you've made a donation to LWSF to make it happen. Donations like those help fund our Reach for Success classroom grant program, which supports classroom- or school-level projects up to $3,000. We're opening up our application cycle for the 2019/2020 school year, and this time, we're particularly eager to identify projects that focus on youth mental wellness and/or close gaps in equity and inequality in the LWSD. Applications are due March 15 and are available online. Need help? Read through the documentation online and then sign up for one of our in-person workshops with LWSF's own grantwriter, Julie Haase. More details are below. And finally, I want to let you know that I'm moving on to a new position addressing youth mental health issues in our state. I'm proud of the work we've accomplished during my time with LWSF, and I'm pleased to introduce LWSF's interim Executive Director Chris Wheaton, who has been a Trustee of the Foundation for the past two years. Thank you for your trust, support, and generosity these past few years. I look forward to seeing LWSF's momentum continue to build as we work together to make sure that all children have what they need to succeed in school and in life. Sincerely, Larry Wright Executive Director Lake Washington Schools Foundation P.S. We're mailing 2018 year-end tax letters to donors this week. Let Jamie know if you have any questions. What will it take to bridge the gap in youth mental wellness? We think this is the most important question facing our generation, and we're confronting it head-on. Join us at our annual benefit luncheon on March 28, 2019 as we welcome Scilla Andreen, producer of anxiety-awareness documentary, Angst, as keynote speaker. Ms. Andreen is CEO and Co-Founder of IndieFlix Inc., founded in 2011 to support the creation, distribution and exhibition of social justice films. Want to see the film before you hear her speak? We're offering two screenings of Angst in the coming months--more details on that to come. Can you be a Table Captain? You'd be helping us build momentum and rallying friends and coworkers to fill a table at the luncheon. Interested? Join us at our Table Captain kick-off event January 31 at the Marriott Redmond. Email Jamie to get on board. Do you know an organization that would like to help us solve the problems facing kids today? We're seeking additional corporate sponsors for this event and would love to hear from you. Email Julie if you'd like to get involved. Know a teacher who deserves a valentine? We think you do! So this Valentine's Day, for a small donation, we'll put your favorite teacher's name on our Wall of Love, send them a keepsake postcard, or mail them a heart-filled lapel pin. All funds raised by this campaign benefit the Lake Washington Schools Foundation and our Reach for Success classroom grants. But act quickly! Donations for pins and postcards must be received by midnight on February 10! Reach for Success Grant Application for the 2019-2020 school year now available  Reach for Success Grants fund creative educational initiatives that enhance or expand Lake Washington School District's curriculum. Proposed initiatives should be consistent with District priorities and school improvement goals, as well as in line with Lake Washington Schools Foundation's mission to support academic excellence and success for all students. The Lake Washington Schools Foundation is embarking on a longer-term strategic focus on youth mental wellness and closing gaps in equity and inequality in our District. While this year we are not limiting RFS grant applications to projects that address these two issues, we are eager to identify potential grant recipients that can help us advance those priorities. Have any questions about the Reach for Success Grant process? Read through our online documentation and attend one of our in-person workshops at the LWSD Resource Center on February 13 from 10-11:30 AM and March 12 from 7-8:30 PM. There is limited space available, so secure your spot today! Special thanks to our community partners Feed Washington and Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop
We couldn't be more thankful to Feed Washington, which raised over $10,000 during their December Holiday Hunger Campaign to support Pantry Packs. Thank you to all who donated, the "hunger champions" who helped fundraise, and our friends at Feed Washington, who are working year-round to end childhood hunger in our state. Clearing the clutter? Take your no-longer-needed items to our partners at the non-profit, all-volunteer Eastside Community Aid (ECA) Thrift Shop! This thrift shop has contributed more than $4 million to support Eastside charities, and they are a valued contributor to Pantry Packs. The thrift shop has clothing, jewelry, household goods, and more, at great prices. Help others by donating used goods any time the thrift shop is open at 12451 116th Avenue NE in Kirkland. What are you thankful for? Here at LWSF, we're thankful for the generosity of our donors who make the programs that we fund possible. We're thankful for the compassion of the volunteers who give their time to help children. And we're thankful for the hard work and dedication of the staff, teachers, and administration in the LWSD. Together, we’re helping our students succeed in and out of the class room. In this issue of the Impact Update, we’re highlighting a few more opportunities for you to get involved. Right now, we're seeking Ambassadors to help us share LWSF's events and programs with every school in the district. It's a fun gig that doesn't require a ton of time, but brings a lot of benefit to your school. Interested? Join us at our Ambassador Information Tea tomorrow, Friday, November 8, from 9:30-10:30 at the LWSD Resource Center. If you can’t it tomorrow, we’ll be hosting another one before the end of the year. Email Katy for more info. We're also hosting another free Find Your Fit college workshop on November 28. Spaces are still available, but reserve your seat today. These popular workshops always fill up. Do you have an extra hour each week to be a mentor to a local student? LINKS is LWSD's one-on-one youth mentoring program, and they're holding training sessions for prospective adult volunteers throughout the remainder of the year. Email Victoria Goetze-Nelson for more information. Can't be there in person? Is there room in your budget to support someone who can? If you haven't already, please consider donating to our Be the Difference campaign to support LINKS youth mentoring in LWSD this November. We just posted several video interviews with current LINKS volunteers to our website--trust me, if you want to see something heartwarming today, you'll want to check them out. But do it soon: the Be the Difference campaign ends before the turkeys hit the oven! Sincerely, Larry Wright Executive Director Lake Washington Schools Foundation P.S. We are excited to report that we received $2,743 from the new Whole Foods in Kirkland as a result of our 5% Community Giving Day on October 18! We loved greeting customers and meeting supporters in person at the new Whole Foods store in the revitalized Totem Lake area. Thank you to Whole Foods and to everyone who supported us with their shopping list on our big day! HOW CAN YOU BE THE DIFFERENCE FOR |
p.s. bring your bags! An easy way to give: use your reusable shopping bags when buying groceries at Whole Foods Redmond and tell them to donate your five-cent credit (per bag) to the Lake Washington Schools Foundation. We're one of two selected recipients this quarter. Program runs through March 31, so remember your bags--and tell them to "Give it to LWSF!" |  |
Whole Foods Redmond is located at 17991 Ne Redmond Way, Redmond, WA 98052.
donor spotlight
"mOM, I THINK MY FRIEND IS HOMELESS."
By Elizabeth Russell
Bailey, then just a little girl, spoke out of the blue. Her mother, Kim, replied, “What do you mean?”
"I think they're sleeping in their car. Mom, do you think they can stay at our house sometimes, just so that they can have breath?”
Kim didn't hesitate. “Of course they can come over and stay with us, and get breath.”
“Breath” is a bit of shorthand between mother and daughter. In their household, “breath” can describe a space where one can manage some of life’s obstacles. Kim says that sometimes it’s about “finding your breath for a moment, and that will help you navigate whatever is overwhelming you.”
"I think they're sleeping in their car. Mom, do you think they can stay at our house sometimes, just so that they can have breath?”
Kim didn't hesitate. “Of course they can come over and stay with us, and get breath.”
“Breath” is a bit of shorthand between mother and daughter. In their household, “breath” can describe a space where one can manage some of life’s obstacles. Kim says that sometimes it’s about “finding your breath for a moment, and that will help you navigate whatever is overwhelming you.”
WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CHILDREN, YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN DUCT TAPE.
Lake Washington School District music programs win awards and enrich our children's lives. So when the school district let us know that our high and middle schools needed nearly $300,000 in instruments in the next five years, we knew you'd want to help.
Become a "FAN" and fund-a-need for music arts in local schools. Direct your support to the school or learning community of your choice, or make a general donation to support LWSD's circulating instrument library.
It's hard enough for a child to play a tuba. Let's make sure it isn't duct-taped.
Learn more about the need in your area...
Become a "FAN" and fund-a-need for music arts in local schools. Direct your support to the school or learning community of your choice, or make a general donation to support LWSD's circulating instrument library.
It's hard enough for a child to play a tuba. Let's make sure it isn't duct-taped.
Learn more about the need in your area...
register now for local college presentation on January 31, 2018
Lake Washington Schools Foundation is pleased to partner with Lake Washington Institute of Technology to present the next step in its "Find Your Fit" series. Free and open to all Lake Washington School District families, this presentation and Q&A session (with tours available after) will introduce the array of workforce-ready programs available at this vibrant local college.
Get ready to think outside of the classic college box at this exciting presentation. Sign up today and arrive on time for a free chicken sandwich; this event will fill up!
Get ready to think outside of the classic college box at this exciting presentation. Sign up today and arrive on time for a free chicken sandwich; this event will fill up!
reach for success with
classroom grants up to $3000
Do you know a teacher, school club, or other school-associated need that could benefit from a little extra funding? Lake Washington Schools Foundation funds innovative educational programs that enhance or expand district curriculum, support a school’s goals, and are in line with the Foundation’s mission to support academic excellence and success for all district students. A grant application can be written up to a $3,000 maximum request per project, and applications will be available on the LWSF website the last week of January.
Need help with your Reach for Success application? Have questions about the program? Visit our information page for grant guidelines, frequently asked questions, and more.
Need help with your Reach for Success application? Have questions about the program? Visit our information page for grant guidelines, frequently asked questions, and more.
reserve your seat at our annual benefit luncheon on march 27, 2018
Sign up today to engage with like-minded community members and be inspired by remarkable speakers while enjoying a delicious luncheon at the Marriott Redmond Town Center.
This year, we're honored to welcome Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib as our guest speaker and the fabulous Grace Harrington has agreed to return as a student MC...with a little co-hosting help from KOMO meteorologist and Redmond High School alumna Shannon O'Donnell. Hear from an inspiring group of everyday philanthropists and learn just what it takes to build a bridge in our community.
Email us now to become a Table Captain or Corporate Sponsor. Only a few tables are left.
This year, we're honored to welcome Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib as our guest speaker and the fabulous Grace Harrington has agreed to return as a student MC...with a little co-hosting help from KOMO meteorologist and Redmond High School alumna Shannon O'Donnell. Hear from an inspiring group of everyday philanthropists and learn just what it takes to build a bridge in our community.
Email us now to become a Table Captain or Corporate Sponsor. Only a few tables are left.
And remember⸺just one spring event this year!
It's Pantry Packs day.
Every Friday, all over the Lake Washington School District, more than eight hundred children will walk into their school counselor's office or open their locker and pick up a non-descript grocery bag filled with nourishing food.
If you donated to our fall campaign, Pantry Packs is one way you're making an impact. If you've given an unrestricted donation, you're also contributing to the steady progress a student makes while working with his Avid tutor, the connections made between a high schooler and his LINKs mentor, and dozens of other programs and grants.
Here, in Impact Update, we'll gather stories and report back to you on the impact you're having, and give you opportunities for more. I hope you enjoy this first issue.
Sincerely,
Larry Wright, PhD
Executive Director
Lake Washington Schools Foundation
P.S. Reach out to me anytime--I'd love to hear your ideas.
Every Friday, all over the Lake Washington School District, more than eight hundred children will walk into their school counselor's office or open their locker and pick up a non-descript grocery bag filled with nourishing food.
If you donated to our fall campaign, Pantry Packs is one way you're making an impact. If you've given an unrestricted donation, you're also contributing to the steady progress a student makes while working with his Avid tutor, the connections made between a high schooler and his LINKs mentor, and dozens of other programs and grants.
Here, in Impact Update, we'll gather stories and report back to you on the impact you're having, and give you opportunities for more. I hope you enjoy this first issue.
Sincerely,
Larry Wright, PhD
Executive Director
Lake Washington Schools Foundation
P.S. Reach out to me anytime--I'd love to hear your ideas.
donor spotlight:
one good kid inspires another.
Local hero Barrett with his "big check" for Pantry Packs from GoFundMe.
Local fourth-grade student Barrett was inspired to act when he heard about another kid’s philanthropy efforts to raise money for children who need hearing aids. He and his mom contemplated how Barrett could give back to his community. Back in September, Barrett’s mom had received an email about LWSF's Pantry Packs campaign, and she told Barrett about it. Barrett said, “I was very surprised that 815 students go hungry each week in the LWSD.” Together, they created the material for a GoFundMe page with a $250 goal--which was surpassed in 3 days!
So far, Barrett's page has raised nearly $1900 dollars in about a month’s time and received an additional $1,000 from GoFundMe when they selected Barrett as one of their Kid Heroes. He was also honored with an award given by his school at Rockwell Elementary. Barrett's mother said this award is given to students “who give their ‘Beagle Best’ by being safe, respectful, responsible, and kind in all aspects of school life.” He’s also participated in a Pantry Packs “packing party.” We asked Barrett about his future plans with helping Pantry Packs and he replied, “My idea for future ways to help Pantry Packs is to donate gift cards for groceries for breaks, especially Winter break!”
Thank you Barrett for all that you’ve accomplished. You are what makes the world a better place!
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to hear these stories as they happen!
So far, Barrett's page has raised nearly $1900 dollars in about a month’s time and received an additional $1,000 from GoFundMe when they selected Barrett as one of their Kid Heroes. He was also honored with an award given by his school at Rockwell Elementary. Barrett's mother said this award is given to students “who give their ‘Beagle Best’ by being safe, respectful, responsible, and kind in all aspects of school life.” He’s also participated in a Pantry Packs “packing party.” We asked Barrett about his future plans with helping Pantry Packs and he replied, “My idea for future ways to help Pantry Packs is to donate gift cards for groceries for breaks, especially Winter break!”
Thank you Barrett for all that you’ve accomplished. You are what makes the world a better place!
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to hear these stories as they happen!
Together, we can zero balance school lunch debt in the lwsd.
 | We know you care about children. We've seen your generosity before, in campaigns like Pantry Packs and others like it. This one's different. This time, we're asking you to give a little to make sure every family starts the new year with a Zero Balance. A fresh start for all students. Isn't that the best gift you can imagine? Read More... |
register now for local college presentation on January 31, 2018.
 | Lake Washington Schools Foundation is pleased to partner with Lake Washington Institute of Technology to present the next step in its "Find Your Fit" series. Free and open to all Lake Washington School District families, this presentation and Q&A session (with tours available after) will introduce the array of workforce-ready programs available at this vibrant local college. Get ready to think outside of the classic college box at this exciting presentation. Sign up today; this event will fill up! Register for event |
"I'd tell them, hey, we've got 300 LWSD homeless students. They were like, 'Really?'"
 Marlene Vacknitz (right) with Colleen Wolfe, volunteer Pantry Packs driver for Redmond Middle School. (Photo by Anne Young with Young Reflections Photography, 2017). | You may have already heard of Pantry Packs by now but what about the volunteers that run it day in, day out? For this story, we chose to interview one of the Pantry Packs Volunteer Leadership Team Members, Marlene Vacknitz, to learn about the roots of Pantry Packs. When Marlene first began advocating for the Eastside's homeless population, she'd chat with friends and colleagues about her work and was often stunned by the lack of awareness she encountered, even among well-intentioned and compassionate people who are were already working to help youth in the area. Read more... |
save-the-date FOR OUR ANNUAL BENEFIT LUNCHEON ON MARCh 27, 2018
 | Mark your calendars for our biggest annual event. The Spring for Learning luncheon invites local philanthropists (that's you!) to engage with like-minded community members and be inspired by remarkable speakers while enjoying a fabulous luncheon at the Marriott Redmond. This year, we're excited to welcome Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib as our guest speaker. Email us now to become a Table Captain or Corporate Sponsor! |
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