PEF: “Supporting Our Schools Makes a Real Impact”
Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) harnesses the power of its committed community to help to raise between $12 and $15 million dollars a year for the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). Those funds include large government grants, foundation grants, and individual donations, which together help us support myriad essential programs from the large to the small. Some programs are run by PEF, others by PUSD, and still others represent various levels of partnership. From the smallest Friendship Bench to the largest Magnet Program, PEF works with its community partners to impact every student, every school, every day!
With support from the community, PEF:
• Raised millions in grant money for our schools, including the $14.5 million Federal Magnet Grant.
• Helped PUSD to integrate arts education at every grade level through grants from the Rothenberg Art Fund and Tony Bennett’s Exploring the Arts Foundation.
• Piloted the middle school performing arts program, Open Stage serving 300 students at 5 schools with a $79,500 NEA Grant.
• Led 8,000 K-6 grade students on a cultural and artistic journey through 10 of our local world class museums with our My Masterpieces program. PEF was awarded a $20,000 Art Alliance Image Award to help support the My Masterpieces program.
• Expanded early education dance and theatre programs with integrated arts curriculum from PreK through the second grade throughout the district.
• Awarded 136 Teacher Grants to 169 educators including 18 school-wide grants totaling more than $200,000.
• Provided transportation for approximately 300 class field trips for thousands of students through our Field Trip Fund.
• Assisted in securing buses to take every third grader to learn water safety and swimming skills in the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center’s PUSD swim program.
• Bolstered access to vital services and healthy living resources at the new Office of Student and Family Services headquartered at Madison Elementary in the heart of our Northwest Pasadena community.
• Provided scholarships almost 40% of our more than 1,600 Summer Enrichment Program students.
• Distributed more than $50,000 in college scholarships.
• Secured $25,000 to provide summer internship stipends for 130 high school students.
• Supported each school’s Annual Fund efforts which collectively raised over $700,000.
• Developed the nationally recognized Realtor Initiative to partner with our community’s realtors to disseminates accurate information about our public schools.
• Expanded the School-Community Gardens to include 17 beautiful edible gardens and outdoor classrooms, including a master gardener and farm to table programs.
• Supported the expansion of athletic programs and facilities including the renovation of Stadium 42, John Muir’s baseball field and a new scoreboard at Blair.
• Developed and incubated inventive STEM programs, such as the App Academy at Pasadena High, middle school robotics, 3D printing and virtual reality stations, and the new Math Academy that is radically accelerating mathematics instruction.
• And more…
PEF is making Pasadena schools and the community stronger. This wouldn’t have been possible without you!
Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF), 351 South Hudson Ave. RM 153, Pasadena, (626) 396-3625 or visit pasedfoundation.org.
