Del Mar education foundation ahead of pace
The Del Mar Schools Education Foundation (DMSEF) is reporting that year-to-date fundraising is slightly ahead of last year’s pace.
According to the foundation’s president Matt Zevin, a recent $38,000 contribution from the Del Mar Heights School PTA nudged the fundraising total above last year’s amount. The foundation has raised over $295,000 as of Nov. 19.
“We’ve slowed down just a little bit,” Zevin said, “but we are ahead of last year. We are expecting some other large contributions from other PTAs.”
An Ashley Falls Elementary School parent, Zevin said he is excited to build upon the accomplishments and improvements made by prior foundation boards. The board currently has at least one representative from each of the Del Mar Union School District’s eight schools. Zevin said the board’s goal is to eventually have two parent representatives from each campus.
The foundation’s primary role is to identify spending priorities not funded by the state for each elementary school in the district and to raise the necessary money through a variety of fundraising events and activities. Assistance from the foundation enables the district to offer enrichment programs in science, art, music, physical education and technology.
The foundation’s annual appeal campaign is currently underway and 100 percent of the funds raised through the campaign go back to the district. Information on the campaign went home in student backpacks last week.
Donors to the appeal campaign have the opportunity to direct their donations to their child’s individual school, and additionally there is a corporate matching program that allows employers the opportunity to match employee donations.
Zevin said current parent participation in the district is at about 19 percent.
“We’re trying to get to 100 percent participation,” Zevin said, “that’s our goal. Nineteen percent at this point is not horrible, but it’s not where we want to be.”
For more information on the foundation, go to
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