Emery Ed Fund Launches Matching Campaign
The Emery Ed Fund is proud to announce that its partner, Rich Robbins and Wareham Development has pledged $60,000 to the Ed Fund for unrestricted support for the operations and administration of the Emery Ed Fund, which when matched, will fund a total of $120,000 in support of the critical programs of the Fund.
Founded in 1996, the Emery Ed Fund serves as a catalyst, providing significant financial support, intellectual connections, and critical human resources through its volunteer and mentorship programs, enhancing Emeryville’s work in critical ways. In the last three years the Emery Ed Fund and partnerships between the Emery Unified School District and the city have resulted in several millions of dollars of programmatic support combined with the leverage of several hundred professional and parent volunteers. The Stuart Wayne and Gladys Valley, and San Francisco Foundations, The Walter and Elise Haas Fund, among others, and state and federal grants (Twenty First Century, Gear Up) have provided concrete programs and progress toward impacting the reforms necessary, as well as those necessary to contribute to establishing the Center for Community Life.
In spite of the noteworthy success, the Fund remains lean, particularly since the highest priority is to raise program funds and pass them onto the teachers and leadership of Emery schools. Therefore, unrestricted funds are in short order. “I would encourage our great business community to help join this effort. There is always doubt and concern when giving funding to administrative/unrestricted needs. I too had serious concerns. Wareham has researched this need with the Emery Ed board. We feel these times and this need is unique and it is justified; while the need is compelling to keep the good work and tremendous progress that the district has experienced on track. We have requested that there be an accounting and analysis on the use of the funds at the completion of the school year. That is why we feel so strongly on this issue and that we have raised the ante and our contribution to this most worthy cause.”- Rich Robins, CEO of Wareham Development. Donors could match Wareham Development’s funding amount or give any amount that will help close the campaign gap.
Once the operations campaign challenge is fully funded, fund staff will secure the near one million dollar budget for critical initiatives that support the daily academic and social needs of Emeryville youth and their families. Staff will secure funds for summer program grants for youth, funds for summer internships, discretionary funds for site administrators, mini-grants to teachers, renewable scholarships for graduating seniors, new program grants for pilot projects in the schools, and funds in support of the arts, music, and technology needs of the Emeryville community. Finally, staff will work together with school district, city and other partners to secure additional major programmatic support needed to continue building the momentum required during the design phase for the Emeryville Center of Community Life anticipated in late 2011.
Please consider making a generous contribution to the Campaign. If you wish to make a donation, participate in Emery Ed Fund programs, need more information, or simply have a good idea for helping Emery Ed Fund help Emeryville’s schools, contact Eugenia Bowman, Executive Director at 510.601.4997.