Carlsbad Education Foundations Raises $350,000

by The Editors on November 4, 2011

Cef-LogoAs much as we’d like to think that the taxes we pay to the State of California could support a reasonable public school system, here in Carlsbad that just isn’t the case. In fact, the Carlsbad Unified School District is headed into an $11 million deficit for the 2012-13 school year. That’s why the work of the Carlsbad Education Foundation is so important to the students in Carlsbad. On November 1, 2011 the CEF kicked off their annual fund drive.

Here’s what they did with the money this year:

Carlsbad Educational Foundation announces the release of $350,000 in funds to assist 15 key initiatives that support students within the Carlsbad Unified School District during the 2011-2012 school year. Among the initiatives are essential music, science and special programs that impact 11,000 students throughout the district.

For more information on what the CEF is doing in Carlsbad and how you can help, follow the jump.Carlsbad Educational Foundation Distributes More than $350,000 in Funds to Fuel Ongoing Investments in Music, Science & Educational Innovation

Leading Non-Profit Bolsters Support for Carlsbad Schools with Help from Local Corporations, Grants & Enrichment Programs

In the midst of staggering statewide budget shortfalls compounded by a projected fiscal deficit of nearly $11 million for the Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) in the 2012-2013 school year, the Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF) is continuing to make a difference raising private support for public education in science, music and innovative programs. As it becomes abundantly clear that tax revenues alone cannot support the quality of public education that Carlsbad students deserve, the Foundation helps provide the funding to support programs that promote student achievement and educational excellence in CUSD schools. To that end, CEF announces its plans to distribute more than $350,000 in funds to support a variety of programs for the 2011-2012 school year.

News Facts:
Carlsbad Educational Foundation announces the release of $350,000 in funds to assist 15 key initiatives that support students within the Carlsbad Unified School District during the 2011-2012 school year. Among the initiatives are essential music, science and special programs that impact 11,000 students throughout the district.

For the third consecutive year, CEF is funding weekly music instruction for all 5,000 CUSD elementary school students. CEF also continues to sponsor the International Science Olympiad, which are “academic track meets” involving a cross-section of students at all three middle schools and Carlsbad High School. The students participate in tournaments that foster teamwork and collaboration.

Additionally, CEF has released funds to once again support FIRST LEGO League robotics programs, (grades 4-12), Junior Achievement’s BizTown and the Third Grade Academy for Environmental Stewardship (with a grant from the Carlsbad Charitable Foundation).

For the 2011-2012 school year, the Foundation has invested in critical science lab upgrades at Carlsbad High School while also supporting hands-on lab experiments at Valley, Calavera Hills and Aviara Oaks Middle Schools.

CEF Raises Funds through Earned Income, Grants and Growing Roster of Corporate Sponsors
Since 2004, CEF has operated Kids’ Care, a district-wide, licensed childcare and educational enrichment program for nearly 700 students at all nine CUSD elementary schools.

In 2009, CEF added a full roster of summer enrichment programs followed in the summer of 2011 with Carlsbad’s first Summer Academy, an academic advancement and credit program for high school students.
CEF also raises much-needed funds through national, regional and local grants, including the Wells Fargo Foundation, McCarthy Family Foundation and Carlsbad Charitable Foundation.

A growing roster of corporate sponsors also supports CEF, including LEGOLAND, Life Technologies, ViaSat, Nordson Asymtek, Beckman Coulter, Balfour Beatty, La Costa Resort and Spa, Toyota Carlsbad and Jazzercise.

On November 1st, CEF kicks off its annual fund drive, targeting nearly 12,000 households.

Supporting Quotes:
Valin Brown, CEO, Carlsbad Educational Foundation
“We learned long ago that programs such as weekly music instruction aren’t just ‘nice to have,’ they’re essential in helping build creative, well-rounded, lifelong learners. Every student in our district should have equal access to these programs as part of our community’s commitment to high-quality public education.”

Matt Hall, Mayor, Carlsbad
“Our community’s commitment to our schools and our students is crucial. Many of the top businesses in Carlsbad have chosen to step forward and support programs through the Carlsbad Educational Foundation because their employees live and work here and they understand how important a well-educated workforce is to well-being of our community and the future of our nation.”

Dr. John Roach, Superintendent, Carlsbad Unified School District
“Our school district is very fortunate to have the Carlsbad Educational Foundation. There aren’t many districts that have a non-profit organization solely dedicated to raising private support for public education.”

Steven R. Hart, CTO & Co-Founder, ViaSat
“ViaSat employees recently adopted several Carlsbad schools to serve as mentors to students engaged in the Science Olympiad program. We believe that funding and volunteer mentorship of middle and high school students in this program can really ignite a passion for science and engineering at a time when our country is falling further behind.”

Supporting Resources:
Carlsbad Educational Foundation: http://www.carlsbaded.org/
More on Kids’ Care: http://www.carlsbaded.org/2/kids’-care.aspx
More CEF news: http://www.carlsbaded.org/articleCategory.aspx?cid=1
CEF’s annual fund drive: http://community.icontact.com/p/carlsbaded/newsletters/2010afd/posts/what-do-carlsbad-kids-cef-and-free-pizza-have-in-common

About the Carlsbad Educational Foundation
The Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF) is a non-profit 501©(3) organization that was founded in 1983 to raise private support for public education and the enrichment of nearly 11,000 students in the Carlsbad Unified School District. CEF develops, conducts and finances innovative, quality educational programs and projects. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed over $5 million in funds to Carlsbad schools, primarily for science, technology, arts and reading. In 2010 – 2011 alone, the foundation released nearly half a million dollars in support of K-5 music programs, hands-on science, and educationally innovative programs. CEF also operates a Summer Enrichment Program, high school Summer Academy, and Kids’ Care, a comprehensive before- and after-school K-5 childcare program. For more information, visit www.carlsbaded.org.

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