Kaiser and Westly Provide Redwood City Education Foundation with Significant Funding

May 5, 2006  Two large grants —$36,000 from the Steve and Anita Westly Foundation and $35,000 from Kaiser Permanente—bring the Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF) closer to its goal of raising $325,000 during the 2005-2006 school year, the highest fund-raising goal ever set by the organization. The RCEF, which raises money to pay for music, art, academic and wellness programs, has raised $230,000 to date—70 percent of its goal for the year

The Westly Foundation is funding the entire cost of conducting kindergarten readiness assessments for 800 pre-schoolers and implementing “Bridges to Kindergarten,” a new program which offers a chance for some of these students to become familiar with the fundamentals of classroom behavior and expectations.  In addition, the Westly Foundation is providing $12,000 toward Music for Learning, the district’s music program for 3,000 2nd through 4th graders.  The Westly Foundation also offers classroom mini-grants for Redwood City School teachers.

Kaiser Permanente’s grant will pay for half the salary of a Wellness Coordinator who will coordinate physical activity and nutrition programs in all Redwood City School District schools.  The new Wellness Coordinator will provide children and families with education on nutrition and physical activity to help reduce the incidence of childhood obesity.

“We are inspired by the strong commitment made by both the Westly Foundation and Kaiser Permanente to help us achieve the dream of better schools and a brighter future for the children in our community,” said Georgia Jack, president of the RCEF.

The RCEF is now looking ahead to meet a challenge grant that requires 10 percent of district parents to contribute $1 or more to the RCEF by June 30.  If the goal is met, an anonymous donor will contribute $10,000.

The mission of the RCEF is to advance and enrich educational opportunities for all students in the culturally and economically diverse Redwood City School District.

For more information, please contact Georgia Jack, RCEF president, 650-218-7774.