As the new school year kicks off, the Park City Education Foundation is calling on parents and community members to donate. Since the nonprofit started more than more than two decades ago, the Park City Education Foundation has asked parents to contribute.
“The Park City Education Foundation can enhance every student’s experience,” said Jennifer Billow, the events marketing and communications manager. “With our taxes we’re only funding the basics, but we have these amazing teachers and administrators who have these big ideas. You never know which of these grants can open a door for a student, start a dream, launch a passion.”
The fundraising season begins with student registration where parents can choose make a one-time donation or opt to sign up for monthly donations. The nonprofit is aiming for a dollar a day per student in donations, which works out to be $180 per student. With that goal, the Park City Education Foundation would raise $775,000 every year to support programs in the schools.
“We have our main events over the year,” Billow said, “but to be truly successful and make difference, we would like parents to do what they can. Our grants touch nearly every single student in the district.”
From school-wide reading programs at the high school to simulation software for the middle school science classes, grants are awarded to classrooms, schools and the district as a whole. The annual Author-in-Residence program is an annual Park City High School event where every student reads the same book and a school assembly allows students to meet the author. Without Park City Education Foundation funding, the program may have never started.
“There is at least one grant in the district that impacts your child,” Billows said, “but these programs cost money and so that’s why we fundraise year round.”
“We’ve faced our own budget shortfalls here in Park City,” she added. “The Park City Education Foundation has stepped in to make a difference, to fund these high-caliber programs for district.”
For more information on how to donate or to learn more, visit www.pcef4kids.org.