Alameda Education Foundation

Dear Friend,

So much about what AEF does is about empowering students. The programs  we support – Visual and Performing Arts, Middle School Sports, Enrichment, and Teacher and Classroom Support – make learning more accessible to more students, engage students, motivate students, encourage creative thinking, and teach important Life Skills. By expanding educational opportunities, we empower more students to be future thinkers and problem-solvers.

Empowerment sounds like a pretty hefty goal, but with your donation,  AEF is able to support vital programs that really do make a difference.

Thank you to all of you who have already responded to our year-end appeal. Your gift is an invaluable gift for the future. We hope you will all consider making a donation today to the AEF and help give the gift of empowerment to thousands of Alameda students!  Don’t forget many companies offer Community Giving programs.

Just read about the difference your support of AEF can make!

Visual and Performing Arts

If you heard a lot of music and laughter last month, it was AEF’s annual fundraiser for the Arts,  All Together Now , on November 10th at Alameda Theatre.  Not only was it the best party in town, it was a successful fundraiser for music, art and drama programs in our public schools.  Look for an announcement early in 2012 regarding distribution to school visual and performing arts programs.

Have a flute or guitar gathering dust? Then consider donating it to AEF’s Instrument Drive. As one middle school music director told us “We have a ton of students in music and a shortage of instruments to put in their hands. With each instrument we receive, another student will have his or her musical education needs met.” Your tax-deductible donation of an unused instrument will get it in the hands of needy students.

Middle School Sports

Nets are being traded in for hoops as a successful fall volleyball season has ended and basketball is starting up, with games beginning in January. We are so pleased to have been able to expand our sports program this year to four sites, including district and charter schools: Lincoln, Wood, Academy, and Nea/ACLC. This program is so vital to middle school students. As one coach, who is also a teacher shared, “Learning to work and grow together not only as individuals, but as a team, is an invaluable gift that the Alameda Education Foundation extends to the students of the Island.” You can check out the hoops schedule and scores on the AEF sports page.

Enrichment

Schools were bustling with after-school activity this fall as our after-school  Enrichment program had a record number of registrations. Students created and designed and made music in such classes as cooking, drawing, engineering, jewelry making, choral and rock band. In all, we offered 148 classes for almost 1300 registrants! This fall, we also introduced holiday and non-student day camps. We look forward to offering spring and summer camps, as well. We’re happy to announce that the Enrichment program was added at the Haight School site this fall and that Washington is coming on board this winter, with sign-ups beginning in January. Thank you to all our Enrichment site coordinators for a very successful fall program!

Teacher and Classroom Support

We made quite a few teachers – and students – cheer this year with our Adopt A Classroom program. Adopt A Classroom provides direct support into the classroom where 100% of each $500 donation goes directly to the classroom teacher or program leader who uses the funds to purch ase materials and supplies, fund field trips or assemblies, or support other learning impact programs. So far, we’ve adopted 61 classrooms, but our goal is 100. Your $500 donation enables us to get the money directly where it is most needed. This is one of our most direct impact programs – please consider a gift today.

Year End Thank Yous

Since the start of school, we have had so much support from the Alameda community for the work we do. Thank you to all the local businesses and citizens that have hosted or supported fundraisers supporting AEF including: the Harbor Bay Club, Angela’s Bistro, Books Inc, Deborah Wright and the entire Pirates in Paradise crew, Miss Alameda, the vendors of the December 3rd Holiday Fair, the Alameda Theatre, the Sun Kings, Drew Harrison, Peter Fletcher, Justine Francis, the Alameda Association of Realtors, and the many donors to All Together Now. You can learn more about these generous businesses, organizations, and individuals on our Events and Shop 4 Education pages on our web site.

Thank you also to the wonderful AEF Board! I am privileged to work with such dedicated people who give of their time to support our schools and our students. And a special thanks to AEF’s hard-working staff who manage all these wonderful programs. And keep me awfully busy!

Of course, we want to thank all of you who support AEF. We could not support our vital programs without you! Your support will help us continue to offer these valuable educational opportunities that support academics and prepare our students for a bright and promising future!

Let there be Lights!

Alameda loves to decorate for the holidays and this year, there is an opportunity to win $100,000 for local schools by winning the Patch’s best decked holiday house! So, get those decorations out and light up for schools! Complete contest information is available at  AlamedaPatch .

Lighten Up!

No hints intended here, but if you do want to do something good for your body – and for education – Ada Wells of ProBalance is holding a holiday “Pilates for Charity” week, December 26 – 29 at her new studio at 2213 Harbor Bay Parkway.  Click here for details.

We wish you all a bright and wonderful holiday season!

Sincerely,

Bill Sonneman, AEF President