track and field

Bill’s Word: The Giving Season!

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Dear Friend,

This is the season of giving.  Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving and today is Giving Tuesday.  Now we are into the holiday season, the traditional time of giving gifts.  It is also the time when many charities will ask you for financial gifts to help them with the vital work they do all year long.

We at the Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) understand that you get many requests from worthy charities that do important and vital work.  We know you want to be sure your gift makes as much of an impact as possible, that it is more than just a drop in the bucket.  I can guarantee you that when you give to AEF, it makes an impact.  In fact, giving to the Alameda Education Foundation changes lives.

John* had his heart set on making his Middle School Sports basketball team, but he struggled academically.  His coach told him he had to focus on his studies in order to be eligible.  Not only did John make the team, he finished the season with a 3.0 grade point average and perfect attendance.  “I pushed myself to study harder because I wanted to be on the team,” John said.

The Alameda Education Foundation’s (AEF)  Middle School Sports program supports 600 6th – 8th graders with an after-school program that includes an academic tie-in. Your support helps students like John learn the value of hard work, both on and off the court.

Our Early High School Academic Counseling program is helping 675 students stay on track for high school graduation and beyond.  Students and their parents meet one-on-one with a counselor to discuss high school course selection, college and career goals, and the college application process.  AEF’s sponsorship enables this counseling to take place outside of school hours, increasing parent participation from 55% to 95%.  As one parent explained, “Hearing about how my son was doing, his class choices, his class ranking and his grades from another knowledgeable adult had much more of an impact than the usual ‘do your homework’ refrain from us.”  Your support helps us reach 98% of these students with this vital program.

In addition to Middle School Sports and Academic Counseling, your support enables the Alameda Education Foundation to:

  • Support close to 200 teachers annually with $500 grants through our Adopt A Classroom program.  Since September, we have already provided teachers with almost $75,000!
  • Offer Enrichment after-school classes and camps in the arts, sciences, foreign languages, technology and sports to over 4,000 K – 8 students per year.
  • Provide over 1,000 low-income students with new backpacks and age-appropriate school supplies through our Equipped 4 Success school supply drive.
  • Offer High School Information Nights to over 600 incoming freshmen and their parents.
  • Educate over 200 students and parents about making wise college finance decisions.
  • Sponsor technology education programs throughout the district with Power Up For Learning, our partner program with Alameda Municipal Power.
  • Introduce 2,700 K-8 students to the magic of music with an Oakland East Bay Symphony Young People’s Concert.

The work we do would not be possible without direct financial support from people like you.  Each dollar you give directly benefits students and makes an impact.  That’s why I’m asking you to consider becoming a Dollar-a-Day partner for $365 to help us support programs all year around for our students.

Anything you can provide will make a difference.  For instance, $100 supports a student-athlete in our Middle School Sports program, $50 supports two students in Academic Counseling and  $35 provides a backpack and school supplies for a low-income student.

Please consider making an online tax-deductible donation today.  We also support monthly giving.

Your support will make a lasting impact on student lives.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Bill Sonneman, President

P.S.  I invite you to learn more about the work we do by visiting our website at www.AlamedaEducation.org or calling our office at 510-337-7189.  We would be happy to talk to you about the impact our programs make on student lives!

*Name has been changed

Gifts that support AEF!

When you do your Holiday shopping at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to the Alameda Education Foundation. Bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-2867769 and support us every time you shop.

Skate at Alameda’s Little Ice Rink and get a discount. http://alamedaeducationfoundation.org/aef-nights-at-the-little-ice-rink/   

 

Join us as the Warriors take on the Miami Heat on Jan. 14th.
http://alamedaeducationfoundation.org/aef-night-warriors-vs-miami-heat-11415/