360.313.4730 | 2901 Falk Road Vancouver WA 98661
Impact
...to be happy, healthy, and ready to learn.
Getting kids what they need...
As we navigate these challenging times together – and look ahead to 2021 – we remain committed to improving the lives of thousands of vulnerable children and families. You make a difference in many students’ lives, creating opportunities to cultivate and inspire student success. We couldn’t do this work without your support!
Cindy Luckman, 2020-21 President, Board of Directors
WHAT WE DO
The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools is an independent, 501(c)3 educational non-profit corporation established in 1988 by Dr. Jim Parsley, VPS Superintendent (1980 to 2002). Dr. Parsley saw what students came to school “without” and established the Foundation to help meet those needs.
The Foundation supports students across all 37 Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) through the generous donations from school employees, parents, students, community members and businesses. The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of business, community and education leaders.
Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion
The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools is committed to listen and take action around safety and social justice to ensure a more equitable and inclusive future for all students. In the coming months, we will be taking steps to further define how this will be included in our organization for permanent change. We invite you to join us in our shared commitment to this valuable work.
THE STUDENTS WE SERVE
The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) serves over 22,000 youth in 37 schools and programs. Support for the Foundation for VPS helps students in need overcome barriers to learning and enriches the school experience to promote achievement for all students.
- 49% of VPS students are from families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines (i.e., qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch), with some VPS schools as high as 88%.
- 800+ students experienced homelessness during the past school year.
- Approximately 1 out of 5 VPS students are chronically absent.
- Our students are from diverse backgrounds, with 70 languages spoken.
Mission
We create opportunities to cultivate and inspire student success.
Vision
All students are prepared, confident and excited to learn.
Cause
Getting kids to school healthy, happy and ready to learn!
Areas of Impact
Basic Needs
Housing Stability
Health Services
Enrichment, Engagement, Mentoring
Early Learning Initiatives
Family-Community Engagement
2020-21 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Thanks to donors…
• Barriers to learning associated with poverty were removed so that students could come to school happy, healthy, and ready to learn.
• Students accessed engagement opportunities and connected with mentors to spark their interests, discover their passions, and envision their future.
• School communities were strengthened by family and community engagement activities.
• Early learning initiatives helped our youngest learners begin school ready to learn.
Impact at a glance:
• Basic needs funding, including Emergency Checkbooks, thrift store vouchers, and grocery store gift cards for emergency needs at all 37 school buildings
• Housing stability assistance prevented eviction of 149 children from 71 families
• Vision, dental, mental, and other health services were provided to students
• School supplies and basic needs support to helped students in need start the school year ready to learn
• Over $60,000 in enrichment grants and engagement activities benefited students through projects, programs, and experiences inside and out of the classroom
• Mentoring programs, after school sports programs, and camps were provided free of charge
• VPS Family-Community Resource coordinators hosted 99 online and in-person family engagement events
• 1-2-3 Grow & Learn hosted 191 sessions, engaging 2,959 children (birth-5) and their caregivers
Looking ahead to 2021-22…
VPS FCRCs and staff will continue to mobilize in-kind donations and community resources to stabilize students and families at each VPS school. Thanks to financial donations from thousands of supporters, the Foundation for VPS provides VPS with flexible funding to bridge the gap for students with the
greatest unmet basic needs. We also provide all students with opportunities for enrichment, mentoring, early learning, and family and community engagement to cultivate and inspire student success.
Some examples of planned Foundation support include:
• $300,000 direct basic needs support
• $100,000 school engagement grants
• $100,000 student enrichment, mentoring programming support for on-site and off-site out of school time
programming and experience labs
• $65,000 family and community engagement opportunities that strengthen family capacity to support
student success
• Resources to decrease absenteeism and support social-emotional health and resilience
• Early learning programming
Performance Measures
VPS measures success by parent and community involvement, safe and supportive environments and student achievement. VPS data and teacher reports document the impact on student learning:
– Improved student performance
– Increased graduation rates
– Decreased absences
– Reduced disciplinary actions
– Smaller performance gaps between students of diverse ethnic & economic backgrounds
Help Vancouver Students and Families
Remove the barriers of learning. Give our Vancouver Public School students boundless opportunities.
Are you a VPS employee?
Give through the VPS Staff Campaign.