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MAKING AN IMPACT – Supporting Student Welfare and Engagement

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In schools across the nation, the need for student behavioral and mental health support is unlike anything seen before. Many students are facing challenges adjusting to changes in their learning environments, recovering from lack of social interaction, and in some cases, coping with instability in their home life that has been amplified by COVID and economic hardships. Suspension, truancy, and graduation rates reveal the results of these challenges. Last spring the Foundation for VPS provided supplemental funding for two new VPS programs focused on improving attendance, engagement, and truancy rates. The Student Welfare & Truancy and IMPACT programs provide structure...
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ENGAGING STUDENTS…PALs bring summer enrichment to Fruit Valley students

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The Foundation for VPS provides funding throughout the year to offer students mentoring and enrichment opportunities for little or no cost. The ultimate goal is to increase engagement in learning, build confidence, and help connect them to their passions. Last summer around 100 children participated in the Mad Science, STEAM, and forensics camps offered through the Police Activities League (PAL) of Southwest Washington. For the fifth year, the camps were hosted at Fruit Valley Elementary School and were open to all youth in the community, with first priority given to Fruit Valley students and siblings. This year was extra special...
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Supporting students in the 2022-23 school year…

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It’s back-to-school season! The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools is gearing up to help students begin a new school year happy, healthy, and ready to learn. Donations to the Write from the Start School Supply Drive matched through 8/31! Your donation to the Write from the Start School Supply Drive helps Vancouver Public School students start the school year with the supplies they need to be successful. Give now and your donation will be matched by Dick Hannah Dealerships, up to $10,000! Around 11,000 students in Vancouver Public Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a Federal indicator of poverty....
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$60,000 in Engagement Grants Awarded in 2020-21 School Year

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School Engagement Grants Faced with a changed landscape due to the pandemic, schools were creative finding ways to engage and support stu-dents during remote and hybrid learning via a range of exciting projects. Earth day kits, creating a new school song, and a parking lot BINGO and dance party were a few of the experiences granted to students through the annual Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools Engagement Grants. “The Foundation for VPS allocated $60,000 in Engagement Grants to fund projects and programs to benefit students at every Vancouver school,” explains Nada Wheelock, Executive Director, Foundation for VPS. “Thank you to...
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$100,000 in Engagement Grants Awarded in 2019-20 School Year

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School Engagement Grants The Foundation for VPS provides opportunities so all students have opportunities that spark their interests, connect them to their passion, and help them envision and plan for their future success in college, career and life. Each year, the Foundation provides funding to bring unique enrichment activities and experiences to students at all VPS schools. Since 1998, the Foundation for VPS has awarded more than one million dollars to fund innovative and exciting projects that enrich student learning. The 2019-20 grant recipients include: All VPS Elementary Schools Safety Patrol year-end celebration; after-school dance program; computer science for special...
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Sign up for the 2021 Couve Clover Run

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7TH ANNUAL COUVE CLOVER RUN/WALK – 3, 7 or 10 mile routes & virtual options Sunday, March 21, 2021 Grab your St. Patrick’s themed running gear and accessories, bring your family and friends, and run or walk a 3, 7, or 10 mile scenic course and raise money for the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools to benefit VPS students. 5K FREE for ages 12 & under! Ages 13-17, 50% off. Strollers permitted. REGISTER AND FIND DETAILS AT: https://whyracingevents.com/couve-clover-run Sign up today with Charity Code: FOUNDATIONVSD10 Save 10% off your registration fee. Want to make an even bigger impact? FUNdraise for...
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MAKING AN IMPACT – Help for Students in Need

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One by one, cars enter the parking lot of Harney Elementary. Drivers are greeted by Hilda Lail, the school’s Family-Community Resource Center (FCRC) coordinator. Wearing a face mask and gloves, Hilda and other staff members hand out food bags for families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Many families, even those who used to be able to afford groceries, now struggle to put enough food on the table. Despite school building closures in early March, the district’s 20 FCRC coordinators are doing everything they can to safely make sure children and families have access to basic needs and the latest information....
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$250,000 Raised in Virtual Event

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The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools’ (VPS) biggest community fundraiser of the year raised over $250,000 in donations from generous businesses and individuals through an online giving event. The total includes $80,000 in matching funds from the “Give a Fox” Fund, a partnership between LSW Architects and Slumberkins. Over 600 guests initially planned on attending the Annual Luncheon in person. “We are thankful to the Vancouver community, organizations, our Community Champions Circle, and event sponsors who stepped up and supported our mission through our online event despite these incredibly challenging times,” said Nada Wheelock, Executive Director. “Now, more than ever,...
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DONORS MAKING A DIFFERENCE – LSW Architects

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For over 30 years, the Vancouver community has come together to support families in need by donating to the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools (VPS). LSW Architects is one of our “Community Champions” who has stepped up to support VPS students and families for many years in many ways, including providing Thanksgiving dinners for families, funding school events and programs, and sponsoring the annual Foundation Luncheon. Last November, LSW Architects teamed up with Slumberkins and raised over $200,000 at their first annual Foxgiving fundraiser to raise awareness and provide resources for homeless children and families in Clark County. When the...
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Annual Luncheon will be Virtual

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Out of an abundance of concern for the safety of students, guests, and community, the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) has canceled its annual Luncheon scheduled for March 19th. Instead, the non-profit will host a Virtual Luncheon with details to be announced next week. The Luncheon is the biggest community fundraiser for the Foundation for VPS, expecting to draw 600 people. The online event will highlight the talents of students, share impact stories of students and families who’ve benefited from Foundation for VPS support, recipes from VPS Culinary Arts students, and more. Financial donations to the Foundation for VPS...
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MAKING AN IMPACT…Keoni’s Keychains

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(Pictured: 8-year old Keoni presents check to Franklin Elementary School Principal, Woody Howard after selling keychains to pay off classmates’ cafeteria debt. Photo courtesy, April Ching.) An act of kindness by a Franklin Elementary School second-grader has received national attention and made a big impact for students with cafeteria debt. Keoni Ching, 8, wanted to do something special for “Kindness Week,” an annual event celebrated in many VPS schools. He heard his mother and father discussing NFL player Richard Sherman’s recent donation of $27,000 toward student lunch debt in Washington and California. Keoni had his own experience with an overdrawn...
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ENGAGING STUDENTS…McLoughlin students see nature from new angle

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Most of Celia Antonini’s students had never experienced the natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge until a Foundation for VPS Engagement Grant funded an 8th grade trip to Multnomah Falls. The students were not there just for recreation, or to study natural science, they would be learning linear functions. As part of their math curriculum, the students had been working on the concepts of slope, initial value and how it relates to the world. Antonini applied for the grant hoping that the trip would help the students develop a “concrete understanding of how graphs, tables, equations and scenarios are...
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Donors Making a Difference: Beaches Community Fund

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For more than 20 years Mark Matthias has supported the mission of the Foundation for VPS through the Beaches Charity Fund, personal contributions, and events at his restaurants – Beaches and Warehouse ’23. A former Foundation for VPS board member, Matthias has been a leading champion of Foundation for VPS initiatives, pledging $100,000 over four years in 2017 to support expansion of basic needs support throughout the district. He has also encouraged donations to the Foundation by providing incentive parties to teachers and staff who give through the annual Staff Campaign. A hero for many non-profits and causes, Matthias and...
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Sign up for the 2020 Couve Clover Run

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6TH ANNUAL COUVE CLOVER RUN/WALK – 3, 7 or 10 mile routes Sunday, March 22, 2020 9:00 a.m. start time (arrive by 8:30 a.m.) GO FOR GREEN! Grab your St. Patrick’s themed running gear and accessories, bring your family and friends, and run or walk a 3, 7, or 10 mile scenic course to support local charities like the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools. Stick around for the great post party hosted by Main Event. Kids 12 and under get to race the 5K for FREE! Ages 13-17, half-price. Strollers permitted. REGISTER AND FIND DETAILS AT: http://bit.ly/Race4FVPS THREE OPTIONS TO BENEFIT THE...
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Foundation for VPS welcomes new board members

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Vancouver, WA (February 27, 2020) – The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) announces additions to its board of directors. Joining the board of directors in a 3-year term are Diana Avalos-Leos, Program Manager, Healthy Living Collaborative of SW WA; Jeff Fisher, Owner, Jeff Fisher Agency; Trevor Hayward, Director of Planning, Hayward Uskoski and Associates; Cyndi Holloway, Governmental and Community Affairs Director, Waste Connections; Sean Moore, Senior Project Manager, Workforce SW WA; and Jeff Peterson, Attorney, Percipient Law. Beginning terms as ex-officio officers are; Darci Fronk, Principal, Alki Middle School; Kyle Sproul, Director, Vancouver Public Schools Board of Directors; and...
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MAKING AN IMPACT…School community rallies to support struggling student

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(Pictured: As a senior at Skyview High School, Caiti wanted to “give back” as a volunteer at the Foundation for VPS 2019 Annual Luncheon) Teachers see challenges daily…students who come to school without basic necessities, facing additional barriers to learning. With support from donors, the Foundation for VPS can help change that scenario by directing resources so students get what they need, when they need it. And in Caiti’s case, receiving wrap-around support during her time of need made all the difference. In September 2018, Caiti moved to Vancouver from Arizona, hoping for a healthier home environment to finish her...
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ENGAGING STUDENTS…Eisenhower Elementary unveils book vending machine

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There’s a new vending machine at Eisenhower Elementary, but rather than dispensing a sugary snack, this machine is parent and librarian approved. Funded by grants from the Foundation for VPS and Eisenhower PTA, “Bookworm,” is a book dispensing vending machine that provides a fun, unique way to reward students for good behavior and encourages literacy skills. “The vending machine supports our commitment to lifelong reading and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS),” said Principal Jennifer Blechschmidt. Students will earn “Eagle Coins” for books of their choice by following the school’s “RESCUE” standards: Respect, Effort, Safety, Cooperation, begins with YOU and...
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Donors Making a Difference: Craig Stein Beverage

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Craig Stein Beverage is matching donations through the end of the year, up to $2,000! Over the last 10 years, CSB has invested over $100,000 to support the mission of the Foundation for VPS, supporting many areas affecting student success. Funds were used for Basic Needs support, including the Emergency Checkbook Program (available for each of the 36 VPS principals), Winco gift cards, gas cards, and Goodwill vouchers which provide families with access to food, gas, clothing, and household goods. Their recent donations have also gone to support mentoring programs like Lunch Buddies, provide family engagement and nutrition programs, and...
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MAKING AN IMPACT…Mentors making a positive connection

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(Pictured, Lunch Buddy Samuel and his Buddy at Harney Elementary School) “I am incredibly grateful for the VPS Lunch Buddy program,” said Samuel, a Lunch Buddy at Harney Elementary School. “I cannot express the magnitude and impact that one hour a week makes for both the child AND adult.” “Over the past two years, I’ve watched this young man grow and succeed. I was beyond honored to be invited by my Buddy’s mom to attend his promotion ceremony and see him off to middle school.” The program, supported by funding from the Foundation, matches caring adults with elementary students who...
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“Write from the Start” sends students back to school ready to learn

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Thank you to the many individuals and businesses who participated in the Write from the Start School Supply Drive this summer. Together, we collected 10,200 lbs of new school supplies for VPS students to start the school year ready to learn! An initiative of Vancouver Public Schools, Write from the Start is supported by the Foundation for VPS and corporate partners. 50 businesses and organizations held in-house collections, KOIN 6 and Alpha Media provided media coverage, Dutch Bros Coffee and Papa Murphys offered donors promotional incentives, and volunteers from iQ Credit Union and Umpqua Bank helped sort supplies. For the...
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