Making an Impact…Vaccine Clinic Gets Students Up-to-Date

Any parent knows that keeping up with childhood vaccines can be a challenge. Vaccinations protect against serious illnesses that can spread rapidly in schools, so state law requires that children be up-to-date before starting the school year.  As the end of August approached, some families found themselves running out of time and at risk of […]

Donors Making a Difference… Fred Meyer’s Kroger Foundation

We are thrilled to announce that the Fred Meyer’s Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation has awarded us a $5,000 grant to purchase grocery cards for families, supplementing their food pantries. This generous donation aligns with their mission: “Through innovation, collaboration, and community engagement, we’re committed to creating communities free of hunger and waste.” This […]

MAKING AN IMPACT… SWACH Fosters Vision of Success

In a collaboration between the Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health (SWACH) and the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools, a generous donation of $10,000 has been extended to ensure that every child has access to vision care.  Vision care, often overlooked as a basic need, plays a pivotal role in a child’s educational journey and […]

MAKING AN IMPACT…Nurturing Bright Futures: Crucial Support for Students’ Basic Needs

It is often said that education is the great equalizer, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to unlock their full potential, bridge societal gaps, and pursue opportunities for a brighter and more equitable future. However, this ideal can be difficult to reach for many students in our community who are grappling with basic needs insecurity. When […]

DONORS MAKING A DIFFERENCE…Cowlitz Tribal Foundation

The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation recently awarded the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools a $125,000 grant which will be used to provide direct support for students and families living in poverty as well as program support for early learning, mentoring, social and emotional health supports, enrichment and engagement activities. The grant came from the Cowlitz Tribal […]

RECENT NEWS…Bright Futures Luncheon Raises $230,000

The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) held its 20th annual Bright Futures Luncheon on May 4, 2023. Over 500 supporters gathered to help celebrate a bright future for Vancouver youth, raising $230,000 in support of the 22,000 students in 37 VPS schools and programs across the district. Thanks to event sponsors, all money raised […]

MAKING AN IMPACT – The Plaza

Two evenings a week, families enter the gym at Roosevelt Elementary looking for education and personal connections. Upon arrival they’re often greeted by Hilda Lail, Family Advocate with Vancouver Public Schools’ Family-Community Resource Centers (FCRCs). Lail oversees The Plaza, a high-impact program designed for families from different cultural backgrounds to help improve skills such as […]

MAKING AN IMPACT – Wrap-around services support a family during a tragedy

Providing wrap-around services for students and helping to bridge gaps due to poverty are an ongoing focus for the Foundation for VPS. In some cases, support helps families facing hardships due to unexpected circumstances. Sadly, this school year a VPS student died following a tragic accident. There was an immediate need to respond to support […]

MAKING AN IMPACT – Supporting Student Welfare and Engagement

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 […]

MAKING AN IMPACT – Help for Students in Need

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 […]