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 […]

DONORS MAKING A DIFFERENCE – LSW Architects

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, […]

MAKING AN IMPACT…School community rallies to support struggling student

(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 […]

“Write from the Start” sends students back to school ready to learn

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 […]

Making an Impact: Alaia’s Story

Image: High school senior, Alaia with Foundation Executive Director Nada Wheelock and Family-Community Resource Coordinator, Chelsea Unger. Transforming a Student’s Life For many teens it can be difficult to ask for help. For 17-year-old Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) student, Alaia, who grew up being told “money doesn’t grow on trees,” lack of adequate food, clothing, […]