Friday, December 4, 2009
Ben Whistler
Staff Writer
The Manhattan Beach Educational Foundation “Pledge Day” raised $900,000 through donations from over 1,500 parents on Nov. 12. This, added to the $2.1 million already raised this year, brings the estimated total raised by MBEF to $3 million.
The event was designed in an attempt to raise as much money as possible toward MBEF’s promised goal of $4.1 million for this year. This is the first year Pledge day has been held.
“Since MBEF Pledge Day was a new fundraising strategy, really focusing fundraising efforts on this one day, it will take some time to analyze how effective the strategy was,” Executive Director of Educational Services for the District Carolyn Seaton said.
The money raised by MBEF this year will be used to pay for classroom necessities, teacher salaries and educational programs next year, as budgeted state funds will be insufficient alone.
“MBEF helps fill the gap between the money the state gives the district and what it costs to provide a well-rounded, quality education for the children of Manhattan Beach,” Executive Director of MBEF Susan Warshaw said.
Those still wanting to donate will be able to pledge money until Jan. 31, which will be the last day of the annual appeal. However, the MBEF wanted to evaluate how effective a single day would be in collecting funds while raising awareness of the role of the Ed Foundation’s goals and accomplishments.
“Out of $4.1 million that we raised last year, about $2 million went to teachers and some went to our programs that are loved in our district,” MBEF Vice President of Fundraising Nina Patel said. “We would hope if we were not to see any more budget cuts that we would still retain some of our programs, but if I had to bet on it, most of it would go to teachers’ classrooms and classroom teachers.”
The current economy has made it increasingly more difficult for MBEF to raise funds; however, administrators hope that Pledge Day will bring added attention and motivate people to donate to MBEF’s cause.
“Without donations to MBEF, many teachers and staff who contribute to an exceptional education and help place our school district in the top five in California would simply disappear,” Warshaw said.
Whether Pledge Day will be held again next year has yet to be decided. MBEF will base its decision on the fiscal success of this year’s Pledge Day.
“They’ll have to debrief the whole process to determine whether they want to keep this same type of structure for the next year or perhaps adjust it and move the day earlier or later in the school year,” Seaton said.
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