EAST ARROYO RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION HELPS RAISE $4,000 FOR PUSD SCHOOLS THROUGH PEF'S FANSS CHALLENGE

The East Arroyo Residents Association (EARA) has helped to raise $4,000 for Cleveland and Roosevelt elementary schools by participating in PEF's FANSS Challenge. The Association did so by encouraging its members to donate to the Challenge and then matching their donations, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000. EARA's $2,000 donation was then matched by FANSS for a total of $4,000.   

EARA President Bob Snodgrass with Cleveland Principal Shannon Malone and Roosevelt Principal Juan Ruelas

PEF's Families and Neighbors Supporting Schools (FANSS) initiative has offered all PUSD school a $5,000 fundraising challenge. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous private donor, contributions made to a project of each schools choosing will be met by this challenge, dollar for dollar, for a maximum of  $5,000.

Cleveland Elementary plans to use its money to help fund a science lab; Roosevelt will apply the funds toward its sensory lab for special-needs students. Other schools are raising money for librarians, physical education and computer teachers, arts and music, reading programs, and technology.

The East Arroyo Residents Association was looking for a way to support an educational cause or program in its area when they learned about the FANSS Challenge.

"The board of directors was enthusiastic about working with the schools, and fortunate to link up with PEF," says Gary Hackney, chairman of the Association's Education Committee. "The Foundation really understands where educational needs are, and could guide us in making the best use of our donation."

Bob Snodgrass, president of EARA, said he feels it's important that residents of the area remember the schools are their neighbors. and that "EARA's first obligation is to our neighbors."

PEF initiated its new support group FANSS in 2010  when it launched a district-wide Technology Challenge. Every dollar raised by schools then was matched for a total of $224,000 that was used for improving the technological capacity of schools.      

How to Donate to PEF's FANSS Challenge 

You can donate to the school and project of your choice by visiting PEF's FANSS web page.  The Challenge is ongoing through June.  

JPL DIRECTOR CHARLES ELACHI TOURS MUIR HIGH SCHOOL

Left to right: PEF Board President George Brumder; JPL Director Dr. Charles Elachi; Muir High School Principal Sheryl Orange

John Muir High School's Engineering and EnvironmentalScience Pathway hosted a visit by Dr. Charles Elachi, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on May 24.  Dr. Elachi toured classrooms in the academy to highlight a new partnership between JPL, the PUSD, and the Pasadena Educational Foundation that connects high school students with work-based learning opportunities and exposure to careers in science and engineering.

To provide students with rigorous academics and an added advantage in college and careers, PUSD adopted the College and Career Pathways model as a way to help student link classroom lessons with exposure to career opportunities. PEF provides funding for the program. 

PEF'S ANNUAL SPRING EVENT TAKES PLACE JUNE 17