The Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG is a one-day, online charitable giving event to inspire people to give generously to nonprofit organizations who make our region a healthier and more vital place to live.

It is FINALLY HERE!!!

WHY GiveBIG????

All month we have been sharing information about the Community Schools program.   Today is the day when your GiveBIG donation makes the difference.   Thank you for promoting GiveBIG in your circles.

Why should you GiveBIG?

Reason #1  One Child

Let's call her Louisa.  The Community Schools program supports thousands of children -but here is the story of one.   Louisa is  an 8th graders at Kenmore Junior High School.   Her parents moved to Kenmore in 2011 because her uncle had secured a job for her dad.   When Louisa started school, her parents needed help to understand the enrollment forms and what was expected of them.   A Natural Leader stepped in and helped Louisa's parents understand the forms communicate with Louisa's teachers and support her education.   Louisa needed some help getting on track with there studies so she began attending Hang-Time.   She was a fast learner and she began to thrive as a student.   Four months after she had started school, Louisa's dad lost his job.  The seasons were changing and Louisa and her family needed warm clothes.  The principal at the school who had built a relationship with Louisa's parents was able to tell them about Threads and Treads and the whole family was able to visit and get the clothes they needed. 

One Child, One Family and One Program that supported them in many ways in their quest for a better education for their children.   

Students like Loiusa - that's the number one reason to GiveBIG.

Reason #2 Future Funding?  Unknown

The Community School project was started from a planning grant funded by The Seattle Foundation and a King County CPPW grant.    Since that time much progress has been made but for now no funding source has been identified to expand or even fully maintain the Community Schools program. Your donation of $50 or more will help us meet our goal of providing at least $10K to support this important program.  

Reason #3 Christian, Bainbridge and Anthony

Many of you have heard of the spectacular job that these three boys (Christian, Bainbridge and Anthony) did at the Northshore Schools Foundation Luncheon.   They are great representatives of what can happen when a community supports students.  Watch their video here if you have missed it until now.

Reason #4 Natural Leaders

Natural Leader Parent Mentors bridge the gap for multicultural families who are not accustomed to our school system but want their children to be successful.   Natural Leaders are currently in place at 8 schools.   Help us recruit and train parent facilitators so that parents at each one of our schools have access to this important resource

Reason #5 Stretch Match Dollars

Reason #6 Threads and Treads

When you GiveBIG you insure that families have an option for new-to-them clothes for every member of their family.   That resource is often just the boost a family needs to get back on their feet during a time of personal struggle, unemployment or recovery from an illness.  

Reason #7 Golden Ticket

Reason #8 Meeting Our Goals

Although Community Schools goes above and beyond "basic education," supporting this program means supporting School Board goals.

Just to name a few:

1.4 Increase the percentage of students exceeding state learning standards by gender, ethnicity, income level and special needs

1.7 Increase the percentage of students on track by the end of 9th grade to graduate

1.14 Increase the percentage of students who feel connected to school

1.17 Decrease the drop-out rate

4.1 Increase community partnerships that support student learning

Reason #9 Students of All Ages

Community Schools is more than just k-12 students.  Students from Cascadia Community College, UW - (Bothell and Seattle campuses) and Edmonds Community College engage with the students in the Community Schools program by being mentors, tutors and positive adult role models; providing a collaborative learning opportunity for students of all ages.