Piedmont aims to raise $3.5 million to minimize school funding gap
Fall is here and school is back in the swing of things. This year’s PEF Giving Campaign launched Tuesday, Sept. 19, with a week of celebration. Hopefully you noticed a large number of community members wearing purple and the kids enjoying popsicles in the park donated by Mulberry’s Market. That evening PEF hosted a New Parent Party at the Community Center followed by a Lead Donor Party hosted by Melissa and Ali Partovi at their gorgeous home.
This year’s campaign chairs are Catie Osborn and Kim Hunter, supported by the Piedmont Education Foundation team and a group of dedicated volunteers. Over the next few months, the team will work tirelessly to raise funds for Piedmont’s students, putting up banners at schools, conducting community outreach, writing personal letters, and making phone calls.
The Giving Campaign is a response to California’s chronic underfunding of public schools. This year, the team asks that families donate $2,132 per student to help make up the gap between what is needed and what the government provides to Piedmont Schools. “A great education requires great teachers,” said Heather Frank, PEF Executive Director at the September 27 Board of Education meeting. “While state and parcel tax funding makes up the bulk of PUSD’s budget, the more we raise through the Giving Campaign, the stronger Piedmont schools will become.”
Campaign co-chair Catie Osborn captured it perfectly in a speech during kick-off week: “The Giving Campaign is particularly important this year because it is critical that we continue to retain and attract the highest quality teachers and staff. Everyone knows, teachers and staff are our greatest asset. Almost 80% of the PEF grant goes towards teacher and staff salaries.”
Students show their enthusiasm for the cause. 
Cheering on the Giving Campaign outside Piedmont High School. 
Michael Gross, Giving Campaign Co-Chair Kim Hunter, Pat Keller, PEF Chair Tonya Antonucci, Laura Jacobs, Dana Murray, Rebecca Pelle, Zeena Fakoury greeted families at Beach Elementary.
The funds from last year’s Giving Campaign’s are helping to fund small class sizes, wellness & college development programs, lunchtime libraries, the arts and much more. It is an investment in our children and our community. Piedmont has always been known for their outstanding education system and the community’s investment is key.
To learn more about the Piedmont Education Foundation’s Giving Campaign or to give, please visit www.piedmontedfoundation.org.
