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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DONATION TO BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION ABOVE EXPECTATIONS
BSF's Spring for Schools next big fundraising push to ensure financing of planned academic initiatives
for all Bellevue school students.
BELLEVUE, Wash., June 2, 2003. -- The economy is tight, but parents and community members across Bellevue are
giving in record numbers to the Bellevue Schools Foundation, the non-profit organization dedicated to funding
academic excellence for all students in Bellevue public schools. Final tallies from its annual phonathon, held last
October, shows total donations exceeding $200,000. BSF's target was $180,000. This money represents 20 percent of
BSF's annual budget.
The foundation needs this trend to continue. BSF's annual major fundraising event, Spring for Schools,
will be held June 5 at the Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue. Some 900 community members will attend the
fundraiser, aimed at raising an additional $275,000 for academic and enrichment programs in Bellevue public schools.
BSF funds programs in every elementary, middle school and high school in the Bellevue School District. Money
raised from both the phonathon and Spring for Schools will fund planned initiatives across the Bellevue School
District during the 2003-04 academic year, including curriculum enhancement in science, math and the arts;
thousands of reading books for in-class libraries; classroom grants; mentoring programs; and special programs
for at-risk youth.
"In times of economic hardship, it is typical for people to focus their donations on organizations or initiatives
that hit close to home," explained Aggie Sweeney, principal and regional manager for The Collins Group, which
provides fundraising consultation to non-profit organizations. "Education and children's issues make an impact
very close to home, and the Bellevue community has shown repeatedly that it places great importance on providing
the best possible education and future for its children."
The average donation amount from the phonathon also hit a record of $93, compared to $84 during the 2001 phonathon.
The number of individual gifts also rose substantially, with 2,216 donations given during the 2002 phonathon compared
to 1,911 in 2001. Matching funds from companies, including Boeing, Microsoft and others rose more than 30 percent
this year to more than $16,000.
The one area showing a decline was individual corporate donations, suggesting the recession did take a hit on
some companies' ability to support philanthropic giving.
"With the continued educational budget cuts, our public schools can not rely exclusively on State funding to
achieve the level of excellence our children need to be successful and to compete in the future workplace,"
said Sherry Ladd, executive director, Bellevue Schools Foundation.
"This is why the BSF plays a vital role in the continued success of Bellevue schools and its 15,000 school children,
and we rely on the generosity of our individual and corporate donors to fulfill that role," added Ladd.
Those interested in attending Spring for Schools or learning more about the Bellevue Schools Foundation should
contact BSF at info@bsfdn.org or 425-456-4199.
About the Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF)
The Bellevue Schools Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that helps fund academic excellence for
every student in the Bellevue School District. Uniquely, BSF works in partnership with the Bellevue School District,
the Parent-Teacher-Student Associations and school educators and administrators. Founded in 1979, BSF was created by
a concerned group of parents and community leaders, who wanted to ensure quality education for Bellevue's children
despite the economic challenges facing the school district. Each year, BSF funds help bridge the gap between state
funding and schools' budgets and programs needs. In 2002-2003, BSF raised nearly $1 million, which funded programs
in science, math, reading, the arts, mentoring and other initiatives for some 15,000 students across all grades and
schools. As a non-profit organization, BSF depends on its thousands of individual and corporate donors to bring
private money into public schools.
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Media Contact:
Margaret Dawson
The Silver Company (for Bellevue Schools Foundation)
Tel: 206-624-0388
Cel: 206-355-6872
margaret@thesilvercompany.com
or
Ann Grometstein
Bellevue Schools Foundation
Tel: 425-456-4199
ann@bsfdn.org
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Last updated Wednesday, March 17th, 2004.
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