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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION RAISES $463,500 AT
SPRING FOR SCHOOLS ANNUAL BENEFIT LUNCHEON
BELLEVUE, Wash., June 1, 2006 -- Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) raised $463,500 on behalf of Bellevue
Public Schools at its 18th annual Spring for Schools Benefit Luncheon, held today at Meydenbauer Center.
More than 1,000 business and community leaders gathered for the event to demonstrate their support of Bellevue
schools and its 16,000 students. Proceeds benefit BSF-funded programs to support academic rigor, students, and
teachers in the Bellevue School District.
Featured speakers included emcee and KIRO 7 News anchor, Margo Myers, and Paul Bogel, Bellevue Schools Foundation
Board President. Paul, with the help of a group of Bellevue students, made a surprise presentation to
Dr. Mike Riley, Superintendent of the Bellevue School District. He acknowledged Dr. Riley in recognition of
his first 10 years of work dedicated to raising Bellevue School District student achievement to internationally
competitive levels through increased academic rigor, support for students when they need it, and opportunities
for teachers. The audience responded with a standing ovation.
Attendees then heard presentations from several Bellevue students who have benefited from BSF-funded programs.
Two students from Odle Middle School, Colby Lewis, a sixth-grader, and Tyler VanBeek, a 7th grader, talked
about how math plays an important part in their lives, whether ballet, soccer or a savings bank account, it
"...all comes down to math". The new math curriculum was a result of the Boeing-Bellevue Math Standards
Partnership project. Two International School seniors, Athena Craig and Erik Frandsen, spoke of their
experiences in a newly developed writing program that is designed to help Bellevue students succeed in college
and careers. Roberto Perez, a 5th grade student at Lake Hills Elementary, and his teacher, Danielle Otteson,
shared how, with the help of an after school reading program at Lake Hills called "Reading Explorers", Roberto
has successfully brought his reading skills up to grade level.
Bill Pollard, a Clyde Hill Elementary school parent and Bellevue business leader, concluded the event with an
appeal to the audience to support our "future business people, accountants, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and
scientists, all of whom are in our Bellevue schools today" by giving generously to the Bellevue Schools
Foundation.
Since 1979, BSF has raised over $12 million to support academic rigor, students, and teachers throughout the
district. The Foundation works closely with schools and the district to identify, select, and fund existing
and new programs that help the district fulfill its goals for thousands of students.
About the Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF)
The Bellevue School Foundation is a powerful partnership between business and community leaders, parents, and
members of the education community. BSF was created in 1979 by a concerned group of parents and community
leaders, who wanted to ensure quality education for Bellevue's children despite unreliable state funding for
public schools. Its mission remains consistent: to promote and help fund the best possible learning
opportunities for all students in the Bellevue School District. During its 26-year history, the BSF has raised
over $12 million for programs that reach over 16,000 students every year.
As a private, non-profit organization, the BSF depends on individual, foundation, and corporate donors in order
to fund its school programs. In partnership with the Bellevue School District and the Parent-Teacher
Associations, the Bellevue Schools Foundation helps Bellevue's public school students achieve academic
excellence.
For more information about the Bellevue Schools Foundation or to make a donation, please contact BSF at
425.456.4199, email at info@bsfdn.org, or by logging on to www.bsfdn.org.
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Media Contact:
Sherry Ladd
Executive Director
Bellevue Schools Foundation
Tel: 425.456.4199
sherry@bsfdn.org
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Last updated Friday, June 2nd, 2006.
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