Parents in Portland Public Schools are doing amazing things! Since 1994, on the heels of Measure 5’s cuts to public education, parents began creating local school foundations (LSF) to raise funds for teaching positions. Today that initiative has grown to 33 active local foundations in the Portland Public School District as well as five district-wide foundations in the Portland metropolitan area.
Since 1994, parents, teachers, principals, and members of the community have raised roughly $24 million for schools; $2.72 million of which was raised in 2009. This is amazing work that is also an incredible Portland story--LSF's give 1/3 of what they raise (after the first $10,000) to the Portland Schools Foundation PPS Equity Fund to provide grants to schools that do not have parent communities that are able to raise the much-needed dollars for their schools.
This year, $824,000* will be distributed through the PPS Equity Fund, and since LSFs were established, nearly $8 million has been granted to Portland's neediest schools. The 33 active local school foundations are critical partners with both the Portland Schools Foundation and the District. Because of their hard work, 88 teachers and staff were added back into classrooms this year. Portland is a city where neighbors help neighbors--the LSFs and the PPS Equity Fund are a shining example of that value.
Resources
PPS Active Local School Foundations
Portland metro school districts foundation information
PPS Local School Foundation Event Calendar
If you have any questions or if you are interested in setting up a foundation at your local school, please contact Holly Weems at holly@thinkschools.org or 503.234.5404, ext. 13.