News 2015

MEF Gives $324k to Millbrae Schools

November 4, 2015

On November 3, the Millbrae Education Foundation was honored to deliver the largest contribution to the Millbrae School District our history! This $324,103 contribution is currently funding elementary music (TK-5th), 5th grade band, Taylor’s 0-period band, and technology education for students and teachers at Taylor and all 4 elementary schools. Detailed breakdown of contribution. Thank you to our 2014-15 donors for making this possible!

Student T-Shirt Design Contest: Win $250!

August 17, 2015

CONTEST ENTRY FORM. Open only to Taylor Middle School, Green Hills, Lomita Park, Meadows, and Spring Valley students!

We’re commemorating our first big all-schools-together Walk-a-Thon with keepsake t-shirts, designed by a Millbrae district student! The winning design will be selected by a panel of non-parent judges to be printed on all of the Walk-a-Thon t-shirts. Winner will receive $250 from Provident Credit Union of Millbrae! Deadline for entry is September 10, 2015.

Download entry form, or email your own submission to walkathon@millbraekids.org. Both hand-drawn and graphic design are accepted.

CONTEST

• Contest is open to all students enrolled at Taylor Middle School, Green Hills, Lomita Park, Meadows, or Spring Valley for 2015-16.

• The design must be your own original, unpublished work and must not include any third-party logos or copyrighted material (you may use the Millbrae Education Foundation logo if desired). By entering the competition, you agree that your submission is your own work.

• Winner will receive a savings account with a $250 deposit from Provident Credit Union of Millbrae!

• Entries may be shared on our website and social media and utilized in other Walk-a-Thon related publicity.

REQUIREMENTS

• Front design only. T-shirts will be printed in one color (white ink on blue shirt), but student artwork will be shown in full-color on our website and social media.

• Incorporate the theme of “STRONGER TOGETHER,” reflecting the Millbrae Education Foundation, our 5 schools, and the Millbrae community coming together to support better education.

• Draw/print/sign your name in the bottom right of the image if you want it to be printed on the t-shirt.

• Email your design to walkathon@millbraekids.org or mail it to MILLBRAE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, P.O. BOX 580, MILLBRAE, CA 94030.

• Along with your design, include student’s name, school, grade, and email or phone number.

JUDGING

• ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY SEPTEMBER 10, 2015.

• Judges will not see student’s name or school information, in the interest of impartiality.

• Judging will be based on: 1) overall visual appeal; 2) relevance to the “Stronger Together” theme; 3) clarity/ease of printing on a t-shirt; 4) creativity; 5) inclusion of Millbrae’s 5 schools.

8th Walk-a-Thon: October 4, 2015

August 15, 2015

Save the date, because this year, it’s going to be BIG!

For the first time, our Walk-a-Thon will show that we are STRONGER TOGETHER as all 5 schools join community and family to support public school education in Millbrae. The big day of food, fun, family, and music takes place at the Taylor Middle School fields and the Caroline Shea Center.

Details to be announced soon!

June 5, 2015 Update

June 5, 2015

MEF currently has $335,000 available to fund programs in September. With just a little more help, elementary music; 5th-grade band; and Taylor & elementary computer/digital education will stay in our district next school year.

THANK YOU to all who have contributed this school year! There’s still time to contribute to ensure these programs in September.

If we want Millbrae’s public schools to improve for our kids, we have to contribute the funds that the State of California does not. Our community & business supporters are encouraging you to donate by June 12 by offering 3 fantastic summer family prizes!

ONE MARTIAL ARTS of Millbrae is offering a 1.5 hour party for your child and friends! Celebrate end-of-the-school-year, a birthday, or just for fun!

GREAT AMERICA is offering 2 tickets good for any day in the 2015 Season.

GILROY GARDENS Family Theme Park is offering 2 tickets good all summer and until November 2015.

Every district family who made a donation from August 2014 – June 12, 2015, will be entered into the drawing!

SV Gives 2015: We won!

May 9, 2015

We did it, Millbrae‬! Because of your support, MEF was on top of the Medium Nonprofit Board all 24 hours of Silicon Valley Gives! Thank you all for your support! Every donation, share, email, time spent hanging posters … EVERY ONE made a difference!

SV Gives: Millbrae Education Foundation won!

Our 305 donors gave $11,660 yesterday, which earned us $10,750 in bonuses and prize money for our schools from Silicon Valley! That’s $22,410 going to work in our schools this September.

Here are the bonuses & prizes Millbrae Education Foundation donors won for our schools in just 24 hours:

• Most Unique Donors (overall), Medium Nonprofit prize grant from Silicon Valley Community Foundation: $5,000

• Bernard A. Newcomb Foundation Power Hour 12-1pm: $2,500

• Power Hour 5-6pm (from anonymous grantor): $2,500

• Most Unique Donors (hourly) from Silicon Valley Community Foundation:

  • 6-7am: $250

  • 9-10am: $250

  • 12-1pm: $250

The money we earned during that 24 hours is wonderful for our schools, but more than that … our Most Unique Donors award demonstrates that MILLBRAE CARES ABOUT ITS PUBLIC SCHOOLS! Since we are willing to invest in our schools, corporations are more likely to as well. And, we’re going to do this again next year: May 3, 2016.

If you want to join the team building relationships with Silicon Valley companies, please contact Christine Taylor.

VIEW SV GIVES RESULTS:http://svgives.razoo.com/giving_events/svg15/home

2nd Chance Donation Days!

January 21, 2015

DONATE BY JANUARY 29 & WIN!

Second Chance Donation Days take place on January 28 & 29 (Wednesday & Thursday) at each of our schools and online. Why is it important for every family to contribute to MEF? On each school day leading up to Donation Days, we’ll highlight 1 of 5 Funding Facts to answer this question.

FUNDING FACT #5:

Only 30% of Millbrae district families have made their MEF contribution this school year. Those families are supporting 100% of our students.

At this low level of family participation, MEF does not qualify to apply for most music and technology grants. After all, if our own community isn’t stepping up to support education in Millbrae, why should others invest in our students?

Without more participation from our families, our schools cannot fully meet the needs of our 21st century students. Help us reach our goal of 100% participation tomorrow & Thursday, or online right now!

FUNDING FACT #4:

The key to strong schools during these years of insufficient state funding is simple: family support of both the MEF and PTA. Each PTA funds classroom materials and equipment. MEF funds the educators to teach our students how to thrive in the 21st-century classroom and beyond.

MEF funds vital teaching staff for which our district does not receive state money. Right now, we fund a full-time technology teacher at Taylor, as well as the music teacher, band teacher, and computer teacher shared among our four elementary schools. Thank an MEF donor for your student’s improved education … or better yet, become one!

Your school’s field trips, equipment purchases, assemblies, enrichment programs are all PTA-funded! Each PTA is invaluable for building a strong community at its school, but PTA funds cannot be used to hire staff and fund vital district wide programs.

MILLBRAE STUDENTS DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE!

Can’t wait until January 28?

DONATE

FUNDING FACT #3:

It’s understandable to focus solely on your own child’s education experience. However, in the public school system, every student’s success is dependent upon the strength of the district itself.

All of our elementary students move on to Taylor Middle School. Therefore, the quality of education at every elementary school directly affects your student in 6th-8th grade and beyond.We are all in this together.

FUNDING FACT #2:

Public schools are free. Great schools are not. Public school students in California are entitled to a tuition-free education. Unfortunately, California still ranks at the bottom of the nation in per-student funding. For every enrolled student, MSD receives about half of the national per-student average, and only about 67% of the already low California average.

Our students deserve more than the incomplete education a state-funded school can provide. So, yes, public schools are free … but great schools are not. Your MEF donations make the difference between basic schooling and a complete education for the whole child.

Neighboring education foundations are providing their students with state-of-the-art education: reduced class sizes; functioning school libraries; fully-realized music, tech and visual art programs … all funded by donations from district families and the surrounding community. Don’t Millbrae’s students deserve the same?

FUNDING FACT #1:

Does this look familiar? If you pay property tax in San Mateo County, your bill notes that 45% goes to school districts. But property taxes do NOT directly fund our five Millbrae district schools!

Millbrae Elementary School District is a “revenue limit district,” which means that it receives a minimal amount per student from the State of California based on average daily attendance (ADA). This type of funding does not increase significantly when local housing prices rise.

The high cost of real estate in our district has minimal impact on the amount of money that our schools receive from the State of California.

MILLBRAE STUDENTS DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE!

Can’t wait until January 28?

DONATE