The Richmond Foundation
Update, June 9
Dear Terrific Richmond Parents -Congratulations! You did it...again! With a record amount raised in parent donations for the 4th straight year, parents at Richmond raised enough money to fully fund the fourth 4/5th grade teacher for next year! Having so many parents each contribute, small steps lead to great things; and working together as a community we are a powerful bunch of people! This year, the Richmond Foundation raised $62,000 and the PTA donated $5,000 and...boom...we had the $67,000 required to fully fund all of our classroom teachers! Wow!
The simple and consistent message from Richmond Foundation has been the same for the last four years and will be be the same every year: a donation by as many families as possible, of the equivalent of one month's of kindergarten tuition twice-a-year (once in the fall and once in the spring) does amazing things for our school. The Richmond Foundation funds are only and always used to support small class size and enrichment activity. The generosity and commitment families at Richmond have shown demonstrates that you all understand that 'to get more, you have to give more.'
Thank you to all of you who give to Richmond and the Richmond Foundation in all ways: money donations small and large, time you spend at school helping and, most important, the time you spend with your children and each other making Richmond the exceptional education experience it is. Thank you from your children...thank you from your teachers...and thank you from the Richmond Foundation.
Sincerely,
Andrew Felcher, Tim Gooding, David Gregor, Jennifer Gregor, Jeff Hardy, Stephanie Hinkle, Jeanne Kaliszewski, Katie Luers, Rich Shawen
Angie Tomlinson, Cathy Zaerr
What is the Richmond Foundation?
Quick links (pdf)
Parent Pledge Drive Donation Form (pdf)Foundation Meeting Minutes
Richmond Elementary School is home to the beginning grades (PreK-5) of Portland's internationally-recognized Japanese Immersion Program. In the JMP, students learn two languages, two cultures, and in doing so, are learning to be world citizens. As one teacher at Richmond said, "I knows I am teaching the children who will be changing the world." Parents at Richmond have choosen to send their child(ren) to a magnet program that offers more than a standard education.
But Portland Public Schools provide only enough funding for a standard education. To keep it exceptional requires more. And to do this requires the extra work and extra funding that the Richmond community steps up and provides. And thus is where the Richmond School Foundation fits in.
The Foundation is the only parent organization that can raise money for staffing positions at Richmond. Three years ago, 10% of parents donated to help with staffing...two years ago 20% did…and last year 46% did!
With these funds, we can keep class size small; offer enrichment programs, which include gym, library, art and more; offer more attention to each student so every student has the chance to do his/her best.
The main vehicle for Richmond School Foundation to raise funds is the annual year-long Parent Pledge Drive. Here are links to the donation form, the list of members of the Richmond School Foundation and a list of Q&A's for you about the process and what your donation does for Richmond. Please consider donating to the Richmond School Foundation.
Richmond School Foundation Members
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Andy Felcher, president Jeanne Kaliszweski, vice-president Tim Gooding, treasurer Katie Luers, secretary Angie Tomlinson, secretary Maxine Bauer, grants Erin Fisher David Gregor |
Jennifer Gregor Jeff Hardy Doug Peters Tim Smith Shannon Sweet Dawn Uchiyama Cathy Zaerr |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the Richmond School Foundation?
- What is the Portland Schools Foundation?
- What staffing positions did the Richmond School Foundation support this year?
- How does funding for staffing help my child at Richmond?
- How much did Richmond School Foundation raise last year?
- How does the Parent Pledge Drive work?
- Why should we donate to the Richmond Foundation? Shouldn't Portland Public Schools or the state being doing this?
- Can't we wait until later to donate?
- What exactly is the Richmond School Foundation asking of me?
- Who can I contact if I have questions?
- What is the Richmond Foundation?
The Richmond School Foundation (RSF) is the only group at the school that can raise money for staff. It is comprised of parents from grades preK-5. We organize fundraisers for staffing, promote the RSF, and work with Richmond's three other parent organizations - Site Council, PTA and Oya No Kai.- Oya No Kai - provides program-wide Japanese cultural support
- Richmond PTA - program support at Richmond
- Richmond Foundation (FDN) - staffing at Richmond; the Richmond School Foundation is the only parent organization that can raise funds to pay for teaching/staff positions
- Richmond Strategic Fundraising Committee (SFC) - a collective of all three groups formed last year to try and better coordinate the fundraising efforts at Richmond
- What is the Portland Schools Foundation?
Every school in Portland has its own local school foundation which operate under the umbrella of the Portland Schools Foundation. These local school foundations were set up about 10 years ago to create a way for parents to donate money directly to their own schools and raise money for classroom teachers.All money raised by the local foundations goes directly to funding staff and teachers in schools. However, the Portland School Foundation is set up so that the first $5000.00 a local school raises goes directly back to the school. After that, further money raised is split, with 1/3 going to the Portland Foundation's general fund and 2/3 going directly back to the school. This 'split' was set up so that schools in less financially-advantaged areas -- who have a more difficult time raising donations -- have an opportunity to receive money through grants from the general Portland Foundation's general funds.
Again, there is no other way to raise money for individual schools except through each's foundation. And being able to raise funds for staffing at your own school is unique to Oregon. No other state's let parents help their children's own school so directly.
- What staffing positions did the Richmond School Foundation support this year?
All of the money raised always goes directly to staffing at our school. Decisions about which staffing to support are made by the principal after obtaining lots of feedback from parents, staff and the Site Council per the policy of the Portland Public Schools Board of Education. With the money raised last year, we were able to fund:- FIRST GRADE TEACHER- RSF funds covered 50% of one first grade teacher
- READING SPECIALIST- RSF funds covered 75% of our reading specialist
- How does funding for staffing help my child at Richmond?
Funding for staffing helps ALL CHILDREN at Richmond by- Creating smaller class sizes in grades K-2. Our average class size is 22-24. (PPS's average K-2 class size is 29-31.)
- Expanding enrichment programs which include reading specialist, cultural activities, gym, library...even art and music can be added if we continue to increase RSF donations.
- Increasing students' reading abilities by providing more teacher time spent with students.
- How much did Richmond School Foundation raise last year?
The Parent Pledge Drive is the major fundraiser for RSF. ONK also shared some of the auction proceeds with RSF. PTA also shared some of Spring Festival proceeds with RSF. In the 2006-07 school year, parents and others raised the following amounts:Parent Pledge Drive (2006-2007) $42,174 Matching Gifts 2,620 Auction 12,067 Spring Festival 1,059 Other 703 Total $65,276 - How does the Parent Pledge Drive work?
The main fundraiser for the Richmond School Foundation is the Parent Pledge Drive (aka "There's No Such Thing As A Free Bento"). It works by everyone doing his/her part:- As in past years, we ask that all families, in pre-K thru 5th grade, donate a month of kindergarten tuition, once per semester, or twice a year. (Fall and Spring)
- This year tuition for full-day kindergarten is $295.
- Some families prefer to donate all at once ($590), some donate once in Fall and again in Spring and some families make monthly donations ($75 per month).
- If each family in grades pre-K through 5 donated this amount, we would raise an amazing $224,200!
- As always...any amount, no matter how large or small, is another step toward a better education for our children.
- Why should we donate to the Richmond Foundation? Shouldn't Portland Public Schools or the state being doing this?
We have come to realize that Portland Public Schools (PPS) only gives schools enough funds to create an "average" scholastic experience. But at Richmond JMP, we strive to maintain an "exceptional" program. To do so, we all need to give extra in order to get extra for our children. Together, we can keep Richmond the best educational experience in Portland and continue to give our children a culturally enriching and broad-based education. - Can't we wait until later to donate?
District funding is unreliable and unpredictable. By giving early in the school year, funds for extra staff can be counted on by our principal to proactively plan the best education for our children...instead of having to react retrospectively to crisis after crisis.In addition, making semi-annual donation to the RSF avoids the end-of-the-year crisis in funding this or that position. Wouldn't it be nice not to have to worry by having financial support that can be counted on by earlier and consistent donating?
- What exactly is the Richmond School Foundation asking of me?
To maintain our excellent program, we hope to instill the understanding of everyone giving a small amount, which together can impact greatly on our school's ability to provide what our children need to succeed. Give now in the Fall and again in the Spring…and our future is secure.Please consider donating $295 once in the spring and once in the fall to the Richmond School Foundation and help keep our track record of continued growth and participation. Thank you!
- Who can I contact if I have questions?
Please feel free to contact any Richmond Foundation member with questions. We also have regular meetings where everyone is welcome to attend. Look for times and dates in the Shinbun or school bulletin boards. This year, we plan to meet the third Monday evening of every month in the Richmond Staff Room.Anyone is welcome to join the Richmond School Foundation. Any of the current members are happy to answer any of your questions.
How do I make a contribution to the Richmond Foundation?
There are multiple ways to make a donation; hopefully one of these methods works for you. All donations are tax-deductible.
Please make sure on any donation that you clearly state it is for the RICHMOND SCHOOL FOUNDATION so you can be certain the money goes to Richmond.
Many employers have matching grant programs for donations employees make to non-profit organizations. Matching grants can DOUBLE your donation…it is free money. Please ask your employer if they have a matching program and how to use it. This is the easiest way to make your donation go further and to raise more money for your school. It is very important.
- CREDIT CARD: You can use a credit card online to make a donation. Be sure to select Richmond when filling out the form! A receipt for tax purposes will be e-mailed to you. You can also download a credit card form, fill it out and send this form to the Portland Schools Foundation in the mail, give to one of the Co-Chairs, or leave it in the Foundation mailbox in the Richmond office.
- CHECK: You can send a check directly to the Portland Foundation at 905 NW 12th, Portland, OR 97209. You can make your checks payable to Portland Schools Foundation/Richmond (please make note of Richmond on the check for the school to get credit). A receipt for tax purposes will be e-mailed to you. Or you can give your check to one of the Co-Chairs or put in Foundation mailbox in the Richmond office.
- MONTHLY DONATION CREDIT CARD: The Portland Foundation has the necessary form on their Web site. Download the form and fill it out for a monthly automatic donation. You can send this form to them in the mail, give to one of the Co-Chairs, or leave it in the Foundation mailbox in the Richmond office.
- MONTHY AUTOMATIC BANK WITHDRAWAL: The Portland Foundation has the necessary form on their Web site. Download the form, fill it out, attach a voided check, and send it to the Foundation.
- OTHER: You can give in cash or many other ways too. Please contact any Foundation Board member.