Students in the Edmonds School District have a new benefactor in their educational experience.
Alderwood Mall and the Public Education Foundation for the Edmonds School District joined in a partnership that will help fund bring more money to the school district. Ryan Flynn, executive director of the PEF, said the foundation helps support various projects within the Edmonds School District.
“We are a non-profit organization that provides grants to teachers and school-wide grants to enhance learning in the classroom,” Flynn said.
Flynn also said the partnership will bring more visibility to the foundation and its goals.
“We are now aligned with one of the most recognized brand names in the region … their commitment comes with more exposure and more resources to help achieve our goal of injecting more dollars into the classrooms of our district,” Flynn said. “We are obviously thrilled at the partnership.”
Tamera Wachter, senior marketing director for Alderwood Mall, said the partnership seemed like an obvious choice.
“Alderwood is at the heart of the Edmonds School District, so it is natural for us to support the children and families that support us,” Wachter said.
Wachter also said it was important to support PEF because of its relation with the families in the Edmonds School District.
“The families in our local community are very important to us and the PEF directly benefits the education in our local area.
Flynn said the PEF already has more opportunities to raise money for the school district. Last year, the PEF Business Breakfast was the foundation’s only opportunity to raise money. This year in addition to the business breakfast, the PEF organized two more fund-raising events, one coming up on Sept. 12. The “Music, Math and Motion” family day will feature family activities as well as special guest Nate McMillan, head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics.
Flynn said the additions events could significantly boost PEF’s donations.
“We’re going to from an organization that was raising around $25,000 a year to an organization that conceivably could be raising $175,000 to $200,000 a year,” Flynn said.
Wachter also said the PEF will be the beneficiary at the grand reopening at Alderwood Mall in November.
“There will be a PEF stage where local school groups will be invited to play music or sing and donations will be taken at the stage that will go directly to PEF,” Wachter said.
Wachter also said Alderwood Mall will look for more chances to help support PEF.
“We look forward to continued opportunities to work with PEF in the future,” Wachter said.
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