With one of the largest campaigns currently running and a recent donation of $691,000 to Palo Alto High School, the Partners in Education foundation helps keep the Palo Alto Unified School District to its standards.

PiE’s campaign includes a challenge grant, which is the largest ever and is scheduled to end Friday Sept. 5, according to PiE Executive Director Kathy Schroeder. A challenge grant is where the generous families from the district match funds donated by others, according to PiE’s website. The challenge grants is the first wave of the annual campaign, which aims to surpass last year’s record-breaking goal of amassing $5 million in donations, according to PiE Executive Director Kathy Schroeder.

“Our largest ever challenge grant is going on right now,” Schroeder said. “We raised $500,000 from general PAUSD [Palo Alto Unified School District] families to put up as a challenge so that others who give may have their gift to PiE matched by this challenge pool.”

Each fall, PiE raises money to support Palo Alto public schools.

“In general, gifts to PiE help improve PAUSD schools at every level, by offering classroom and student support in the form of aides, specialists, mentors and counseling … electives and other hands-on programs to spark student interests in STEM [Science Technology Engineering and Math] and the arts,” Schroeder said.

The $691,000 donation is given to Paly as flexible dollars, according to Schroeder.

“What we refer to as ‘flexible dollars’ is the pool of funds that each principal can use flexibly to provide staffing and programs most in line with their school priorities,” Schroeder said. “Some of these dollars come from the district, but over half at nearly every school come from PiE donors.  Principals can choose to spend these dollars within PiE’s focus areas as they and campus leaders deem best.”

Paly Principal Kim Diorio plans to use the funds to enhance student electives, staff Paly’s new writing center, hire additional counselors, support the Teacher Advisor system, pay for upper-class Link Crew to facilitate Orientation and to fund College and Career Counseling, according to Schroeder. More info on each of these areas funded by PiE’s donation can be found on PiE’s website.

PiE is grateful to all who donate, as PAUSD is a community-funded district and these funds allow the district to provide the kind of education wanted for students, according to Schroeder.

“Donating to PiE allows parents, businesses and community members to invest in the future of our community, our youth, and our society,” Schroeder said. “It is a way to help ensure that our great schools remain outstanding, and to offer the support and broad electives choices to help make every student’s experience at school the best it can be.”

To donate, click here.