| | | | | Dear Friend, Who won in March? LWSD students! Recently, I was blessed with opportunities to witness the impact of YOUR generosity through the delighted faces of our students as some of our programs and funding initiatives came full circle: - At our spring benefit, Eastlake High School student Tanya Nair shared how our Kids Coming Together program has reinvigorated her mental health and nurtured genuine and fulfilling connections.
- Kamiakin Middle School student Robyn Le recounted how our Inclusive Libraries grant fortified her self-image as a hero and gave her the courage to take on the starring role in a community musical.
- During the month of March, passionate students from 31 different elementary and middle schools in our district battled it out in a series of Amazing Reading Challenge and Battle of the Books competitions (video and photos below!)
These inspiring examples serve as poignant reminders of why we do what we do, and why our donors and sponsors continue to rally behind us. Generous contributions from our Be the Bridge spring benefit, totaling over $230,000, enable us to make a positive impact on the lives of LWSD students. Thank you for your unwavering support in helping create a brighter future for the next generation. |
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Lake Washington Schools Foundation |
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| | | | Thank You for Being the Bridge! At Lake Washington Schools Foundation's Be the Bridge Spring Benefit on March 23, our generous sponsors and donors combined their efforts to raise a record over $230,000 for local students! Our heartfelt thanks go out to the committed Trustees, Table Captains, Ambassadors, Program Leaders, volunteers, and matching pool donors who were instrumental in making this day a success. Thank you to everyone who spoke at or was interviewed or filmed for our Be the Bridge program, especially our MC Morgan Palmer. We are humbled by your support for students, schools, and families through the Lake Washington Schools Foundation. Together, we can be the bridge. Learn more about how LWSF's work benefits students at your local school, visit www.lwsf.org/impact-at-your-school. |
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| | LWSF is Seeking New Trustees - Applications Being Accepted Now LWSF is looking to add new trustees to our governing board. We are very interested in building our board with thoughtful, diverse candidates who have enthusiasm for the work we do, connections to local businesses and corporations, and the ability to help us expand our reach. If you have a passion for serving and impacting students and families across the district, we encourage you to apply at www.lwsf.org/trustee-application. Please reach out to LWSFBoardRecruitment@lwsf.org with any questions. |
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| | #GiveBIG for Local Students on May 2-3 On May 2-3, thousands of people are going to show their support for their favorite Washington nonprofits during GiveBIG. When you support LWSF on these global days of giving, you will help us achieve our mission to enhance academic access and to nurture all students’ emotional well-being in the Lake Washington School District (LWSD). Mark May 2-3 on your calendar or donate now! |
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| | Social Media & Mental Health Webinar Being a teen today (and raising one) isn't easy. Adolescent anxiety rates are at all-time highs and mental health struggles are unprecedented, with one top contributor being social media use. Register for our upcoming Parent Chat webinar, Social Media & Mental Health, on May 3, from 7-8pm. Combining compelling and relatable storytelling with research-backed practical advice, award-winning speaker Ashley Bendikson helps parents understand their kids and know what they CAN do.  |
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| | LWSF Receives Operation School Bell Award Lake Washington Schools Foundation is honored to be the winner of the 2022-2023 Operation School Bell® Award, presented at Assistance League of the Eastside's Spring Fling on March 9. This national award recognizes organizations that have made a significant positive impact on Operation School Bell in chapter’s community, through financial, service, or in-kind support. Learn how our partnership with ALE enabled LWSD students to access the resources they need to be successful in school. |
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| | Amazing Reading Challenge Championship This school year, LWSF committed $10,000 to help 22 elementary schools purchase books for their annual Amazing Reading Challenge. Our Executive Director Katy Philips was honored to be a guest judge alongside Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen at the final district competition on March 30. The teamwork, collaboration, and passion for reading were evident as the four finalist teams competed for this year’s trophy. We hope all students that participated in the program this year are proud of their commitment and hard work! The Amazing Reading Challenge aims to engage students grades 3-5 with interesting titles while practicing and enhancing interpersonal skills and reading comprehension. |
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| | LWSF Program Updates Find Your Fit is a resource to help students and parents understand the next best steps in the college planning process. Access a wealth of webinar recordings at our Find Your Fit webpage. Kids Coming Together community service events are great opportunities for children grades 3-8 to meet new friends and connect with their community. Register for their upcoming events: LINKS Lunch Buddies connects students with caring adult mentors. Many mentors say that the rewards they gain from their mentoring relationship are as substantial as those for their mentees. Consider becoming a mentor and making the world of a difference to a local student. The Pantry Packs Program serves hundreds of food-insecure students every week through the distribution of weekend food packs. You can support Pantry Packs by donating food directly through our Amazon Wish List, or by registering to be notified of future packing opportunities. |
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| | Battle of the Books Finals At the Battle of the Books’ final district competition on March 28, winning teams from nine LWSD middle schools competed in answering challenging trivia questions based on information within 12 preselected books. Congratulations to all finalist teams for representing your schools, and to the winning team, “The Pineapples,“ from Redmond Middle School! Battle of the Books is a district-wide reading competition that promotes reading comprehension, academic excellence, and cooperative learning and teamwork among students. LWSF strives to enhance learning and promote equity across the district by funding Battle of the Books titles for every middle school library. |
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| | | | | #LWSF gives thanks Through grants, sponsorships, and gifts, corporate and foundation partners make our work possible. We are honored and grateful for the recent support from the following donors and grantors: |
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| | LWSF's Impact Update e-Newsletter is sponsored by |
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| | Follow us on Social Media! | Lake Washington Schools Foundation
Driving 16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052
Mailing PO Box 83, Redmond, WA 98073
Phone 425 936 1414 | Fax 425 936 1449 | info@lwsf.org The Lake Washington Schools Foundation gathers and deploys community resources to enhance academic access and to nurture all students' emotional well-being. LWSF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax identification number 55-0891792.
© 2020 Lake Washington Schools Foundation |
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