Pledge Week Raises Money for MBUSD

It's a team effort, one that requires volunteerism, time and money.

But, by the end of Pledge Week, the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation has much of what it needs to help the city's public school district budget for the future academic year.

“The idea for Pledge Day and Pledge Week is that we ask parents to commit now,” Susan Warshaw, MBEF executive director, told Manhattan Beach Patch.

“If you don’t give today, you can give over time, but just kind of let us know what you plan to do. That way, we can operate with the district on their timetable.”

During Pledge Week [which ends Friday], MBEF volunteers fan out to the district's seven schools, stationing themselves in areas in which students are picked up and dropped off, to remind parents of the fundraising effort.

"It doesn’t matter what you give, but that you participate," said Warshaw.

Last year, MBEF raised nearly $4.5 million for the Manhattan Beach Unified Sschool District, according to Warshaw. As of Thursday morning, the annual Pledge Day, a little more than $2 million had been raised.

“It’s phenomenal,” Warshaw said of the support the MBEF gets from parents. “We have upwards of 100 percent participation at some schools."

Parents whose children attend MBUSD schools are asked to donate annually to MBEF. This year, MBEF’s goal is to raise $4.5 million. 

“We just get a tremendous amount of support from all the parents in our community. We’re very fortunate that way,” said Warshaw.

In January, the MBEF informs the school district how much money has been raised in the fall, which then helps the district plan its next academic year budget. 

Currently, the MBEF is responsible for paying for 67 educational staff positions within the district, such as classroom teachers, school librarians and counselors. MBEF funds also support music and computer programs.

As an example, MBEF funds small class sizes for K-3 grades and 6-9 grade English classes. It also helped support district staff implementing the iPad pilot program.

In existence since 1983, MBEF has added countless programs and instructional and educational staff to the public school district.

MBEF begins its fundraising efforts a year in advance, and the fall fundraising takes place from August to January in order to coincide with the school district's budgeting process, which kicks off at the beginning of the calendar year for the next school year.

“Years ago, MBEF funded the ‘extras’ for our students, but today, with a financially strapped state, we are paying for basics like small class sizes,” said Warshaw.